Designed for the Creative Mind™
Michelle Lynne 228 episodes Nov 9, 2026
Your designs are beautiful, but you're struggling with the business of your interior design business. Join successful interior design business owner, Michelle Lynne, of ML Interiors Group each Monday morning as she shares the processes she has found useful in growing her own 7-figure design firm, interviews industry related guests, and brings her own team of designers on for lively conversations. If you aren't happy with the performance of your interior design business, are tired of trading your time for money, and know you were made for more, this show is for you.
Episodes
Ep 250: The Walkthrough: From First Call to Contract
Your sales process shouldn't require you to give away your design expertise before a client has even committed to working with you. In this episode of The Walkthrough, Michelle Lynne takes you through the sales process she uses at ML Interiors Group, from the very first client conversation to the signed contract. And she's sharing why the traditional discovery call might actually be costing you mo
Ep 249: Taming the Furniture Procurement Beast with Sara Carroll
Furniture sourcing and procurement can be one of the most time-consuming parts of running an interior design firm. From tracking orders and coordinating freight to chasing down vendors and filing damage claims, the administrative work can quickly take over your week. In this episode, Michelle sits down with Sara Carroll of Sara Carroll Home to talk about the realities of furniture procurement and
Ep 248: The Walkthrough: Your Sales Process Starts at the Front Door
An inquiry comes in. You're in the middle of an installation, juggling procurement, answering client questions, and managing a dozen other things. You tell yourself you'll respond when you have a minute to give that potential client the attention they deserve. And suddenly, a day or two has passed. Sound familiar? In this episode of Designed for the Creative Mind, Michelle Lynne continues The Walk
Ep 247: The Walkthrough: Is Your Marketing Front Door Open?
Your interior design business might be doing beautiful work, but are the right clients finding their way to you? In this episode of Designed for the Creative Mind, Michelle Lynne kicks off The Walkthrough, a series that takes you through every room of your interior design business, from marketing and sales to operations, procurement, installation, and project closeout. First up is the front door:
Ep 246: Nobody Warned Me About This Part: Hiring Would Expose My Own Weaknesses
Hiring people is supposed to create capacity. But what happens when bringing someone onto your team actually makes your business feel more complicated? In this episode, Michelle Lynne gets honest about one of the parts of business ownership nobody warned her about: hiring people would force her to confront how much of her business was living inside her own head. When you've built a business around
Ep 245: Nobody Warned Me About This Part: When Growing Your Design Firm Changes Your Job
You started your interior design business because you love design. You wanted to create beautiful spaces, work with clients, and build something of your own. But somewhere along the way, the business grew… and your job changed. Suddenly, you're spending less time designing and more time managing people, making financial decisions, building processes, and carrying the responsibility for everything
Ep 244:Do You Actually Want to Own an Interior Design Business?
Being an interior designer and being an interior design business owner are two very different jobs. Have you actually decided which one you want? We talk a lot about the dream of owning an interior design firm: creative freedom, choosing your clients, setting your own schedule, and building something that is completely yours. And those things can absolutely be part of business ownership. But there
Ep 243: The Art of Being Principal: Building a Business That Doesn't Need You Every Minute with Katie Decker-Erickson
What if the real measure of a successful design firm isn't how much the principal can personally accomplish—but how well the business operates when they're not there? In this episode of The Art of Being Principal, Michelle Lynne and Katie Decker-Erickson have one of their trademark conversations: part business strategy, part leadership lesson, and part "how did we get on this subject?" They dive i
Ep 242: Tended, Pt 4 - When Everyone Else Looks Like They Have It Together
Have you ever looked around at other interior designers and thought, What do they know that I don't? They're booked out. Their projects look incredible. Their social media is polished. They seem confident, successful, and completely on top of their business. Meanwhile, you're staring at a quiet pipeline, difficult clients, late shipments, team issues, or a slow month and wondering if you're doing
Ep 241: Tended, Pt 3 - The Word No Has a ROI
Saying no doesn't come naturally to most people—and it certainly didn't come naturally to Michelle. In this episode of Tended, Michelle makes the business case for one of the hardest words for interior designers to say: no. Because every yes has a cost. Whether it's taking on a client you knew wasn't the right fit, quietly absorbing scope creep, accepting projects you've outgrown, or saying yes to
Ep 240: Tended, Pt 2 - The Energy Audit
You've probably heard all the advice: get more sleep, exercise, drink more water, take a vacation, take better care of yourself. But what if you're doing some of those things and you're still exhausted? In this episode of Design for the Creative Mind, Michelle Lynne takes a deeper look at the difference between being tired from working hard and being depleted by the way your business is operating.
