Designed for the Creative Mind™

Michelle Lynne
  • 4.7 (52)
  • Design
  • Updated Weekly

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.

  1. 6d ago

    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 your own instincts, experience, and standards, it's easy to assume that what feels obvious to you will be obvious to everyone else. But your team can't read your mind—and they shouldn't have to. Michelle shares the lessons she learned as her design firm grew, including why hiring initially created more work instead of less, how recurring team problems can reveal weaknesses in the business itself, and why delegation requires more than simply handing someone a list of responsibilities. She also explores the uncomfortable reality that sometimes the problem really is the employee—but you can't fairly determine that until you've looked at the role, the process, your leadership, and the support you've provided. In this episode, Michelle talks about: Why hiring often begins with addition before it creates subtraction How a team exposes the parts of your business that have been running on your memory, instinct, and unwritten standards The difference between describing a task and actually defining what "good" looks like Why "be more proactive," "use your judgment," and "take care of the client" aren't actually clear standards The principle: "Every project is different, but the process should be the same." How undocumented processes turn the owner into the answer to every routine question Why capable owners can accidentally create dependent employees by solving problems too quickly The difference between giving someone responsibility and giving them the authority to actually own it Why offering your perspective is different from taking the work back How delayed feedback can turn a simple conversation into a much bigger problem Why caring about your team can sometimes become an excuse for avoiding difficult conversations How to determine whether you're dealing with a people problem, a role problem, or a leadership/process problem When you have to accept that someone simply isn't the right fit for the role Why examining your own leadership doesn't mean taking responsibility for every failed hire What Michelle does differently today as she leads her design firm A question to ask yourself If you're frustrated with someone on your team right now, don't start with: "Is she a good employee or a bad employee?" Instead, look at the role. Ask yourself: What has actually been made clear? What authority does she have? What feedback has she received? What support has been provided? Does the process actually support the work? Have I communicated what needs to be communicated? Have I given her enough room to make decisions? If you've done those things and the same problem continues, you may finally have the information you need to address the person or the fit with confidence. Because sometimes the answer is better direction. Sometimes it's a better role. And sometimes, uncomfortable as it may be, it's a different person. The bigger lesson Hiring isn't simply a way to purchase more capacity. Hiring is a commitment to lead. When someone joins your company, they're stepping into your clients, your history, your standards, your processes—and all of the assumptions you may not even realize you've made. Your job as the owner is to make as much of that invisible information visible as you reasonably can. Standards need to be stated. Responsibilities need to be clear. Processes need to be documented. Feedback needs to happen while it can still be useful. And authority needs to accompany responsibility. Because the goal isn't to create a team that thinks exactly like you. It's to create a business where talented people can make good decisions without needing the owner to be the answer to everything. Work With Michelle If you're in the middle of a team situation and you're too close to it to tell whether you have a people problem, a role problem, or a leadership problem, private coaching can help you step back, separate the facts from the frustration, and determine what needs to change. Learn more about working with Michelle here: https://thedesignbakehouse.com/private-coaching Keep Listening This episode is part of Michelle's series about the parts of business ownership nobody warned us about—the messy, uncomfortable, and surprisingly valuable lessons that come with growing a company. Because sometimes you don't need another business strategy. You need to be willing to look at what your business is showing you.

