John McClain Design

John McClain Design John McClain Design is an award-winning, internationally recognized interior design firm specializing in comfortably chic interiors and exteriors.

We strive to bring practical elegance to every project. Serving all of Los Angeles and surrounding areas. John McClain Design is a residential interior design firm specializing in chic and comfortable home design.

From the gardens to the home to the silks to the dinner- Jim Thompson House Museum and Jim Thompson, A Thai Restaurant w...
08/05/2026

From the gardens to the home to the silks to the dinner- Jim Thompson House Museum and Jim Thompson, A Thai Restaurant was a winner of inspo and zen. ❤️

I’m going to say the thing.Your flat fee is a guess.Not because you’re bad at this. Because nobody ever handed you a way...
08/03/2026

I’m going to say the thing.

Your flat fee is a guess.

Not because you’re bad at this. Because nobody ever handed you a way to build the number. So you took what a designer in a Facebook group said, or what you charged the last client, or what came out of your mouth at 11pm when you needed to get off the phone.

And then you just kept charging it.

Here’s what’s behind the paper.

The Designer Calculator went live this morning. A year of building, breaking it, rebuilding it. It’s a real online tool, not a spreadsheet you download and forget about. This beauty lives online and can be used by your entire team!

You scope the project room by room. Every task, every hour, the extra site visit, the second rug option, the powder room that eats more time than the primary bedroom. It builds your flat fee from the work you’re actually doing.

Then it hands you a proposal with your firm name on it and a signature line for the client.

Sixteen years I wanted this thing to exist. And y’all. It’s here.

Try it completely free for 2 weeks.

Comment CALCULATOR and I’ll send you the link.

07/28/2026

Is there a translator in the house?

07/16/2026

🎉🎉🎉 Throw the confetti and sound the horns! My podcast, The McClain Method just hit 100 episodes! Three years. And I almost didn’t make it past episode 10. 😬

I recorded this one on my iPhone, at a makeshift desk, in Bangkok, where I’m living and running my whole business for the next four months.

I’m not saying this to sound boastful, quite the opposite actually. I’m saying that to let you know you too can step away from your business (no, it does not have to be four months lol).

A business that cannot run without you is not freedom. It’s a job you can’t quit.
Here are a few of the 10 things 100 episodes taught me:

Build your systems now. They feel slow. They’re the thing that eventually sets you free.Say no more. Boundaries are what protect your time. Good manners don’t mean no boundaries.Stay the brain. AI is the taskmaster. You’re still the one with the taste and the judgment.You don’t have to do any of this. Take what serves you and leave the rest.
More than anything, this one is a thank you. You’re still right here, and that’s not lost on me for one second. You truly are the best!

Episode 100 is live. Link in bio.

Any of these hit you like they did for me? Let me know :)

Things that caught my eye: Exploring Chinatown adjacent neighborhoods in Bangkok.
07/04/2026

Things that caught my eye: Exploring Chinatown adjacent neighborhoods in Bangkok.

Currently accepting dream clients only.Bargain hunters, scope creepers, and “can you just” clients may report to another...
07/03/2026

Currently accepting dream clients only.

Bargain hunters, scope creepers, and “can you just” clients may report to another spire.

Looking for the first step? Grab my Interior Design Products & Services Investment Guide and start making your offers clearer, cleaner, and much less nonsense-y.

Link where it always is.

I wandered my way to Wat Paknam Phasi Charoen, starting with the BTS and MRT before weaving through tiny neighborhood st...
07/01/2026

I wandered my way to Wat Paknam Phasi Charoen, starting with the BTS and MRT before weaving through tiny neighborhood streets as children were walking home from school. It felt like I was discovering a side of Bangkok I hadn’t seen before.

Then… the giant Golden Buddha appeared.

No photo can prepare you for the scale of it. No matter where I walked throughout the temple grounds, it seemed to quietly watch over everything.

I explored the peaceful temple grounds, visited the stunning stupa, and eventually made my way to the top floor where the incredible glass interior completely took my breath away. It was one of those moments where you simply stop and take it all in.

Afterward, I crossed the bridge to Hidden Bangkok Café for a drink and a bite to eat, still looking out at the Buddha across the canal. Along the way were sleepy temple cats, winding streets, and countless little moments that reminded me why I love Thailand so much.

By the time I made it home, my feet were exhausted… but my heart was full.

Sometimes the destination is unforgettable.

Sometimes it’s everything you discover on the way there. 🇹🇭🙏

Even from the train, Buddha is waiting…

Soooo many kids getting out of school along my way.

It felt more like a path instead of a street. Thankful for signs!

First glimpse close up is overwhelming!

Oh hey…

Many monks live at this temple.

Me eating my way through Bangkok.

Let’s go in here now.

The top floor features a breathtaking fluorescent green starry sky ceiling, complemented by the green glass stupa and the protective crystal Naga (snake deity) below it. The ceiling is adorned with various depictions of Buddha in meditation, each surrounded by distinct Bodhi trees symbolizing the Buddha’s enlightenment. Every column is intricately carved, adding to the grandeur of the space. From the rooftop terrace, visitors can also appreciate the magnificent back view of the golden Buddha.

Even offers a close up view of the back.

Hard at work…

😉

Now let’s grab a bite to eat and something to drink along more tiny paths.

It was worth the walk across the bridge and through the backstreets. Look how beautiful.

This cafe has 3 floors of views

06/27/2026

New podcast episode 99 is here. One before the big 100, which feels slightly wild.

Antiques can feel intimidating if you didn’t grow up sourcing them.
Is it in good condition?How do I explain the imperfections?Can I make a profit?
Debbie Mathews LeRoy shared her 80/20 rule for mixing antiques with newer pieces.

Go mostly new with a few antiques, or mostly antique with a few newer pieces.

Just pick a lane, and we will help you find that lane.

Because antiques used with intention bring the story, soul, and “where did you find that?” moment. Listen anywhere you find your podcasts.

06/15/2026

I received a one-star review on the podcast recently.
And I’ll be honest, it made me angry.

It hurt my feelings too.
Not because everyone has to agree with me. They don’t.

But because the listener felt I had been “talking politics,” when what I had actually done was speak honestly about something happening in the world and why silence did not feel right to me in that moment.

And it reminded me of something I have had to learn again and again:
Two things can be true.

Someone can misunderstand you, and you can still know you spoke responsibly.

Someone can be disappointed by your boundary, and that boundary can still be necessary.

Someone can dislike your decision, and it can still be the right decision for you.

So this week on the podcast, I’m signing five permission slips for you.

Permission to be misunderstood.Permission to disappoint people.Permission to change your mind.Permission to protect your peace.Permission to stop proving yourself.
Because trying to keep everyone happy is exhausting.
And frankly, it is not leadership.

Listen to this week’s episode:
Stop Trying to Keep Everyone Happy: 5 Permission Slips You Need Today

Your permission slip is signed.

Address

Los Angeles, CA

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 6pm
Tuesday 9am - 6pm
Wednesday 9am - 6pm
Thursday 9am - 6pm
Friday 9am - 6pm

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when John McClain Design posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to John McClain Design:

Shortcuts

Share

Category