Designed for the Creative Mind™

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 sacrificing sleep to giving up movement and carrying the mental load of both business and family, Michelle shares her own struggles with putting self-care into practice.
Because for a business owner, burnout doesn't always look like collapsing. Sometimes it looks like shorter patience, harder decisions, less creativity, resentment toward the business you built, or simply sitting at your desk for hours without actually accomplishing much.
And when you're a sole proprietor or small firm owner, you're often the single point of failure. If you go down, the business goes down with you.
This episode is a reminder that taking care of yourself isn't a distraction from your responsibilities. It's what makes you capable of meeting them.
In this episode, Michelle talks about:
Why business owners are often the first to protect everything except themselves

The "oxygen mask" analogy and why it applies so directly to entrepreneurship

What running on empty actually looks like before you reach full-blown burnout

How exhaustion can affect your patience, creativity, decision-making, and relationships

Why sleep isn't a luxury or a badge of honor—and what you're losing when you consistently sacrifice it

Michelle's experience of stopping exercise and realizing that movement was about far more than aesthetics

Why regular movement can be a form of business maintenance

The difference between being busy and actually contributing

How the "first one in, last one out" mentality from corporate life can follow you into entrepreneurship

Why the work will never truly be finished—and why waiting until everything is handled before resting doesn't work

The impact of your relationship with work on your team and your family

Why ambition and health don't have to be opposites

How being rested, fed, and physically cared for can make you a better leader and business owner

A question to take with you
If your business systems went down tomorrow, you'd do whatever it took to fix them. When was the last time you applied that same logic to yourself?
You are not a distraction from your business.
You are the person who makes the business possible.
Want support beyond the strategy?
Michelle's private coaching works with interior designers on more than just the numbers and business strategy. It's about the owner behind the business, too—creating a business that works within the reality of your life and learning how to lead well while carrying a heavy load.
Learn more about private coaching at The Design Bakehouse.
And if you're sitting at your desk right now staring at your computer but not actually getting anything done, take Michelle's advice: get up. Stretch. Move.
You don't have to earn rest.
You have to tend to yourself.