Ep 239: The Design Besties - Friendship, Collaboration & Designing for a Bigger Purpose
What happens when four professionals in the design industry meet by chance, become fast friends, and decide to use their collective talents to give back? Meet the Design Besties: Nikki Watson, Lori Johnson, Robin DelaCruz, and Whitney Atkinson. What started with a chance meeting at the Vacation Rental Design Summit quickly turned into a daily group text, a genuine friendship, and eventually a nonp
Ep 238: Tended, Part 1: You Are a Business Asset
As business owners, we're really good at taking care of everything else. We protect our clients, our teams, our projects, our cash flow, our systems, and our businesses—but somehow, we put ourselves at the bottom of the list. In this episode of Tended, Michelle Lynne gets personal about what happens when the person running the business is running on empty. From skipping appointments and sacrificin
Ep 237: 5 Reasons You May Not Be Getting Affluent Clients w/ Robyn White
In this episode of Designed for the Creative Mind, Michelle welcomes back website strategist Robyn White of RDW Design Studio to talk about one of the biggest questions interior designers ask: "Why aren't I attracting more affluent clients?" Spoiler alert: it probably isn't your pricing. Robyn specializes in helping interior designers position themselves to attract premium clientele, and she share
Ep 236: The Human Advantage - Why AI Makes Value-Based Pricing Non-Negotiable for Interior Designers
Ep 235: The Human Advantage - AI Isn't Your Biggest Threat. The Noise Is.
Everywhere you look, someone has a new opinion about AI and the future of interior design. One expert says AI will replace designers. Another says it never could. The constant stream of predictions, hot takes, and fear-based headlines can leave even experienced designers questioning their business. But what if AI isn't actually the problem? In this episode, Michelle Lynne explores why the biggest
Ep 234: The Human Advantage - What You're Actually Selling in the Age of AI
AI can generate a beautiful mood board in seconds. But that's not what clients are actually hiring you for. In this episode, Michelle Lynne kicks off a brand-new series exploring what artificial intelligence really means for interior designers. Spoiler alert: this isn't another conversation about the latest AI tools or which software you should be using. Instead, Michelle dives into a much bigger
Ep 233: The Art of Being Principal Series - Why Referral-Only Is Holding Your Business Back with Katie Decker-Erickson
Many interior designers wear "referral-only" like a badge of honor—but what happens when the referrals stop? In this episode of The Art of Being Principal Series, Michelle Lynne and Katie Decker-Erickson unpack one of the biggest misconceptions in the design industry: that referrals alone are enough to build a sustainable business. The truth? Referrals are wonderful—but they're not a strategy. If
Ep 232: The Art and Science of Procurement - In-House, Outsourced, and Everything In Between
Procurement can either elevate the client experience or become the biggest bottleneck in your business. In this candid roundtable discussion, Michelle Lynne sits down with Alicia Taylor of Alicia Taylor Interiors, Ryann Swan of Ryan Swan Design, and Blair Ryan of The Dove Agency to talk about the realities of procurement in interior design firms. From in-house teams to outsourced solutions, these
Ep 231: Business Behind the Design #2 - AI, Client Delays, and the Future of Design
