The Discipline of Taste: How Erica Kiang Built a Life and Business Around What Truly Matters
What if success wasn’t about more—but about better?
In this episode of Coached, Keren sits down with Erica Kiang, founder of Rooms Showroom, to explore the intersection of taste, identity, and entrepreneurship.
Erica’s work lives in a world of design, curation, and aesthetics—but this conversation goes far deeper than beautiful objects.
It’s about the discipline behind taste.
Raised between cultures and shaped by a deep sensitivity to environment, Erica developed an early awareness of space, energy, and what feels right. But like many high performers, she still had to unlearn the pressure to do more, be more, and prove more.
Instead, she chose something far more difficult:
Discernment.
Through her work with Rooms Showroom, Erica has built a business rooted in curation, restraint, and clarity—helping designers and brands elevate not just what they create, but how they see.
This conversation explores what it means to trust your eye, refine your standards, and build a life—and business—that reflects who you truly are.
What We Cover:
- Growing up between cultures and developing an eye for nuance
- The difference between taste and trend
- Why discernment is more powerful than hustle
- The role of environment in shaping identity and energy
- Editing your life the way you edit a space
- The courage to do less—but do it exceptionally well
- Building Rooms Showroom and defining a point of view
- Trusting your instincts in business and design
- Why not everything beautiful is right for you
- The intersection of aesthetics, clarity, and self-trust
- Letting go of external validation in creative work
- Creating a business that reflects your inner world
Key Takeaways:
Taste is not talent—it’s developed through attention and restraint.
More is not better. Better is better.
Discernment is a leadership skill. It requires saying no more often than yes.
Your environment is not neutral—it shapes how you think, feel, and show up.
Editing your life is just as important as building it.
If it’s not a full yes, it’s a no.
Clarity comes from removing, not adding.
The most powerful brands—and lives—have a clear point of view.
About the Guest:
Erica Kiang is the founder of Rooms Showroom, a design-forward platform representing a curated collection of furniture, lighting, and objects for architects and interior designers.
Known for her refined eye and distinct point of view, Erica has built a business rooted in taste, restraint, and intentionality—helping creatives elevate both their work and their standards.
Connect with Erica:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erica.kiang/
Rooms Showroom: https://www.instagram.com/roomsshowroom/
Mentioned in this episode:
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