Mastering the Business of Interior Design: Success by Design

Send Katie a Text Message!! Referrals are one of the best compliments your business can receive—but they shouldn't be the only way you're attracting clients. In this episode, Michelle Lynn and I unpack one of the biggest myths in the interior design industry: that being "referral only" is the ultimate sign of success. While referrals are an incredible source of business, relyin...

Send Katie a Text Message!! Growing your business should feel exciting—but if you've ever wondered why success suddenly feels heavier, this episode is for you. One of the biggest misconceptions in the design industry is that growth automatically creates more freedom. In reality, growth often exposes the parts of your business that have been held together by your own talent, memory, and consta...

Send Katie a Text Message!! Most interior designers think they have a revenue problem. But what if the real issue isn't how much money is coming in? What if it's how much money is quietly leaking out? In this episode, Katie breaks down one of the biggest profitability challenges facing design firms today: hidden profit leaks. From scope creep and revision loops to owner over-involvement...

Send Katie a Text Message!! One of the biggest misconceptions I see in the interior design industry is the belief that profitability automatically means your business is healthy. It doesn't. You can have beautiful projects, happy clients, strong revenue, and still be operating a business that can't handle another level of growth. In this episode, I'm breaking down the difference bet...

Send Katie a Text Message!! What if the biggest thing holding your business back isn't your team, your workload, or your schedule? What if it's the fact that your business still depends on you for everything? In this episode, I'm diving into one of the biggest growth barriers I see in interior design firms: owner dependency. It's the moment many business owners reach where the...

Send Katie a Text Message!! In this special joint episode of Success by Design and Design for the Creative Mind , Michelle Lynne and I kick off a new series called The Art of Being the Principal . We dive into what it really takes to lead a successful interior design firm, move beyond being the operator of your business, and step fully into the role of CEO. If you're balancing design work, te...

Send Katie a Text Message!! What if the project draining your energy, your time, your profit, and your team was never actually the problem? What if the bigger issue is that you said yes to it in the first place? In this episode of Success by Design , I’m talking about the subtle “wrong projects” interior designers take on all the time — the ones that seem fine at first. The budget looks decent, th...

Send Katie a Text Message!! If you’ve ever finished a project and immediately moved on to the next one, this episode is going to hit a nerve—in the best way. Because what if the thing keeping your business stuck isn’t your clients, your pricing, or your workload… but the fact that you’re not stopping to evaluate what actually happened? In this episode, I’m breaking down the one decision that separ...

Send Katie a Text Message!! In this episode, I’m walking you through exactly what I would fix first if I stepped into your interior design business and helped you scale to seven figures. And here’s the truth most people won’t tell you—you don’t need to work more, take on more clients, or post more content. What you actually need is to fix the right things in the right order. If your business feels...

Send Katie a Text Message!! In this episode, I’m sharing a conversation I recently had with designers at High Point Market—and it’s one I couldn’t wait to bring to you here because it hits on something so many of you are experiencing right now. If you’ve been saying “I need more clients,” but you’re not actively nurturing the relationships you already have, this might be the reframe you need. Beca...

Send Katie a Text Message!! In this episode, I’m unpacking something I see all the time in design businesses—and it might surprise you. It’s not that you need to think bigger. It’s that your business may not be built to support the growth you say you want. I know how easy it is to believe the next level comes from bigger goals, more confidence, or finally stepping into your “CEO era.” But if your...

Send Katie a Text Message!! In this episode, I’m joined by Heather McManus, founder of The Designers Collaborative, and we’re diving into a conversation that challenges what most designers believe about profitability. Because if you’ve been told the only way to make more money is to raise your rates or take on more clients, I want you to hear this—there’s another way. And it might completely shift...

Send Katie a Text Message!! If you’ve been feeling stretched thin and thinking, “I just need to hire another designer,” this episode might shift everything for you. I’m breaking down why hiring an assistant designer is often not the solution you think it is—and what’s actually keeping you overworked, overwhelmed, and stuck in your business. IN THIS EPISODE: Why hiring an assistant designer often d...