    Ep 246: Nobody Warned Me About This Part: Hiring Would Expose My Own Weaknesses

  2. Sep 28

    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 happening inside your firm. And nobody really warned you that this was part of the deal. In this first episode of my new series, Nobody Warned Me About This Part, I'm getting honest about what happens when the business you built around your talent starts requiring something entirely different from you. I'll share my own evolution from doing everything myself at by Michelle Lynn to leading ML Interiors Group, why stepping away from design was both liberating and surprisingly emotional, and what it really means to transition from being the designer to being the business owner. Because here's the thing: Growth isn't just more clients, bigger projects, or a larger team. It's a transfer of responsibility. And the work doesn't disappear just because someone else is doing the designing. We'll talk about: Why the role of the owner changes as an interior design firm grows. The emotional challenge of stepping away from the creative work that built your reputation. Why leadership, pricing, processes, and capacity planning are not overhead. They're the work. The uncomfortable middle stage where you have a team but still feel responsible for every decision. How staying involved in every detail can unintentionally turn you into the bottleneck. The difference between having high standards and communicating those standards effectively. Why hiring more people doesn't automatically create freedom. How to determine whether you actually want to lead a larger firm or prefer a business that keeps you closer to the design work. The questions every interior design business owner should ask before pursuing the next level of growth. The question to consider: If your business doubled over the next two years, how would your daily job change? And would you actually want the life that comes with it? Because there is no one-size-fits-all definition of success. You get to decide what kind of business you want to build.   Ready for Support? If you're navigating the transition from designer to business owner and need help figuring out your role, your team, or what comes next for your firm, private coaching with Michelle Lynne can help you get clarity and create a business that supports the life you actually want. Explore Private Coaching with Michelle Lynne at https://thedesignbakehouse.com/private-coaching.   Connect with Michelle Follow Michelle Lynne here at the Designed for the Creative Mind podcast for more honest conversations about the business behind the beautiful designs. This is the part nobody warned us about. And it's worth talking about.

    Ep 245: Nobody Warned Me About This Part: When Growing Your Design Firm Changes Your Job

  3. Sep 21

    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's another side of the equation that doesn't always make it into the Instagram caption. Because when you own the business, you're not just the designer. You're also the salesperson, financial manager, problem solver, technology department, decision-maker, and the person who ultimately has to deal with whatever goes sideways. In this episode, Michelle Lynne gets very honest about what it actually means to own an interior design business—and asks a question that more designers should be asking: Do you actually want to own a business, or do you want to be an interior designer? Neither answer is wrong. Working for an established design firm can offer the opportunity to focus on the creative work without carrying the full weight of sales, finances, operations, and business risk. And for some designers, that may genuinely be the career they want. For others, the autonomy and opportunity that comes with ownership are worth the responsibility and uncertainty. The important thing is knowing which one you're actually choosing—and making that decision based on the life and work you want, rather than what sounds more ambitious or impressive. In this episode, Michelle talks about: The difference between being an interior designer and being an interior design business owner Why design is only one part of the job when you own the firm The reality of being responsible for sales, finances, technology, and problem-solving Why impressive revenue numbers don't necessarily mean a business is profitable The personal development that comes with putting yourself—and your work—out there Rejection, perfectionism, imposter syndrome, and vulnerability as a business owner The financial risk and uncertainty that come with starting a firm Why working for another design firm is not a fallback or a failure What you can learn by working inside an established design business How to think about ownership versus employment based on the actual life you want Why you're allowed to change your mind about the path you've chosen The question to sit with: What do you want your actual days to look like? If you want to spend most of your time sourcing, designing, presenting, and installing, working inside an established firm may be exactly what you're looking for. If you want to build something that's yours, make the decisions, take the risk, and reap the rewards—and you're willing to engage with the unglamorous parts of running a business—ownership may be the path for you. There's no prize for choosing the harder option. There's no shame in changing your mind. And there's certainly no reason to build a business simply because everyone around you says that's what successful designers are supposed to do. Choose the career that actually fits the life you want to live. Want to work with Michelle? If you're wrestling with whether to start, grow, change, or rethink your interior design business, private coaching gives you the opportunity to look at your specific situation—including your goals, numbers, circumstances, and what you actually want your work and life to look like. Learn more about private coaching with Michelle Lynne by visiting https://thedesignbakehouse.com/private-coaching   Share this episode Know an interior designer who's trying to figure out whether they actually want to own a business? Send this episode their way. Sometimes the most useful thing we can give someone isn't permission to make a particular choice—it's a clearer picture of the choice they're actually making.

    Ep 244:Do You Actually Want to Own an Interior Design Business?

