When Carly Filbin started Blue Jay Interiors in 2021, she never set out to build the biggest firm possible. After launching the business with a partner and eventually becoming a solo owner, she’s learned how to grow her firm one step at a time while staying focused on the kind of work — and life — she actually wants.
In this episode, Laura Umansky and Melissa Grove sit down with Carly, a registered interior designer and owner of Blue Jay Interiors in the Houston area, to talk about the realities of growing a small residential design firm. Carly shares how an unexpected invitation from a former client led her to start a business, what she learned from her entrepreneurial business partner, and why she’s now thinking carefully about her next hire, rebrand, and path into higher-end projects.
They get into:
- Why building a firm one step at a time can be more sustainable than trying to have it all from day one
- Why networking and personal relationships have been some of her strongest sources of new clients
- The role her registered interior designer credential has played in her career — and why she considers it a personal achievement
- Why keeping painting and other creative pursuits as hobbies helps Carly stay inspired outside of design
- What prompted Carly to finally invest in a new brand and website as she prepares to move into a higher-end market
Whether you’re starting your own design firm, figuring out your next hire, or questioning what “growth” should actually look like for your business, Carly’s story is a reminder that your firm doesn’t have to become bigger to become better — it just needs to work for you.
