Nicole Roe’s Journey in Design | The Alpha Female Podcast
Nicole Roe, founder of R. Nickson Interiors, was recently featured on The Alpha Female Podcast with host Katie Freeman. In their conversation, Nicole shared her path into interior design, the realities of building a business, and what it looks like to lead with confidence as both a creative and an entrepreneur.
From Construction to Design
Nicole’s journey began in building construction, where she first discovered interior design as a career. After graduating during the 2009 recession, she balanced early work in construction with raising a young family. What started with small projects like paint consultations and styling sessions eventually grew into a full-service interior design firm. Today, R. Nickson Interiors is known for creating bold, elevated interiors that still feel effortless for everyday life.
Building Confidence as a Designer
Nicole reflected on how her first projects looked very different from the work she does today. In the beginning, she sometimes gave in too easily to client requests. Over time, experience gave her the confidence to guide clients toward choices that truly reflect who they are instead of chasing what is popular online.
“We know what works and what doesn’t work. We have the ability to really push the client into something that’s really them instead of doing what’s all over Pinterest.”
Designing Beyond Trends
Rather than repeating the same look for every project, Nicole explained how her firm takes the time to understand each client’s lifestyle, routines, and personality. She shared stories of turning unused spaces into something personal and meaningful, like transforming a spare guest room into a full arcade for one client. For her, design is about creating spaces that are beautiful and deeply lived in.
Balancing Work, Family, and Leadership
As a mom of four boys, Nicole also opened up about how she structures her days. From early mornings before her house wakes up to balancing time in the office and on job sites, she spoke honestly about both the rewarding and challenging parts of running a business. She touched on the seasons that can lead to burnout, the importance of scheduling self-care, and even the mindset shifts it took to send out her first six-figure invoices.
The Alpha Female Perspective
Nicole shared what being an “alpha female” means to her: showing up with confidence, continuing to grow even when the path is not always clear, and being an example for younger women. She spoke about the joy of hearing girls at her children’s school say they want to be designers too, something she never experienced as a child but now gets to model for the next generation.
Listen to the Full Episode
Nicole’s full interview on The Alpha Female Podcast with Katie Freeman is available now. It is an inspiring listen for anyone navigating entrepreneurship, design, or the balance of building both a business and a life.
