Do you ever feel like you’re running your design business on autopilot—too busy with client deadlines to pause and ask yourself if this is really the life and business you want?

Many interior designers fall into the trap of working nonstop but never taking the time to reflect, reset, and plan ahead. The result? Burnout, scattered focus, missed opportunities for real business breakthroughs, and a business that feels more like a burden than a passion.

In this episode, I sit down with leadership coach Sierra Collins and designer and entrepreneur Cathy Tonks to share what’s in store for the upcoming Sacramento Design Business Collective Thrive Retreat for Interior Designers (SDBC Thrive Retreat). We talk about how Thrive Retreat can help you step away from the grind, increase productivity, step into 2026 with clarity and confidence, and create a balanced life where your business supports your dreams instead of competing with them.

If you’ve been craving clarity, accountability, and a community of designers who truly understand your challenges, this episode will show you why the Thrive Retreat could be the one thing you need.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

✔️ Why stepping away from your business is essential for growth and productivity

✔️ The power of DISC and Working Genius assessments in communication and teamwork

✔️ The power of designing a business model that aligns with your life goals

✔️ How procedures, automation, and team building simplify business complexity

✔️ Mindset shifts every designer needs to scale from scarcity thinking to CEO thinking

✔️ The importance of accountability and building supportive design community connections

✔️ How to craft your ideal day and create a 2026 roadmap with intention

Read the Blog >>> >>> Sneak Peek Inside the 2-Day Sacramento Thrive Retreat

NEXT STEPS:

🎯 Sign up for the Sacramento Thrive Retreat! Spots are limited to just 20 designers, and registration closes October 24th at midnight.

Grab your freebies:

📌 Your Roadmap to a Career in Interior Design

🎨 3 Things I Wish I had known when I Started my Career

Connect With Me:

📧 Email: [email protected]

🔆 Instagram: @rwarddesign

🌎 Website at rwarddesign.com

Thanks for listening! I hope this helps you discover if interior design is the career for you. See you next week...

Timestamps

0:00 Introduction

02:30  Why Personal and Business Growth Is Non-Negotiable

06:50  How Much Time Designers Lose to Distractions (And How Retreats Reclaim It)

09:40  The Struggle to Honor Personal Time and Why Non-Negotiables Matter

14:15  Day 1 Preview: DISC, Working Genius, the Language for Success

19:40  What Breakout Sessions and Roundtable Discussions Look Like

22:00  Day 2 Preview: Goal Setting, Productivity Hacks, and Preparing for 2026

28:50  Retreat Details: Limited Spots, Payment Plans, and Why This Investment Pays Off

Are you tired of sourcing the same mass-produced furniture pieces your clients can find anywhere?

Imagine offering them something truly unique—a custom furniture solution that not only fits their space perfectly but also reflects their personality and lifestyle.

In this episode, I explore how interior designers can elevate their projects through custom furniture with builder Michael Brinkley. Michael shares how designers can turn client frustrations, like the wrong size, finish, or style in mass-produced pieces, into opportunities by collaborating with a custom furniture maker. He walks us through his creative process, from sketching and 3D modeling to building functional, heirloom-quality pieces that solve real design challenges. Through stories of unique projects, like a dining table made from wine crates and a barn door with a built-in TV, Michael highlights how custom furniture isn’t just a design upgrade; it’s a powerful way for interior designers to stand out in a competitive market.

If you’re an interior designer looking to deliver distinctive, tailor-made solutions for your clients while elevating your business, this conversation will give you the insider’s perspective you need.

Featured Guest:

Michael Brinkley is the owner and master craftsman of Brinkley Furniture, a nationally recognized custom furniture studio in Redding, California. With over 30 years of experience in cabinetry and furniture design, he specializes in creating heirloom-quality, one-of-a-kind pieces that blend timeless design with modern functionality. His work is celebrated nationwide for its craftsmanship, innovation, and ability to bring designers’ and clients’ visions to life.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

✔️ How partnering with a custom furniture builder can help you deliver one-of-a-kind solutions for your clients.