Send Katie a Text Message!! If you’ve ever thought, “I want more in my business, but I don’t know if I can handle more,” this episode is for you. Today I’m breaking down one of the biggest reasons interior designers struggle to scale—and it’s not your talent or your work ethic. It’s your business model. If your business is built on the assumption that you have unlimited energy and capacity, it wil...

Send Katie a Text Message!! If you feel busy all day but your interior design business still isn’t growing, this episode is going to hit home. I’m breaking down why constant hustle isn’t the problem—and why your business might actually be designed to keep you stuck. IN THIS EPISODE: I’m sharing what I see behind the scenes with so many interior designers: full calendars, constant work, and zero re...

Send Katie a Text Message!! Have you ever wrapped up a project and thought… how did we get here again? You started with a clear vision, a solid plan, and a client who seemed aligned. But somewhere between the mood board and install day, the budget unraveled. Now the client is stressed, you’re reworking the same design over and over, and a project that once felt exciting feels heavy. In this episod...

Send Katie a Text Message!! Have you ever had a client approve everything… only to start unraveling the design a few days later? One change turns into five. The sofa shifts, then the rug feels off, then suddenly the entire room is back on the table. Your timeline gets pushed, your energy gets drained, and the project becomes far more complicated than it ever needed to be. In this episode, I’m brea...

Send Katie a Text Message!! Referrals feel incredible as an interior designer. They’re proof your clients love your work and your reputation is strong. But there’s something most designers don’t realize—referrals alone are not a growth strategy. In this episode, I’m talking about the quiet ceiling referral-driven businesses often hit. When your pipeline depends on referrals, your growth depends on...

Send Katie a Text Message!! After 100 episodes of Success by Design , there are a few patterns I simply can’t ignore anymore. They’ve shown up in coaching calls, DMs, and quiet conversations after the mic turns off. And if you’re building an interior design firm right now — especially one you want to sustain you long-term — this episode is going to feel personal. Here’s what I know for sure: your...

Send Katie a Text Message!! If you’re booked out, have steady inquiries, and your revenue looks solid — but you still feel capped — this episode is for you. High demand does not automatically mean you’re ready to scale your interior design business. If you can’t take on more without breaking something, it’s not a marketing problem. It’s a structural one. In this episode, I’m breaking down why reve...

Send Katie a Text Message!! If you’re running a multiple six-figure interior design firm and finding that the business advice you used to love now feels surface-level, this episode is for you. DIY business advice isn’t bad. In fact, it’s incredibly helpful when you’re building momentum. But there comes a point when quick tips, Instagram soundbites, and six-week tactical courses stop moving the nee...

Send Katie a Text Message!! You raised your rates. You updated your website. You had the uncomfortable conversations. And you thought, This is it. This is the turning point. But you’re still working just as much. Maybe more. If that’s you, this episode of Success by Design is going to hit home. In this conversation, I break down why raising your interior design fees is often necessary — but never...

Send Katie a Text Message!! If you’ve ever found yourself thinking, “I swear I’ve already answered this,” while a team member pings you yet again, this episode is for you. Today, I’m unpacking one of the most exhausting leadership moments I see with designers — when your team keeps asking the same questions over and over, and it starts to make you wonder if you’re doing something wrong as a leader...

Send Katie a Text Message!! If you’ve ever looked at your business and thought, “Why did this feel easier when I was making less money?” —this episode is for you. Today, I’m talking directly to designers who are doing “everything right” on paper. The revenue is there. The team is there. The projects are bigger. And yet… everything feels heavier. More complex. More draining. Here’s the truth I want...

Send Katie a Text Message!! Choosing a coach is a big decision—especially when your business is already successful, but something still feels heavy. In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on what coaching should (and shouldn’t) look like for interior designers. I share the mistakes I’ve made hiring coaches, the lessons I learned the hard way, and the exact criteria I use now—both when I hir...