Are your prospective clients taking longer to sign contracts? Are projects stretching across years instead of months? Are clients questioning purchases, breaking projects into phases, or running your designs through AI before making decisions? In this episode of Business Behind the Design, Michelle Lynne is joined by Ruth Ann Jansen, Melissa Lee, and Erika Bonnell for an honest conversation about
Ep 230: From Clinical Precision to Creative Vision - Embracing Your Past to Build a Profitable Design Business with Katie Rainey
What if the experience you think makes you an outsider in the design industry is actually your greatest advantage? In this episode of Designed for the Creative Mind, Michelle Lynne sits down with interior designer Katie Rainey to discuss her journey from Doctor of Physical Therapy to owner of a thriving interior design firm specializing in waterfront and lifestyle-driven homes. Katies design philo
Ep 229: Profit Isn't an Accident Part 4 - Stop Duct-Taping Your Business Together
If you've ever ended the day feeling like you worked nonstop but still didn't get to the things that actually move your business forward, this episode is for you. In the final installment of the Profit Isn't an Accident series, Michelle explores what happens when all of the little operational problems in a design firm pile up at the same time. The delayed vendor emails, missed lead follow-up, disc
Ep 228: The Art of Being Principal: Conversation with Katie Decker-Erickson
What does it really mean to be the principal of an interior design firm? In this first episode of The Art of Being the Principal, Michelle Lynne and Katie Decker-Erickson join forces to have the candid conversations most design business owners need—but rarely hear. No fluff. No trendy buzzwords. Just honest discussion about what it takes to lead a profitable, sustainable interior design business.
Ep 227: Profit Isn't an Accident Series - You're Paying Someone to Do It Twice
In this third episode of the Profit Isn't an Accident series, Michelle Lynne dives into the hidden operational cost that many interior designers don't realize is quietly draining their profits: double entry. From project management platforms to accounting software, Michelle breaks down how disconnected systems create unnecessary labor, reconciliation headaches, bookkeeping expenses, and unreliable
Ep 226: Messaging Secrets to Stand Out in a Saturated Market with Kamala Nair
In this episode of Designed for the Creative Mind, Michelle sits down with copywriter and brand voice expert Kamala Nair to talk about the missing piece in so many interior design businesses: messaging that actually connects. Kamala shares why stunning portfolios alone are no longer enough to stand out in a saturated market and explains how strategic storytelling can help designers attract the rig
Ep 225: Profit Isn't An Accident Series - The Markup Myth
Why Cost Plus 30% Is Quietly Killing Your Profit In this episode of Profit Isn't an Accident, Michelle Lynne tackles one of the most accepted pricing "standards" in the interior design industry: cost plus 30%. And here's the truth most designers never hear: A 30% markup is not the same thing as a 30% profit margin. Michelle breaks down the real math behind procurement, markup vs. margin, and why s
Ep 224: Intention Behind Design: Interview with Kate Vitale
In this episode, Michelle sits down with Kate Vitale, founder of Vitale Interiors, to explore the intersection of interior design, wellness, and intuition. With a background in corporate fashion and trend forecasting, Kate brings a unique perspective to creating spaces that feel grounded, calming, and deeply personal. They dive into what "interior wellness" actually looks like in practice, how des
Ep 223: Profit Isn't An Accident Series - You're Billing. So Why Aren't You Profitable?