✔️ The process of transforming client ideas into functional, beautifully engineered custom pieces.

✔️ Why communication and collaboration between designers and builders are key to a successful project.

✔️ Real examples of standout custom furniture projects.

✔️ Tips on sourcing materials locally and navigating budget-conscious options without sacrificing style.

✔️ How custom furniture can help you differentiate your design business in a competitive market.

✔️ Why investing in custom furniture is a long-term value for clients, offering heirloom-quality pieces.

Is your interior design business stuck in the weeds or stagnant? You're not alone! Many interior designers get caught up in client work and admin tasks, leaving little time to grow or dream bigger.

Breakthroughs don’t usually happen when you’re stuck in your to-do list or working late at the office. They come when you intentionally step back, shift your perspective, and surround yourself with the right people who can inspire and challenge you.

In this episode, I’m sharing how designers can find clarity, creativity, and confidence to grow their business without sacrificing their health or burning out.

If you want more freedom, profit, and joy in your design career, this episode offers both inspiration and practical tips to help you get there.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

✔️ Why stepping away from your daily routine is essential for a designer's business breakthrough

✔️ The science behind how travel and new environments boost creativity by up to 50%

✔️ The power of proximity: how surrounding yourself with the right peers elevates your results

✔️ Why networking and mastermind groups are critical for business growth

✔️ How to work on your interior design business, not just in it

✔️ Why the most successful design firms don’t work more hours—they work smarter

✔️ How attending an interior design business retreat like The Sacramento Design Business Collective Thrive Retreat can spark lasting change

Read the Blog >>> 3 Proven Keys to Your Designer Business Breakthrough

Related Episodes:

✨ Episode 147: Mindset Shift Series: Design a Career That Supports Your Life

✨Episode 153: Mindset Shift Series #4: Normalizing Imposter Syndrome in Interior Design

NEXT STEPS:

🎯 Join The Sacramento Design Business Collective Thrive Retreat to unlock your next designer business breakthrough

Grab your freebies:

📌 Your Roadmap to a Career in Interior Design

🎨 3 Things I Wish I had known when I Started my Career

Connect With Me:

📧 Email: [email protected]

🔆 Instagram: @rwarddesign

🌎 Website at rwarddesign.com

Thanks for listening! I hope this helps you discover if interior design is the career for you. See you next week...

Timestamps

01:25 Why You Need to Step Out of Your Daily Routine for Breakthroughs

03:38 The Power of New Environments and Nature

07:49 The Power of Proximity and Who You Spend Time With

08:50 Networking and Building Connections

11:43 The Value of Retreats and Working on Your Business

16:55 How the Design Business Collective Thrive Retreat Can Help You Grow Your Design Business

What if a side project could turn into a full-blown design career?

In this episode, I chat with Bre Hance, founder and principal designer of InHance, who shares how she went from helping her husband with a few design projects to running her thriving interior design and build firm in Los Angeles. She opens up about the early days of her business—starting without a portfolio or website—and how she found her first clients by showing up, being creative, and believing in her skills.

Bre also talks about what it takes to grow a design business, from hiring a team to learning the hard lessons through expensive mistakes. You’ll hear how she discovered her signature style, Elevated Everyday Living, and how social media, especially Instagram, helped her grow her brand and attract ideal clients. She shares her secrets to avoiding stress and building trust.

If you're an aspiring or new interior designer, Bre’s honest insights and practical advice will leave you inspired, wiser, and ready to take action. 🎧 Tune in now!

Featured Guest:

Bre Hance is the founder and principal designer of ⁠InHance⁠, a high-end residential design-build firm based in Los Angeles. With over a decade of experience, Bre has designed more than 200 homes across the U.S. Known for her bold use of color, eclectic luxury style, and her trademarked philosophy, Elevated Everyday Living, she helps clients create beautiful, practical spaces from concept to completion.

