Have you always loved rearranging 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.
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
About the 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.
Connect with Michelle Lynne:
Website: The Design Bakehouse
Podcast: Designed For The Creative Mind
Instagram: @thedesignbakehouse
Check out these episode highlights
01:44 Michelle’s Unconventional Journey into Design
Her early passion for design (e.g., rearranging furniture as a kid).
Started career in restaurant and recruitment management.
Friends often asked her for home help—she joked she worked “for wine.”
Her turning point was after reading Max Lucado’s book, which inspired her to pursue a professional design career.
Started her business “By Michelle Lynne” in 2008 with zero confidence, focusing on home staging.
05:07 Transition From Home Staging to Interior Design
The home staging business thrived until the Dallas real estate market shifted.
Quick pivots were needed as staged homes sold before staging even happened.
Transitioned to decorating and design, requiring a major mindset shift and inner work.
Overcame imposter syndrome (didn’t go to design school).
07:05 The Struggles of Building a Design Business
Learned business through blogs, books, and “trial by fire.”
Lacked support from the design community early on.
The importance of mindset and overcoming insecurities to succeed in the design business.
08:56 Introduction to the Design Business Bakery
The rebranding of her coaching platform to The Design Bakehouse.
Signature program: Interior Design Business Bakery is a 12-month program that teaches systems and profitability.
The structure of her program: weekly Zoom calls and a private Facebook group for ongoing support.
The program has helped many designers achieve design fees of five and six figures.
14:17 The Story Behind the “Bakery” Branding
Inspired by a copywriter, playing on Michelle’s love for baking metaphors.
Branding reflects her personality—quirky and real.
Encourages authenticity among designers (“just be yourself”).
16:19 Authentic Branding and Lessons Learned
Michelle’s first branding (“glamorously functional”) didn’t reflect her true self.
Realized that being authentic attracts the right clients.
Sharing real energy is more effective than trying to copy others’ design personas.
20:16 Inside ML Interiors Group & Studio Works Co-Op
Based in Dallas-Fort Worth.
Scaled team up to 10, now back to ~2.5 plus contractors.
Focus is now on profit and sanity, not just top-line revenue.
Created Studio Works, a co-working space for designers—includes resource room, lounge, private offices.
A valuable but challenging venture due to tenant turnover and marketing.
Michelle’s advice: don’t spread yourself too thin; know your limits.
26:22 Sidemark: Software for Designers
Co-founded Sidemark, a white-labeled version of GoHighLevel tailored for designers.
Centralized tools like email marketing, forms, contracts, websites, payments, and CRM.
Created out of Michelle’s own need to streamline her business and avoid using 10+ different apps.
29:29 Advice for Aspiring Designers
Top advice: Don’t go it alone.
Invest in a coach or mentor to accelerate your growth significantly.
Choose a coach who aligns with your energy and values.
There’s room for everyone in the industry—“enough ugly houses for all designers!”
Next Steps
- Join the My Design Mentor to kickstart a successful career in interior design!
Grab your freebies:
- Furnishings Investment Guide
- Remodel Budget and Timeline Guide
- Your Roadmap to a Career in Interior Design
- 3 Things I Wish I had known when I Started my Career
Take a Quiz!
- Find Your Perfect Interior Design Style if you are curious about your design style
- Find Out What Type of Interior Designer You Should Be!
Check out the best books every interior designer should have here.
Email me at [email protected] if you have suggested topics
DM me on Instagram at @rwarddesign if you have a burning question
Leave me a rating and review! Click here.
Related Episode
Thanks for listening! I hope this helps you discover if interior design is the career for you. See you next week…