Most interior designers think they have a revenue problem… when they actually have a tracking problem. In this kickoff episode of the Profit Isn't an Accident mini-series, Michelle Lynne pulls back the curtain on what's really happening inside your projects financially—and why "busy" doesn't always mean "profitable." If you've ever wrapped a project and hoped you made money (instead of knowing), t
Ep 222: Scaling Smart: Hiring For Profit, Not Just Capacity
Hiring feels like a milestone—but what happens after you bring someone on is where the real work begins. In this episode, Michelle sits down with Erika Bonnell, Melissa Lee, and Ruth Ann Jansen for an honest conversation about what it actually looks like to grow a team inside a design firm. From hiring the wrong role to realizing leadership is a learned skill, this conversation pulls back the curt
Ep 221: Why You're Not Making Money on Furnishings (Even When You Think You Are)
Furnishings should be one of the most profitable parts of your interior design business—but for many designers, it feels like the exact opposite. In this episode, Michelle pulls back the curtain on what's really happening behind the scenes with furniture and procurement. From underpriced markups to disorganized systems and hidden time drains, she breaks down why your margins might look fine on pap
Ep 220: Why Your Construction Projects Aren't Profitable (Even When the Budget Is High)
Construction projects often look like the most profitable work in an interior design business—but behind the scenes, they're where many designers are the most underpaid. In this episode, Michelle breaks down the hidden disconnect between what designers charge and what construction projects actually require. From the constant decision-making to the mental load that never turns off, she reveals why
Ep 219: From Inquiry to Contract: The Missing System in Your Design Business
What if the reason your inquiries aren't turning into clients has nothing to do with your talent… and everything to do with what happens in between? In this episode, Michelle Lynne breaks down the exact gap most interior designers don't realize they have: the missing sales process between inquiry and signature. Through real stories from her own business, she shares how "being easy to work with" wa
Ep 218: The Client Red Flags Costing Designers Thousands (And How to Catch Them Early)
The Client Red Flags Costing Designers Thousands (And How to Catch Them Early)Designed for the Creative Mind Podcast You can have incredible talent, a full calendar, and stunning projects—and still feel like your business is harder than it should be. In this episode of Design for the Creative Mind, we're diving into one of the most overlooked reasons interior designers struggle with profitabilit
Ep 217: Booked Solid...But Where's the Profit? The Interior Designer's Hidden Business Problem
Why Busy Designers Still Struggle With Profitability Designed for the Creative Mind Podcast Interior design is one of the few professions where it's incredibly easy to build a business that looks successful on the outside but quietly struggles behind the scenes. Beautiful projects. High-end homes. A full calendar. And yet the numbers still feel tighter than they should. In this episode, Michelle
Ep 216: The $50K Hiding Inside Your Design Process
Episode Description Most interior designers assume they need more clients, more marketing, or higher design fees to increase their income. But often the real issue is something much simpler. Their process. In this episode, Michelle Lynne breaks down where interior design firms quietly lose money through unstructured discovery, unlimited revisions, procurement administration, underpriced phases, a
EP 215: The Real Reason Your Marketing Disappears When You Get Busy
WHY YOUR MARKETING DISAPPEARS WHEN YOU GET BUSY There's a lot of advice out there about getting more leads and increasing your visibility. But almost nobody talks about what happens after real life gets busy. If your marketing disappears during install weeks, deadlines, or full client schedules, you're not alone. Most interior designers rely on motivation and inspiration to stay visible, and that
EP 214: You Wanted More Leads. Now What?
You worked hard to get the lead. You posted. You showed up. You marketed consistently. And now your phone is ringing. So why aren't more of those inquiries turning into paying clients? In this episode, we're talking about the part nobody glamorizes in the interior design business: what happens after the inquiry. Because getting leads is not the win. Converting them is. If you're booking discovery
Ep 213: If Your Leads Are Price Shopping, You're Teaching Them To
If you're constantly getting inquiries that sound like this… "How much do you charge?" "Can you give me a ballpark?" "What do you charge per room?" You're not alone. And no, it doesn't automatically mean your leads are cheap. In this episode, we're getting real about why price shopping leads keep showing up in your inbox, and the uncomfortable truth most designers don't want to admit: If your lead
