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S3 Ep.169 Small by Design: The Power of a Boutique Firm

Designed for the Creative Mind™

Release Date: 03/06/2025

S6 Ep. 193 Decision Speed is a Moneymaker show art S6 Ep. 193 Decision Speed is a Moneymaker

Designed for the Creative Mind™

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 students) to stop spinning and start moving forward. IN THIS EPISODE, I’M TALKING ABOUT: The four traps that keep designers stuck: perfectionism, scarcity thinking, people-pleasing, and...

info_outline S6 Ep. 192 The Silent Profit Killers show art S6 Ep. 192 The Silent Profit Killers

Designed for the Creative Mind™

  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, guilty), where I see designers leaking profit all the time, and most importantly, how to patch those leaks so you can keep more of the money you’re already working so hard to...

info_outline Episode: S6 Ep 191 When Clients Say One Thing… But Mean Another show art Episode: S6 Ep 191 When Clients Say One Thing… But Mean Another

Designed for the Creative Mind™

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 blocking space for the right one. I’ll share the hidden costs of saying yes to everything, how to recognize the red flags early, and the exact scripts you can use to say no without...

info_outline S6 Ep 190: How Turning Down the “Wrong” Work Accelerates Your Growth. show art S6 Ep 190: How Turning Down the “Wrong” Work Accelerates Your Growth.

Designed for the Creative Mind™

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 yes to the wrong project, you’re blocking space for the right one. I’ll share the hidden costs of saying yes to everything, how to recognize the red flags early, and the exact scripts...

info_outline S6 Ep 189: Stop Over-Delivering: Why Doing More Is Costing You Time, Money, and Sanity show art S6 Ep 189: Stop Over-Delivering: Why Doing More Is Costing You Time, Money, and Sanity

Designed for the Creative Mind™

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 business owners. From reading between a client’s words, to knowing exactly when to say no (and how to do it without burning bridges), to spotting profit leaks before they sink you — these are...

info_outline S5 Ep 188: No Portfolio? No Problem: The Secret Strategy to Attract High Paying Clients show art S5 Ep 188: No Portfolio? No Problem: The Secret Strategy to Attract High Paying Clients

Designed for the Creative Mind™

  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 you don’t have a single professionally photographed project. If you’ve been holding off on putting your work out there because you’re waiting for the “perfect” photos, this...

info_outline S5 Ep 187 From Italy to the UK: One Baker, Two Countries, Big Design Dreams show art S5 Ep 187 From Italy to the UK: One Baker, Two Countries, Big Design Dreams

Designed for the Creative Mind™

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 Europe in project management and event organizing, and later as a marketing strategist for sustainable tourism. But after moving to the UK and becoming a full-time mom, she had a moment...

info_outline S5 Ep 186 Why Your Dream Clients Don’t Know You Exist (Yet) show art S5 Ep 186 Why Your Dream Clients Don’t Know You Exist (Yet)

Designed for the Creative Mind™

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: Why your dream clients don’t know you exist… yet (and yes, that “yet” is doing some heavy lifting). Here’s what we get into: The real reason the best...

info_outline S5 Ep 185 Booked by Accident? It’s Time to Get Intentional show art S5 Ep 185 Booked by Accident? It’s Time to Get Intentional

Designed for the Creative Mind™

  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 “booked by accident”—when your leads are inconsistent, your clients are sometimes not the right fit, and you’re crossing your fingers instead of working a plan. If your business has...

info_outline S5 Ep 184 If You Build It, They Still May Not Come show art S5 Ep 184 If You Build It, They Still May Not Come

Designed for the Creative Mind™

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 things.” Michelle unpacks what’s really going on in today’s economy and why relying on referrals, a pretty Instagram feed, or a solid reputation alone just isn’t enough anymore....

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Welcome back to the Design for the Creative Mind podcast! I'm your host, Michelle Lynne, and today, I'm chatting with the incredible DeeDee DeWine Holloway, founder and principal designer of DeWine Design based in Florida. DeeDee's journey from artist to thriving interior designer is nothing short of inspiring, and I can't wait for you to hear all about it!

What We Cover in This Episode:
  • How DeeDee's background in art and graphic design led her to interior design
  • The evolution of her business, from small design packages to a full-scale firm
  • Her early days of refinishing cabinets and how that turned into a major part of her business
  • The moment she realized it was time to charge what she was worth
  • How hiring a business coach (yes, including me!) changed everything for her
  • Her transition from specializing in kitchens and baths to full-service furnishing
  • The game-changing impact of profit margins in furniture design
  • Overcoming the fear of expanding into new services
  • Her role now as a master coach, giving back to the design community

DeeDee's story is a reminder that success in design is a journey, and investing in education, mentorship, and taking bold steps can transform your business. If you've ever doubted your ability to grow, this episode will show you that it's absolutely possible!

Resources and Links:

Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a review. Until next time, keep designing with confidence!

 

Podcast Website and Resources:

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