  4. Sep 14

    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 into why strong operations are so important for design firms, especially as a business grows beyond the principal doing everything herself. From documenting processes and empowering your team to conducting project postmortems and creating space to step away, they explore what it actually takes to build a firm that can function without you. And yes, they talk about Fiji. Michelle shares her "Fiji Factor"—the idea that if she and her lead designer could disappear to Fiji tomorrow, the business should still be able to operate. Katie adds her own twist: processes should be consistent, but not so rigid that there's no room for the unique needs of a luxury client or the lessons you learn along the way. The conversation also gets into one of the biggest leadership shifts a principal can make: stopping yourself from being the person who solves every problem. Because when your team has responsibility and the authority to make decisions, something important happens. You get your time back. Your team gets stronger. And the business becomes less dependent on you. In this episode, Michelle and Katie talk about: Why documented processes are essential—even for small and solo design firms The "Fiji Factor" and why your business should be able to function without you Why 90% of your process should stay consistent while leaving room for the other 10% Charging appropriately for high-maintenance or high-touch clients How to stop being the person who has to know and solve everything The difference between responsibility and authority when managing a team Why hiring for "care" and character can matter more than hiring for every skill on the job description How to trust your team while still having checks and balances Why project postmortems should capture what went RIGHT—not just what went wrong How to recognize when an old process no longer serves your clients or your firm The importance of auditing your processes, subscriptions, tools, and systems Why the right tools can save you from working harder just to get the same result How creating white space in your business gives you room to think, create, and breathe Why principals need to take real time away from the business The connection between good operations, sustainability, and actually enjoying your business again One of the biggest takeaways from the conversation is simple: Operations may not sound sexy, but they're what give you the freedom to build the business—and the life—you actually want. Whether you want to grow a seven-figure firm, take six clients a year, spend more time designing, or simply be able to take a vacation without your phone exploding, the goal is the same: build a business that doesn't require you to hold every piece in your head. And sometimes, the best leadership move you can make is to step back and let your people figure it out. Because you don't have to know everything. You don't have to solve everything. And your business shouldn't need you to do everything. Connect with Us You can learn more about Michelle by visiting https://thedesignbakehouse.com/ or following her on IG: https://www.instagram.com/by_michelle_lynne/ You can learn more about Katie by visiting https://successbydesign.coach/ or following her on IG: https://www.instagram.com/successbydesign_coach_podcast/ Want to get on the waitlist for Sidemark 2.0? This software will be THE software to run your entire interior design business. A true all-in-one. https://api.mysidemark.com/widget/form/4Ug6Rgg2uqCX0MydoJ2v?notrack=true

  5. Sep 7

    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 something terribly wrong. In this final episode of Tended, Michelle Lynne gets unusually honest about a season when her own business looked successful from the outside—but felt anything but successful on the inside. After unexpectedly losing two key team members in 2023, navigating the launch of Studio Works and Sidemark, and then experiencing a prolonged slowdown in leads through 2024 and 2025, Michelle found herself questioning everything—including whether she should walk away from her design firm altogether. And yet, if you had followed ML Interiors Group on social media during that time, you probably would have had no idea. The projects were still being photographed. The posts were still going out. The business was still moving. That's the point. You are comparing your behind-the-scenes to someone else's highlight reel. And that comparison can lead you to make decisions based on information you don't actually have. In this episode, Michelle talks about: What it feels like to go through a genuinely difficult season while your business still looks successful from the outside Why social media gives you an incomplete picture of another designer's business The danger of assuming that a designer who is "swamped" is necessarily profitable or successful Why busyness and business success are not the same thing How industry events and conversations at market can fuel comparison Why year-end highlight reels can make a slow season feel even worse How Michelle pulled herself out of the comparison spiral by returning to her own numbers, pipeline, margins, clients, marketing, and team The difference between learning from another designer and reshaping your business because of what you see them doing Why slow seasons don't necessarily mean you're falling behind The reminder that you are not uniquely behind and probably aren't missing some magical secret everyone else has figured out The big takeaway The version of someone else's business that you can see is always edited. You don't know their margins. You don't know their client relationships. You don't know whether they're profitable. You don't know what is happening behind the beautiful project photos or the confident conversation at market. So before you change your positioning, blow up your brand, restructure your services, or decide that everyone else has figured something out that you haven't, come back to your own business. Look at your actual numbers. Your pipeline. Your margins. Your clients. Your marketing. Your team. Your goals. Your business needs a North Star—not a comparison. And perhaps most importantly, remember: You are not separate from your business. Tending to yourself isn't the soft work or the extra work. It's part of the work. Running an interior design firm is hard. You don't have to pretend otherwise. Ready for support? If this episode—and the entire Tended series—hit a little too close to home, private coaching may be the right next step. Michelle works with interior designers who want experienced guidance from someone who understands the realities of building and running a design firm. Learn more about Private Coaching at Design Bakehouse.   Join Michelle at the Northeast Design Conference Michelle will be speaking at the Northeastern Design Conference during the first week of October.  Use code MICHELLE10 for 10% off your registration. Check the show notes for conference details and registration information.