S8 Ep.212 From MTV to High Point: How Rhobin DelaCruz Built a Design Career by Design
In today's episode, I'm sitting down with interior designer, creative instigator, and community builder Rhobin DelaCruz. Rhobin has worked with brands like GQ, TED, and MTV, but what really stands out is how intentionally he approaches both design and business. From the way he talks about community to how he shows up at High Point Market, everything he does is rooted in purpose, clarity, and conne
S8 Ep. 211 From Design to Staging: The Income Stream You're Missing with Guest Marianna Cherico
In this episode of Designed for the Creative Mind, Michelle sits down with home staging coach Marianne Cherico to explore how staging can become a powerful extension of an interior design business. With decades of experience in real estate and staging, Marianne shares practical strategies for building relationships with real estate agents, shifting mindset, and positioning staging as an investmen
S8 Ep.210 When Design, Wellness, and Leadership Collide with Natalie Froom
In this episode of Designed for the Creative Mind, I'm sitting down with Natalie Froom, founder and principal designer of Studio 180 Design. Natalie and I go way back—she came through the Interior Design Business Bakery shortly after the pandemic, back when she lovingly calls herself a "baby designer." Fast forward to now, and she's running a growing studio with a team, a refined process, and big
S8 Ep.209 How Smart Designers Use Paid Ads to Stay Fully Booked with Shelby Fowler
In today's episode of Designed for the Creative Mind, I'm sitting down with Shelby Fowler Moss to talk about something that makes a lot of designers nervous: paid ads. Shelby is a paid ad strategist and sales expert who's helped businesses generate tens of millions of dollars through advertising, and she brings a refreshingly honest, no-fluff perspective to this conversation. If you've ever felt l
S8 Ep.208 Interior Design Biz Ain't for Punks
Building a design business doesn't happen by accident. In this episode, Melissa Fields shares what it really looked like behind the scenes — undercharging, no process, imposter syndrome, and learning the hard way that being busy doesn't equal being profitable. From $100 consults to hiring her first employee and stepping fully into the CEO role, this conversation is honest, grounding, and incr
S8 Ep.207 Lessons From Our Biggest Mistakes
As this year comes to a close, I wanted to have a very honest conversation—one rooted in experience, not perfection. In this episode, I'm reflecting alongside another seasoned firm owner, Katie Decker Erickson, on the mistakes we've made, the lessons we learned the hard way, and what actually matters when you're trying to move your business forward with clarity instead of chaos. This isn't about b
S7 Ep.206 The Myth That You Need Design School To Succeed In Business
In today's episode of my MythBuster series, I'm talking about one of the most persistent beliefs in the interior design industry: that you need design school to succeed. This one hits close to home for me, because I didn't go to design school — and for a long time, I carried that quietly, wondering if it would eventually expose me as someone who didn't belong. What I've learned over the years, tho
S7 Ep.205 Myth: It's All About the Money — Clients Just Want to Save Money
In today's episode, I'm continuing my myth-busting season and tackling one of the biggest beliefs holding designers back: the idea that clients only care about money. If you've ever taken pricing questions personally or felt pressure to lower your rates just to keep projects moving, this conversation is for you. I'm breaking down what's really happening when clients push back on price — and why it
S7 Ep.204 The Myth of "Helping People Means Keeping My Prices Low"
In today's episode, I'm breaking down a myth that keeps so many designers stuck on the burnout hamster wheel: the belief that "helping people means keeping my prices low." I see this all the time in our industry — designers who genuinely want to serve end up undercharging, overdelivering, and attracting clients who don't respect their expertise. And it's not because they lack talent. It's because
S7 Ep.203 The Myth of "If My Clients Love Me, They'll Refer Me"
Early in my design career, I thought referrals were the ultimate sign of success. A happy client, emotional reveal, or heartfelt thank-you note — surely that meant more business was on the way, right? I quickly learned the truth: referrals are unpredictable behavior, not a reflection of love, skill, or value. In this episode, I'm sharing why relying on referrals alone creates a fragile business a
S7 Ep.202 The Myth of Charging What You're Worth
n this episode, I'm breaking down one of the most persistent and harmful myths in our industry: the idea that you should "charge what you're worth." I know the intention behind that phrase is usually empowerment, but the impact? Confusion, insecurity, and emotional chaos. Your worth is not a number. It's not a fee. It's not something a client gets to validate or reject. Your worth was set long bef
