Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur | Start and Grow Your Own Business 1200: Delivering on champagne dreams for clients REGARDLESS OF THEIR BUDGET w/ Taylor Lewis-Costa
Taylor Lewis-Costa made a bold leap from litigation consulting to launching her own interior design firm, TLC Home—and she’s proving that high-end design doesn’t require high-end budgets. In this episode, she shares how she built a business rooted in transparency, affordability, and integrity, while transforming her lifelong passion into a growing brand. You’ll learn how Taylor turned a modern-day apprenticeship into a full-blown business, and how she empowers clients to achieve their “champagne dreams” without overspending.
💡 What You'll Take Away For YOUR Business
- 🚀 How to use personal requests from friends as validation for a business idea
- 🧠 Why putting yourself in your customer’s shoes can lead to better pricing models
- 💬 How transparency builds trust—and how Taylor uses it as a market differentiator
- 📦 Why fixed-price models can help reduce friction (and fear) in client engagements
- 🧰 How to leverage past skills—even from unrelated careers—to give your business a head start
- 🪑 How to serve a broad market by intentionally staying affordable
- 💡 The power of modern-day apprenticeships in launching a new career path
📝 About the Guest
Taylor Lewis-Costa is the Founder and Lead Designer of TLC Home, based in Charlotte, NC. Known for delivering high-end looks on a budget, she’s disrupting the interior design world by making luxury accessible. With a lifelong passion for creating elevated spaces, Taylor empowers clients to achieve their “champagne dreams” without overspending. Her adaptable design philosophy ensures each project reflects the client’s unique style, while her focus on creativity and value brings visions to life. Taylor believes everyone deserves a beautiful, functional home—and she’s here to make that a reality.
🎯 Guest’s BEST Piece of Advice for Wantrepreneurs and Entrepreneurs
“Just go for it.”
Taylor’s advice is simple but powerful—don't wait until you're 'qualified' or everything is perfect. Take the leap, play out the worst-case scenarios, and trust yourself to figure it out.
Key takeaways from her advice:
✔ You don’t need formal training to start—you need initiative and honesty
✔ Worst-case scenarios are rarely as bad as we imagine
✔ Imposter syndrome is normal—be transparent and focus on serving well
📢 Memorable Quotes
- “What's sexier than saving money?” – Taylor Lewis-Costa
- “I am my ideal client. So I build the business I’d want to hire.” – Taylor Lewis-Costa
💡 Actionable Takeaways
- ✅ Use design tools like RoomSketcher and Canva to visually communicate your ideas
- ✅ Build a pricing model that reduces buyer hesitation—transparency wins
- ✅ Talk to your market: feedback from friends can be the start of something big
- ✅ Embrace roles that feel like apprenticeships—they can fast-track your growth
- ✅ Create policies that align with your values (even if they cut into profits)
🔗 Links & Resources