Why you’ve got to check out today’s episode:

📌 Learn how to create authentic content for Instagram to attract your clients and grow your design brand

📌 Get honest advice on scaling smart and staying true to your values

📌 Avoid mistakes that cost thousands and other common pitfalls

Check out the show notes >>> Mistakes, Difficult Clients & Lessons Learned in Running a Design Biz

NEXT STEPS:

🎯 Join the My Design Mentor to kickstart a successful career in interior design!

Grab your freebies:

📌 Your Roadmap to a Career in Interior Design

🎨 3 Things I Wish I had known when I Started my Career

Connect With Me:

📧 Email: [email protected]

🔆 Instagram: @rwarddesign

🌎 Website at rwarddesign.com

Thanks for listening! I hope this helps you discover if interior design is the career for you. See you next week...

Timestamps:

0:00 Introduction

02:04 Bre's Early Beginnings & How She Got Into Design

06:09 Scaling and Shaping the Business

09:49 Defining Her Signature Style

12:58 Future Dreams: Lifestyle Brand Possibilities

14:09 Impact of the LA Fires and Community Involvement

17:28 Using Social Media to Grow a Design Business

21:58 Mistakes, Difficult Clients & Lessons Learned

31:16 Advice for Aspiring Interior Designers

Do you ever feel like you’re not good enough to be a designer? Have you ever thought, “What if my clients discover that I’m not as skilled as they believe I am?”

In this final episode of the Mindset Shift Series, I discuss the real struggles that new designers face, such as feelings of insecurity and imposter syndrome.

These feelings are completely normal, and even experienced designers go through them.

So, I share simple yet powerful strategies to uplift you when you're feeling down, help shift your mindset, and boost your confidence. Plus, I also share real stories from my own journey.

If you’ve ever felt like you don’t know enough, don’t have a signature style, or wonder why anyone would pay you for your design work, this episode will help you feel seen and supported.

This is also your reminder that you can do hard things, and you don’t have to do them alone. 🎧 Listen now and share it with a designer friend who could use a little encouragement, too!

Why you’ve got to check out today’s episode:

📌 Learn how to reframe negative thoughts so you can feel more confident

📌 Leverage community and connection to help you beat burnout and self-doubt

📌 Start seeing your progress even when it doesn’t feel like a straight line

Check out the show notes >>> Normalizing Imposter Syndrome in Interior Design

NEXT STEPS:

🎯 Join the My Design Mentor to kickstart a successful career in interior design!

Grab your freebies:

📌 Your Roadmap to a Career in Interior Design

🎨 3 Things I Wish I had known when I Started my Career

Connect With Me:

📧 Email: [email protected]

🔆 Instagram: @rwarddesign

🌎 Website at rwarddesign.com

Thanks for listening! I hope this helps you discover if interior design is the career for you. See you next week...

Timestamps:

0:00 Introduction

02:13 Common Thoughts and Limiting Beliefs in New Designers

6:49 Age, Comparison, and the Myth of Being "Behind"

08:29 Understanding Imposter Syndrome

11:00 Building Community and Support Network as a Solution

15:19 Tools for Combatting Imposter Syndrome

16:45 Navigating Nonlinear Progress

19:45 Action Steps for Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

21:44 Wrap-Up and Invitation to a Designer Retreat

Have you always loved furniture, picking out paint colors, making spaces feel beautiful, or helping friends with their homes, but never thought you could actually get paid for it? That’s exactly how Michelle Lynne felt.

In this episode, she shares how she followed a corporate path, managing restaurants and a recruiting firm, until a turning point pushed her to pursue what she truly loved: interior design. Then she built a 7-figure design business without a degree.

Her story proves that your creative passion isn’t just a hobby. It can become a thriving business with the right mindset and support.

If you’re starting out without formal training, Michelle explains why investing in a coach or mentor is the smartest move you can make. It saves you from years of trial-and-error and gives you the clarity and confidence to run your business like a pro.