S7 Ep.201 Myth: I Can Build a Thriving Design Business Through Trial and Error
Hey y'all — welcome back to Design for the Creative Mind. I'm Michelle Lynn, and today we're kicking off a brand-new season called Myth Busting: What People Get Wrong About the Interior Design Industry. And even though I sound like an 80-year-old chain smoker mixed with Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (thanks, Texas allergies), I wasn't about to miss this episode because we're starting with a big o
Ep. 200: Lessons from the Edge
Hey friends, welcome to the 200th episode of Designed for the Creative Mind — I can hardly believe we're here. When I first started this podcast, I honestly didn't know if I'd have the time or stamina to keep it going, and yet it's become something I look forward to every single week. Thank you for being here, whether you've listened to every episode or this is your first. In this episode, I'm ge
S6 Ep. 199: Talent Won't Save Your Business (and What Actually Will)
In this episode, I'm talking about something we don't say out loud enough in the design world: being talented isn't the same thing as being profitable. You can be incredibly good at what you do — have the eye, the taste, the creativity — and still feel like you're struggling to stay afloat in your business. And it's not because you're not good enough. It's because most of us were never taught th
S6 Ep.198 Trusted Partners: How to Build Your Go-To Vendor List
If you've ever felt unsure about how to find and build relationships with vendors, this episode is for you. I'm joined by Juliana and Debbie, and we're pulling back the curtain on what it really looks like to source confidently, vet your partners, and make those connections that actually make your job easier — not harder. We're talking about the first steps to take when you're new, how to walk int
S6 Ep197: When to Break Your Own Rules
Hey y'all — welcome back to the Design for the Creative Mind podcast! Today we're talking about something that might surprise you… when it's actually smart to break your own rules. Your rules exist for a reason — they protect your time, your profit, and your sanity. But sometimes, breaking one intentionally can lead to big opportunities. In my case, one rule I broke turned into hundreds of thousa
S6 Ep 196: The 90% Plan
Hey y'all, it's Michelle Lynn! Let's talk about something that's gonna ruffle a few perfectionist feathers—the 90% Rule. It's my way of saying that doing less is actually the fastest way to make more. Perfectionism might feel like a badge of honor, but babe, it's a profit killer. In this episode, I'm breaking down how overdelivering and chasing "perfect" are draining your time, your energy, and y
S6 Ep 195 Boundary Scripts That Work
Scope creep is the silent killer of profit in our industry. Most designers don't lose money because they undercharge—they lose it because they can't hold their boundaries. And I get it. Saying no feels uncomfortable. You don't want to sound difficult. You want your clients to love you. But here's the truth: boundaries aren't walls. They're leadership. In this episode, I'm walking you through exac
S6 Ep 194 The Influence Advantage
Being the most talented designer doesn't automatically make you the most successful—influence does. And I'm not talking about Instagram followers or being Insta-famous. Influence in business is about how your market perceives you: as the authority, the one they can trust, the one they want to work with before they even meet you. In this episode, I'm breaking down what influence really means for in
S6 Ep. 193 Decision Speed is a Moneymaker
Indecision is one of the most expensive habits you can have in business. Every time you delay—whether it's raising your rates, hiring help, or investing in the support you need—you're leaving money, time, and momentum on the table. In this episode, I'm sharing why overthinking costs you far more than mistakes do, how to build decision speed as a profitable skill, and the tools I use (and teach my
S6 Ep. 192 The Silent Profit Killers
Hey y'all, in today's episode I'm pulling back the curtain on the silent profit killers that sneak into your design business and quietly drain thousands from your bottom line. These aren't the big, obvious issues like not charging enough or overhead being too high—these are the sneaky, day-to-day habits that fly under the radar but add up fast. I'm sharing where I've personally lost money (yep,
S6 Ep 191 When Clients Say One Thing… But Mean Another
Hey, hey, hey! In this episode we're talking about something that feels scary but will absolutely change your business: saying no before you feel ready. I know how hard it is to turn down a project—what if the right one doesn't come along? What if word gets around that you turned someone down? I've had all those same fears. But here's the truth: every time you say yes to the wrong project, you're
S6 Ep 190: How Turning Down the "Wrong" Work Accelerates Your Growth.