    Ep 242: Tended, Pt 4 - When Everyone Else Looks Like They Have It Together

  6. Aug 31

    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 every personal request outside of work, the easy yes often creates a much bigger problem down the road. Michelle breaks down why designers struggle to say no, what's really underneath those yeses, and how creating stronger structures and boundaries can protect your time, energy, and business. She also gets personal about the guilt that can come with saying no at home—and why honoring your capacity isn't selfish or neglectful. It can actually be one of the most intentional things you do for yourself, your family, and your business. In this episode, Michelle talks about: Why saying no is a skill, not a personality trait The hidden cost of taking on a client you knew wasn't the right fit How "small" yeses turn into scope creep and unpaid work Why scope creep is often a communication and structure problem—not a client problem What happens when your firm outgrows the kinds of projects you used to accept How scarcity fear can cause you to make today's decisions based on an old version of your business Why saying no creates space for better-fit clients and projects The connection between business boundaries and personal boundaries Why "no" doesn't require an apology or a lengthy explanation How to practice saying no in low-stakes situations before you need the skill in a high-stakes one Why the way you feel after a well-held no is valuable data The big takeaway The yes you give to avoid discomfort today may be creating a much bigger problem for yourself tomorrow. A well-held no creates space—for the right clients, the right projects, the right pace of growth, and a business you actually want to stay in for the long run. And remember: "No" is a complete sentence.   Work with Michelle Visit our website at https://thedesignbakehouse.com/private-coaching to learn more about how you can work with Michelle 1-1.

  7. Aug 24

    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. Because sometimes the problem isn't that you need more rest. It's that your energy is being spent in places that aren't serving you. Michelle walks through the hidden energy drains she sees in interior design business owners—from difficult or misaligned clients to social media comparison, overfunctioning as an owner, and the expectation that you should always be available. She also talks about an important distinction between recovery and restoration. Recovery stops the drain. Restoration actually puts something back in the tank. And as a business owner, you need both. Most importantly, Michelle gives you a simple exercise you can use this week: an energy audit. Pay attention to what takes your energy and what gives it back. Then use that information the same way you would use any other business data—to make better decisions about where your time, attention, and energy belong. In this episode, we talk about: The difference between normal tiredness and deeper depletion Why misalignment can leave you exhausted even when you're getting enough rest How the wrong clients can drain more than your time—they can drain your confidence and creativity The comparison spiral created by social media Why overfunctioning as a business owner keeps you stuck in the day-to-day The hidden cost of being constantly available to clients and vendors How setting communication boundaries can actually strengthen client relationships The difference between recovery and restoration What Michelle has discovered actually restores her energy Why unstructured time and "white space" matter for business owners How to conduct your own one-week energy audit Why your energy is a business metric worth paying attention to Your takeaway: You are a business asset. Your energy is one of the most important inputs in your business—and you deserve to know where it's going. If this conversation hit close to home and you're ready to build a business you can actually sustain, visit thedesignbakehouse.com and click the Coaching tab to learn more about working with Michelle. Design for the Creative Mind is hosted by Michelle Lynne, founder of The Interior Design Business Bakery.