Michelle also talks about her signature program which offers step-by-step systems designed to help you grow a design business with confidence and profit. Plus, she introduces Sidemark, a powerful tool that saves you time and money by replacing multiple apps with one easy-to-use platform made just for designers.

Ready to stop guessing and start growing? Tune in now and take your next step today.

Featured Guest:

⁠Michelle Lynne⁠ is the owner of ML Interiors Group, a successful interior design firm based in Dallas–Fort Worth, Texas. She is also the founder of ⁠The Design Bakehouse⁠, formerly known as Designed for the Creative Mind, where she teaches interior designers and decorators how to run a profitable and systemized design business.

Her signature program, The Interior Design Business Bakery, has helped hundreds of designers scale to multiple six figures with confidence and clarity.

She also hosts the ⁠Designed For The Creative Mind⁠ podcast and organizes the annual Interior Design Business Success Summit. Through all her ventures, Michelle is passionate about helping other designers skip the trial-and-error and grow businesses they love—while staying true to themselves.

Why you’ve got to check out today’s episode:

📌 Discover the benefits of investing in a coach or mentor to fast-track your growth and avoid common mistakes in the interior design industry

📌 Find out how using the right tools, like Sidemark, can simplify your business, save you time, and help you stay organized as you grow

📌 Overcome your self-doubt and gain confidence and clarity

Check out the show notes >>> Build a Thriving Interior Design Business Without a Design Degree

Related Episode:

✨ Episode 132: Stress-Free Framework to Attract Clients to Your Design Business With Ben Rutledge

NEXT STEPS:

🎯 Join the My Design Mentor to kickstart a successful career in interior design!

Grab your freebies:

📌 Your Roadmap to a Career in Interior Design

🎨 3 Things I Wish I had known when I Started my Career

Connect With Me:

📧 Email: [email protected]

🔆 Instagram: @rwarddesign

🌎 Website at rwarddesign.com

Thanks for listening! I hope this helps you discover if interior design is the career for you. See you next week...

Timestamps:

0:00 Introduction & Michelle Lynne's Bio

01:44 Michelle’s Unconventional Journey into Design

05:07 Transition From Home Staging to Interior Design

07:05 The Struggles of Building a Design Business

08:56 Introduction to the Design Business Bakery

14:17 The Story Behind the “Bakery” Branding

16:19 Authentic Branding and Lessons Learned

20:16 Inside ML Interiors Group & Studio Works Co-Op

26:22 Sidemark: Software for Designers

29:29 Advice for Aspiring Designers

“I’m not a numbers person!”  

“I just want to design, not run a business!”

Does this sound like you?

Many interior designers have a passion for dreaming up beautiful spaces, but stepping into the role of a CEO can feel uncomfortable, like wearing a hat that doesn’t quite fit. I understand—I've felt the same way before.

In this episode, I share how I changed my mindset and embraced the CEO role, and how you can do the same. My goal is to help you avoid burnout, ensure you’re charging what you’re worth, and prevent chaos behind the scenes.

I break down the mental barriers that hold designers back from realizing their leadership potential and explain how understanding business fundamentals can supercharge your creative success.

I also guide you through the four CEO mindsets that helped me build a business I love: visionary thinking, confident decision-making, strong leadership, and financial ownership.

Being a CEO doesn’t mean losing your creativity; it’s about building a strong foundation that supports and enhances your design talents.

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to elevate your existing practice, this episode will help you transform from a hesitant creative into a powerful business leader.

Tune in now and take the first step towards becoming the CEO of your business!

Why you’ve got to check out today’s episode:

📌 Overcome your mindset blocks so you can stop avoiding the business side and start leading with confidence

📌 Get practical tips to reduce chaos, avoid burnout, and run a well-oiled design business

📌 Be empowered to take back control and create a business that supports the life you love

Check out the show notes >>> Mindset Shift Series #3: Step Into Your Power as a Creative Business Owner

Related Episodes:

✨ Episode 146: How to Build Your Dream Design Team Without the Headache With Ronniesha Rivera

NEXT STEPS:

🎯 Join the My Design Mentor to kickstart a successful career in interior design!