Hey, hey, hey! In this episode of Design for the Creative Mind, we're talking about something that feels scary but will absolutely change your business: saying no before you feel ready. I know how hard it is to turn down a project—what if the right one doesn't come along? What if word gets around that you turned someone down? I've had all those same fears. But here's the truth: every time you say
S6 Ep 189: Stop Over-Delivering: Why Doing More Is Costing You Time, Money, and Sanity
Season 6: Off the Record: The Hidden Curriculum of Design Business They didn't teach you this in design school. You won't hear it in a CEU course. And most business coaches wouldn't dare say it out loud. This season of Designed for the Creative Mind is your backstage pass to the unspoken skills, strategic instincts, and hard-won wisdom that separate hobbyists from high-earning design busines
S5 Ep 188: No Portfolio? No Problem: The Secret Strategy to Attract High Paying Clients
Hey hey hey! I'm so glad you're here with me today on Designed for the Creative Mind. Whether you're listening from your studio, your car, or curled up with a glass of wine (not in the car, please), you're in for a really insightful conversation. I brought on the fabulous Mina from Duke Renders to talk about all things renderings—especially how they can help you build a strong portfolio even if
S5 Ep 187 From Italy to the UK: One Baker, Two Countries, Big Design Dreams
Today, we're crossing the pond! I had such a fun and inspiring chat with one of our fabulous Bakery graduates, Marta Rosato, who built her thriving interior design business all the way from Bristol, UK. Her story is filled with courage, creativity, and a whole lot of clarity — and I know you're going to love hearing it. Marta didn't start out in interior design. She spent 20 years working across E
S5 Ep 186 Why Your Dream Clients Don't Know You Exist (Yet)
Hey, hey, hey y'all! We're back with Part 3 of our "Booked by Accident vs. Booked by Design" series—and today we're tackling something that stings a little... but only for a second. You know that feeling when someone tells you there's food in your teeth? Yeah. It's kind of like that. Awkward for a moment, but ultimately a gift. Because once you know, you can fix it. Same goes for today's topic: W
S5 Ep 185 Booked by Accident? It's Time to Get Intentional
Hey friend—this episode is for you if you've ever had a dry inbox and wondered, Where the heck are my dream clients?I've been there. Back when I started ML Interiors Group, I hustled hard, did great work, and just hoped the right clients would find me. And for a while… it worked. Kind of. But behind the scenes? Total chaos. In this episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on what I call being "book
S5 Ep 184 If You Build It, They Still May Not Come
Welcome back to Designed for the Creative Mind, the podcast where we get real about what it actually takes to build a beautiful and profitable interior design business. In this episode, Michelle kicks off a brand-new series called Booked by Accident vs. Booked by Design—a must-listen if you've ever wondered why your dream clients still aren't showing up, even though you're doing "all the right thi
S4 Ep. 183 The Ghost of Marketing Past
Babe, let's get real — leads are slow right now. The inbox is quiet, the DMs are empty, and that "just post a pretty picture" strategy? It's not cutting it anymore. But here's the kicker: what's haunting your business might not be the algorithm. It's probably the marketing you didn't do six months ago. In this episode, we're talking about: The hidden cost of inconsistent marketing (and how it cr
S4 Ep. 182 The Truth About Trade Pricing
Have you ever had a client hit you with, "You get that for how much?" If so, you're not alone — and today we're talking about one of the most common (and most avoidable) pricing mistakes in interior design: oversharing your trade pricing. In this episode, I break down why being too open about your pricing creates confusion, resentment, and profit erosion — and how you can confidently communicate y
S4 Ep. 181 The DIY Designer Syndrome
Ever feel like you're wearing all the hats in your interior design business and still answering client texts at 8 PM about grout colors? You might be stuck in what I call DIY Designer Syndrome: a mix of perfectionism, people-pleasing, and a dash of martyrdom that has you doing everything yourself. In this episode, I'm sharing how this mindset hurts your business (and your life), why "being busy"
S4 Ep.180 The Contract Catastrophe
