American Leather Plan Panel Discussion “Define Your Niche” at HPMKT

September 9, 2025  by Karen Parrish in Business Strategy, Designer Weekly, Industry   

This business-focused session brings together interior design professionals who have cultivated thriving, brand-driven businesses by honing a unique niche. Created for design professionals who want better clients, higher visibility, and a design practice that lights them up. Our experts’ secret? It isn’t doing everything—it’s doing their thing. Each found their focus and turned it into success that speaks volumes—whether that’s bold color, luxe hospitality vibes, or designing for life’s golden years. Expect no fluff—just actionable ideas and inspiration to help you stand out and thrive.

Meet the Panelists

Amber Guyton, Blessed Little Bungalow
Founder of Atlanta’s Blessed Little Bungalow, Amber champions Soulful Maximalism—a design philosophy that celebrates bold color, layered textures, personal storytelling, and cultural pride. She’s made design accessible and deeply personal, transforming spaces with identity and joy. Amber’s work has been featured in Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, HGTV Magazine, Ebony, Forbes, and more.

Gary Inman, Gary Inman Interiors
A luminary in luxury design, Gary has crafted award-winning interiors for resorts, hotels, estates, and private residences—including the Williamsburg Inn and Pinehurst Resort. As CEO of Gary Inman Interiors and Home Couture, he merges couture-level detail with creative zest. A Style Spotter All-Star, Gary’s award-winning designs grace the pages of top publications in addition to well-known resorts and historic properties around the world.

Isabel Ladd, Isabel Ladd Interiors
Brazilian-born and Kentucky-based, Isabel is a self-proclaimed Maximalist, crafting richly patterned, colorful homes that reject the mundane—her tenets? Beige is not a color. More is More; Less is a Bore. Mix. Don’t Match. Celebrated for her Curated Maximalism, she’s appeared in high-profile showhouses and has been named a Luxe Magazine Red Award winner, House Beautiful “Next Wave” Designer, part of Business of Home’s “50 States Project,” and a Traditional Home “New Trad.”

Lori Carpenter, Lori Carpenter Designs & The 3rd Phase
As founder and CEO of Lori Carpenter Designs and The 3rd Phase, Lori leads a mission-driven platform empowering individuals aged 60+ with knowledge on home, health, and wealth—so they can live vibrantly and joyfully through life’s most meaningful chapter.

MODERATOR

Ericka Saurit, Saurit Creative & Marketing School for Creatives
Ericka is the Founder and Creative Director of Saurit Creative, a strategic branding and marketing studio for the home industry, and the creator of the Marketing School for Creatives. With a two-decade global career in interior design and marketing, she helps creatives define powerful storytelling brands grounded in strategy and clarity. Ericka has crafted brand experiences for clients at Airbnb, Estee Lauder, Tag Heuer, and more, and is a frequent speaker at industry events and conferences worldwide.