Grab your freebies:

📌 Your Roadmap to a Career in Interior Design

🎨 3 Things I Wish I had known when I Started my Career

Connect With Me:

📧 Email: [email protected]

🔆 Instagram: @rwarddesign

🌎 Website at rwarddesign.com

Thanks for listening! I hope this helps you discover if interior design is the career for you. See you next week...

Timestamps:

0:00 Introduction: Mindset Shift from Creative to CEO

03:05 Why Creatives Resist the CEO Role

05:48 4 Core CEO Mindsets to Adopt

12:31 Practical Shifts for Stepping Into the CEO Role

15:11 Final Reminders

16:33 Challenge for the Week

Do you ever wonder if it’s really possible to switch careers and succeed in interior design—even without a design degree?

In this 150th episode, I chat with Caron Woolsey, a self-taught designer who left her job in oil and gas to follow her love for design. What started as decorating her own home turned into a growing business, CW Interiors, with a strong and creative team behind it.

Caron shares how she faced fear, built confidence, and turned a passion project into a full-time career. She gives helpful tips on knowing when it’s time to hire, how to build a strong team, and what to look for in new designers.

If you're not sure whether you can make interior design your real job, Caron’s story will inspire you to take that first brave step even if you're scared.

🎧 You don’t need a degree to get started—just courage, creativity, and a willingness to learn. Listen now to get the boost you need to start your own design journey.

Featured Guest:

⁠Caron Woolsey⁠ is the founder of ⁠CW Interiors⁠, a design studio based in The Woodlands, Texas. After a 16-year career in the oil and gas industry, she discovered her true passion for interior design while building her own home. What began as a creative hobby soon grew into a thriving business. Today, Caron leads a talented team and partners with homeowners, builders, and developers to create timeless, storytelling homes across The Woodlands, Houston, and Conroe areas.

Why you’ve got to check out today’s episode:

📌 Get real talk on starting without a design degree

📌 Learn powerful lessons on growing a team the right way

📌 Be empowered, especially the non-traditional design professionals, to take the first step

Check out the show notes >>> Building a Design Business From the Ground Up

NEXT STEPS:

🎯 Join the My Design Mentor to kickstart a successful career in interior design!

Grab your freebies:

📌 Your Roadmap to a Career in Interior Design

🎨 3 Things I Wish I had known when I Started my Career

Connect With Me:

📧 Email: [email protected]

🔆 Instagram: @rwarddesign

🌎 Website at rwarddesign.com

Thanks for listening! I hope this helps you discover if interior design is the career for you. See you next week...

Timestamps:

0:00 Introduction

02:59 Caron’s Career Path to Design

04:38 Taking the Leap Into Business

05:24 Early Business Struggles

07:10 Learning Without a Mentor

08:28 Team Growth and Dynamic

10:04 When and How to Start Hiring

13:11 What She Looks for in a Hire

14:47 Balancing Business and Creativity

16:34 Establishing Mission and Values

19:34 Team Communication

21:42 With Degree vs Without Degree When Hiring

22:29 Advice for Aspiring Designers

Do you feel nervous, unsure, or even a little awkward before meeting your first design client? You're not alone!

Many new interior designers feel pressure to prove themselves; they fear they won’t be taken seriously or worry about saying the wrong thing. Some try to be extra helpful—giving away too many ideas or avoiding money talk—just to impress the client.

While these feelings are completely normal, especially for beginners, new designers can present themselves as confident, trusted guides and position themselves as experts, even if they are just starting out.

In this episode, I share how to shift your mindset from trying to impress your client to confidently leading the consultation. I provide practical strategies for setting the right tone from the beginning, including guiding clients through the consultation, asking powerful questions, and demonstrating your value without giving away free work. I also walk you through creating structure, building trust, and positioning yourself as the solution to your client's design challenges.