  8. Aug 18

    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 nonprofit with a big mission: transforming teachers' lounges into beautiful, restorative spaces that give educators a place to recharge. In this episode, Michelle sits down with the four creatives behind the Design Besties to talk about how their friendship came together, what makes their collaboration work so well, and why they believe there is always room at the table. They share the story behind their first teachers' lounge makeover, the emotional response from the teachers, and how that experience turned a passion project into a national mission. The Design Besties are now working toward bringing their work to all 50 states. In this episode, you'll hear about: How four professionals from different areas of the design industry became the Design Besties The unexpected project that inspired them to create their nonprofit Why teachers' lounges became the focus of their service work How each Bestie brings a different strength to the team What makes their collaboration work without ego or competition The importance of creating welcoming spaces and making sure there's always room at the table How they're working to scale the Design Besties nationally The power of using your professional skills to serve others Why adult friendship and genuine community can be such a gift How designers and brands can get involved through donations, sponsorships, volunteering, and spreading the word Meet the Design Besties (full bios below)   Rhobin DelaCruz Interior designer. Creative instigator. Vibe curator. Rhobin has designed for names like GQ, TED, and MTV - but his real flex is helping clients create bold, joy-filled spaces that feel like them (just with better lighting and cuter pillows). Born in SoCal, thriving in NYC, Rhobin mixes West Coast chill with East Coast edge, all wrapped in global inspiration and a love for real estate, storytelling, and saying what everyone else is thinking. Business name-- Rhobin DelaCruz Designs Email rhobin@rhobindelacruz.com Insta: @rhobindelacruzdesigns Website: www.rhobindelacruz.com   Lori Johnson Lori Johnson is a Dallas-based fine artist whose abstract work blends soft layers of color and texture to explore beauty, transformation, and connection. Featured on Bargain Mansions (HGTV, Magnolia Network, A&E) and sold nationally at HomeGoods and HomeSense, her art invites reflection and emotional connection. Represented at Dallas Market Center through McStudios and Ethan & Associates, Lori collaborates with designers, retailers, and lifestyle brands. She recently partnered with Denim Manor and Wexel Art to launch a line of textile fabrics for interiors, fashion, and home décor. Business name- Lori Johnson Artist, Collaborator and Creative Email Info@lorijohnsonart.com Insta: @lorijohnsonfineart Website: www.lorijohnsonfineart.com   Nikki Watson Nikki Watson is the founder of The Design Quad, Dallas's leading home staging and design firm. What began with $10 borrowed from her mother has grown into the nation's largest-volume staging company, with more than 300 homes staged at once across Dallas–Fort Worth. Her work has been featured on HGTV, A&E, Max, and international outlets. Known for her motto "Create, Inspire, and Serve," Nikki has built service into her brand's DNA, supporting community charities while redefining home staging, design, flooring, and remodeling. Business name-- The Design Quad Email nikki@nikkiwatson.net Insta: @iamnikkiwatson Website: www.nikkiwatson.net   Whitney Atkinson Whitney Atkinson, founder and inventor of WUGS Weighted Rugs and WILLOWS Weighted Outdoor Pillows, is a Gulf Coast native blending function with style. With a background in interior and commercial design, she created the first weighted rug to solve slipping, curling, and outdoor durability. Her weighted pillows also withstand harsh weather while staying beautifully in place. Whitney's innovative products reimagine everyday living by offering solutions that are both practical and design-forward. Business name- - Founder & Inventor of WUGS & WILLOWS Email whit@wugsweightedrugs.com Insta: @whitney_atkinson Website: www.wugsweightedrugs.com   Want to Get Involved? The Design Besties are looking for schools, brands, designers, donors, and supporters who want to help them bring beautiful, wellness-focused teachers' lounges to communities across the country. Visit their website to learn more, apply for a school makeover, explore sponsorship opportunities, donate, and follow their work. Email: besties@thedesignbesties.org Website: thedesignbesties.org Facebook: The Design Besties Instagram: @the_designbesties Check out our latest campaign: Grizzlies Prep Teachers' Lounge Movement   And remember: there's always room at the table.

    Ep 239: The Design Besties - Friendship, Collaboration & Designing for a Bigger Purpose
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About

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.

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