Hey friend, welcome back to Design for the Creative Mind! I'm so glad you're here. If you're new around here, this season is all about Rookie Mistakes & Real Talk—a behind-the-scenes look at the most common missteps interior designers make in business (and how to bounce back when you make one). In today's episode, I'm sharing a hard lesson I learned the painful way—what happens when you don't have
S4 Ep. 179 Burnout Bakeout: When Hustle Turns Hazardous
Today's episode is one that's coming straight from the heart (and maybe a little from the edge of a breakdown). We're talking burnout—not the cute kind that gets fixed with a latte and a nap, but the crispy, crunchy, why-did-I-say-yes-to-this kind of burnout that so many interior designers are quietly dealing with. I'm calling it Burnout Bake Out—yes, it's on brand with our new Bake House theme, b
S4 Ep. 178 Time Trap: Charging By the Hour
Hey there, welcome back to Designed for the Creative Mind! Today we're diving into a topic that hits way too close to home for so many designers — the dreaded "time trap". Yep, I'm talking about hourly billing and the never-ending stress of tracking every bathroom break like you're auditioning for TaskRabbit. If you've ever stayed up late trying to remember how long that third round of tile edits
S4 Ep. 177 Spolier: I Burned the Old Recipe
Hey y'all, welcome back to Design for the Creative Mind — the podcast where we dive into the business side of interior design with strategy, heart, and zero fluff. Today's episode is a big one because I'm giving you a behind-the-scenes look at some major changes we've been cooking up. I'm thrilled to share that my coaching platform has officially rebranded! While the podcast will keep its name (De
S4 Ep. 176 Retail Rookie - Why Shopping Like a Client Costs You
Hey, hey, hey – welcome back to Design for the Creative Mind! This season, we're talking all about rookie mistakes and real talk – the stuff that's keeping so many talented designers stuck. And today? We're hitting a big one: shopping retail. Yep. I'm talking about that habit of ordering from Pottery Barn, HomeGoods, or West Elm, skipping your trade vendors, and sending clients links instead of
S3 Ep. 175 BONUS: Following What You Love, Finding Success with Bekah Hernandez
Sure! Here's a set of conversational, first-person podcast shownotes based on your transcript: Hey, hey! Welcome back to The Designed for the Creative Mind podcast. I'm Michelle Lynne, and y'all are in for a treat today. I sat down with the incredibly talented Bekah Hernandez, the founder and principal of Rebekah Nicole Interiors here in the Dallas-Fort Worth area—and this conversation is such a
S3 Ep.174 The People Pleaser's Predicament: Why Leading Beats Pleasing Every Time
Hey y'all, welcome back to the Designed for the Creative Mind Podcast! I'm so glad you're here. We're kicking off a brand new season: Rookie Mistakes and Real Talk — where I'm mixing up business blunders and behind-the-scenes truths from running an interior design firm. Today's episode is for every designer who's ever said "yes" when they really wanted to scream "oh hell no" — and then paid the
S3 Ep.173 Social Media That Sells: Turning Your Design Content into Clients with Angelyn Horrell
Hey there, welcome back to the podcast designed for creative minds and interior designers like you. You're already a pro at creating stunning spaces, but let's talk about your Instagram. If your content isn't attracting the right clients and turning them into paying customers, we've got a problem. That's why I'm so excited to bring on Angelyn Horrell today. She's the co-owner of Next Chapter Soc
S3 Ep.172 Email Lists And Why They Matter
Hey, it's Michelle Lynne, and welcome back to Designed for the Creative Mind! Today, I'm diving into one of my all-time favorite topics: email lists. I know, I know—email marketing might not sound as sexy as social media, but trust me, it's a game-changer for your interior design business. If you've ever felt like you're screaming into the social media void, this episode is for you. I'm sharing wh
S3 Ep.171 Advantage of Identity Marketing with Veronica Romney
Welcome back to the podcast designed for the creative mind! Today, we're diving into the world of marketing—but not in the way you might expect. If marketing has ever felt salesy, sleazy, or just overwhelming, this conversation is for you. I'm joined by Veronica Romney, a certified master marketer, keynote speaker, podcast host, and author with over 17 years of experience shaping marketing strateg
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