Ready to level up your client consultation skills and stop feeling like an amateur? Tune in and learn how to turn that first meeting into your moment of authority. Then, share this episode with a fellow designer and tag me with your favorite takeaway!

Why you’ve got to check out today’s episode:

📌 Discover how to take control of the meeting and show up as the expert your client needs

📌 Avoid common mistakes new designers make during consultations

📌 Get a simple, step-by-step flow to guide your meetings, build trust, and turn consultations into actual paid projects

Check out the show notes >>> Show Up as the Expert During Client Consultation

Related Episodes:

NEXT STEPS:

🎯 Join the My Design Mentor to kickstart a successful career in interior design!

Grab your freebies:

📌 Your Roadmap to a Career in Interior Design

🎨 3 Things I Wish I had known when I Started my Career

Connect With Me:

📧 Email: [email protected]

🔆 Instagram: @rwarddesign

🌎 Website at rwarddesign.com

Thanks for listening! I hope this helps you discover if interior design is the career for you. See you next week...

Timestamps:

0:00 Introduction

02:39 Mindset Shift #1: Don’t Work for Free (The Importance of Paid Consultations)

04:48 Mindset Shift #2: Take the Lead With Confidence

06:55 Consultation Process: Confidence Through Clarity & Consistency

08:00 Confidence Through Asking Strong Questions

08:33 Confidence Through Setting Expectations Around Budget and Process

10: 03 Common Pitfalls to Avoid During Consultations

13:12 Language Framing: How To Sound Like the Expert

15:26 Recap + Mindset Check

Do you feel stuck in your current job, wondering if it is too late to follow your dream of becoming an interior designer?

In this episode, you will hear how Steve Saide made a bold career switch after 30 years as a lawyer and found his passion in hospitality design. Now leading the design team at Furnished Quarters, Steve shares how he designs beautiful, livable spaces for corporate travelers who stay for weeks—or even years—at a time.

Steve's story proves it is never too late to start fresh, and that design does not have to follow a traditional path. So, if you are unsure about how to make the leap or where your design career could lead, this episode gives you real answers and encouragement.

💡 If Steve can do it, so can you! Tune in now to learn how to start your path into interior design—no matter your background.

✨ Want help starting your design career? Check out My Design Mentor!

Featured Guest:

Steve Saide is the Executive Vice President of Interior Design at Furnished Quarters, a company that provides stylish, fully furnished apartments for corporate travelers. After a 30-year career as a lawyer, Steve made a bold career shift into interior design. His eye for creativity and passion for functional, home-like spaces now help shape the unique design style of the company’s long-term stay residences.

Why you’ve got to check out today’s episode:

📌 Be inspired on how to pivot into interior design even after a long career in another field

📌 Get insights on where real design inspiration comes from (hint: not always magazines!)

📌 Discover what makes hospitality design different from regular home design

Check out the show notes >>> How a Lawyer Became a Designer and Found His Dream Career

NEXT STEPS:

🎯 Join the My Design Mentor to kickstart a successful career in interior design!

Grab your freebies:

📌 Your Roadmap to a Career in Interior Design

🎨 3 Things I Wish I had known when I Started my Career

Connect With Me:

📧 Email: [email protected]

🔆 Instagram: @rwarddesign

🌎 Website at rwarddesign.com

Thanks for listening! I hope this helps you discover if interior design is the career for you. See you next week...

Timestamps:

0:00 Introduction & Redefining Hospitality Design

03:13 Steve Said's Career Transition from Law to Interior Design

09:00 About Furnished Quarters

10:30 Approach to Design for Corporate Apartments

12:10 Quantity and Design Execution

14:30 Design Limitations & Smart Solutions

17:30 Keeping Up with Trends

18:30 Impact of COVID and Economic Uncertainty

24:55 Creative Inspiration Sources

27:25 Advice for Aspiring Hospitality Designers