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Between The Walls
A podcast by the Architecture + Design Library
Step Between the Walls and into the world of design, creativity, and connection. Brought to you by the Architecture + Design Library, this podcast explores the stories, ideas, and collaborations shaping New Zealand’s built environment — and beyond.
Join us as we talk to architects, interior designers, builders, makers, and industry leaders about their processes, challenges, and the spaces that inspire them. Whether you're a seasoned professional or simply design-curious, Between the Walls offers honest conversations, fresh insights, and a look behind the scenes of the creative industries.
Welcome to your new favourite place to listen, learn, and be inspired.
Between The Walls
Respect, Instinct & Letting Go of Perfection
In this raw and deeply relatable episode, Janey is joined by Penny and Verity, co-founders of the Architecture & Design Library and your regular Between the Walls co-hosts. They unpack what it means to show up as a designer in a world that still doesn’t fully understand your value. From being dismissed on site to gifting time just to prove your worth, they speak honestly about the emotional load of interior design and the quiet resilience it demands.
They dive into perfectionism—when it serves us, when it holds us back—and share how trusting your instinct can guide your creative journey. This episode is for anyone who’s ever felt the pressure to be “ready” or “perfect” before starting something new.
🧵 In this episode:
• Holding your ground and earning respect on a job site
• The emotional and practical cost of being an interior designer
• Why undercharging hurts more than just your business
• Trusting your instinct to shape your design and business style
• Collaborating across disciplines—how respect transforms projects
• Redefining perfectionism: when to strive and when to let go
🛠 Listener Q&A:
One simple budget-friendly way to refresh a space?
🎨 Paint walls
🛋 Move furniture
🧹 Declutter and create calm
💬 Reflections:
“Respect starts with knowing your worth.”
“Design is deeply emotional — you carry people’s homes with you.”
“Messiness isn’t failure; sometimes it’s the only way forward.”
💌 Have a question for Penny & Verity?
Send it on Instagram @betweenthell_II. Practical, random, or curious — your question might feature in a future episode!
Between the Walls is hosted by Janey, with Penny & Verity from the Architecture & Design Library — a hub for design professionals to connect, create, and thrive.
🎧 Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and share with someone who needs this reminder: You don’t have to be perfect, just willing.