The Interior Design Business CEO

Hosted by Desi Creswell

Business Entrepreneurship Arts Design

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Episodes

177

Latest episode

May 2026

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About the show

The Interior Design Business CEO podcast helps designers stop feeling stressed, anxious, and overwhelmed and empowers them with the tools and strategies they need to start feeling calm, confident, and in control of their business. Join Master Certified Life and Business Coach, and award-winning Interior Designer, Desi Creswell, as she pairs mindset with effective tips, tools, and processes to help you stop feeling pulled in a million different directions, and start building a profitable, fulfilling business that enriches and supports your life as a whole. This show is for you if you find yourself asking questions like: How do I build a profitable interior design business? How do I work fewer hours and make more money in my interior design business? How to improve work-life balance as an interior designer? For more support with creating a life and business you love, visit www.desicreswell.com to learn more about my intimate group coaching program, Out of Overwhelm.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

May 6, 20262 min

The Podcast Will Be Back - Here's What to Do in the Meantime

The podcast is going on pause while I take a six-month sabbatical, but there is still so much here to support you in the meantime. In this short update, I'm sharing what to expect while I'm away, where to start in the podcast archive, and how to continue using these resources to support your growth as an interior design business owner. Whether you're new to the show or have been here for years, this is an opportunity to revisit episodes that resonate, explore topics that meet you in your current season, and stay connected through Monday Mindset. I'll be back this fall with new episodes, and until then, there are plenty of tools, resources, and guidance to support you and your business. Sign up for my Monday Mindset email list to get bite-sized insights on topics that you can use to set your week up for success: https://www.desicreswell.com/monday-mindset If you love what you're learning on the show, and want to learn how I can support you, click here to learn more about coaching: https://desicreswell.com/coaching Follow along or send me a message on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/desicreswell/ Get my free Life & Business Vision Journal: https://www.desiid.com/vision Access the free Get It Done Daily Planner: https://www.desicreswell.com/planner

April 29, 202647 min

169. Designed to Thrive: My Holistic Approach to Growth

What if the challenges you're facing in your business aren't coming from just one place, but from a combination of how you're thinking, how you're feeling, and what you're doing? In this episode, I'm sharing the Designed to Thrive framework, my holistic approach to growth that brings together mind, body, and strategy so you can build a business that actually works for you. As this is the final episode before my sabbatical, I wanted to leave you with a core framework you can return to while I'm away. I walk you through each part of this approach and how to use it as a lens when something feels off in your business. Instead of jumping straight to fixing the strategy, you'll learn how to look at what's happening from multiple angles so you can identify what truly needs attention. By the end of this episode, you'll have a new way to evaluate what's working, what isn't, and what to do next. This is a framework you can come back to again and again as your business evolves, helping you move forward with more intention, confidence, and trust in yourself. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.desicreswell.com/169 If you love what you're learning on the show, and want to learn how I can support you, click here to learn more about coaching: https://desicreswell.com/coaching Sign up for my Monday Mindset email list to get bite-sized insights on topics that you can use to set your week up for success: https://www.desicreswell.com/monday-mindset Follow along or send me a message on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/desicreswell/

April 15, 202640 min

168. Taking a Sabbatical: How I Plan for Big Changes in Life and Business

Have you ever felt like you need to hit pause, take a step back, and re-evaluate? In today's episode, I'm sharing why I've decided to take a sabbatical and what that means for me, my business, and you. I'll also dive into how you can navigate your own major life changes, whether it's a sabbatical or another type of transition. I walk you through the internal work involved in making decisions, why taking time off can actually be a game-changer for your business, and what can happen when you embrace new paths. This episode is a personal behind-the-scenes look at my decision, and I'm sharing my process to help you move through your own moments of transition with confidence and clarity. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.desicreswell.com/168 If you love what you're learning on the show, and want to learn how I can support you, click here to learn more about coaching: https://desicreswell.com/coaching Sign up for my Monday Mindset email list to get bite-sized insights on topics that you can use to set your week up for success: https://www.desicreswell.com/monday-mindset Follow along or send me a message on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/desicreswell/

April 1, 202629 min

167. Unspoken Expectations: Identify and Release Your Client Manuals

What if the stress you're feeling with clients or your team isn't actually about what they're doing, but about what you expect them to do without ever saying it? In this episode, I introduce the concept of manuals, those unwritten operating rules you have for other people, and how they quietly create frustration, miscommunication, and emotional friction in your interior design business. I walk you through what manuals are, how to spot them, and why they lead to disappointment when they go unspoken. You'll learn how these hidden expectations show up in your relationships with clients, team members, and partners, and why relying on others to meet them keeps you stuck in frustration. I also share a simple exercise to help you identify your own manuals and begin releasing the ones that are no longer serving you. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.desicreswell.com/167 If you love what you're learning on the show, and want to learn how I can support you, click here to learn more about coaching: https://desicreswell.com/coaching Sign up for my Monday Mindset email list to get bite-sized insights on topics that you can use to set your week up for success: https://www.desicreswell.com/monday-mindset Follow along or send me a message on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/desicreswell/

March 18, 202640 min

166. Designing Client Behavior: How Your "Words" Create Better Projects (Interview with Ochre & Beige)

What if better clients and smoother projects start long before you ever begin designing? In this episode, I sit down with Jaquilyn Edwards of Ochre & Beige to talk about how the words you use on your website, in consultations, and throughout your process, shape the kind of clients you attract and the experience you create. This conversation is all about being more intentional with your messaging so you can build trust earlier and lead your projects with more clarity and confidence. Join us this week to hear how language can either strengthen your positioning or quietly undermine it, why leading is more effective than justifying, and how your values can come through in ways that create a stronger connection with best fit clients. Jaquilyn also shares how small shifts in wording can influence client behaviour, reduce pushback, and support a more aligned and collaborative working relationship from inquiry to install. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.desicreswell.com/166 Access the free Get It Done Daily Planner: https://www.desicreswell.com/resources Sign up for my Monday Mindset email list to get bite-sized insights on topics that you can use to set your week up for success: https://www.desicreswell.com/monday-mindset Follow along or send me a message on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/desicreswell/

March 4, 202631 min

165. Digital Brains: Protect Your Mental Bandwidth

Are you carrying too much in your head right now? Between client details, timelines, delegation, and daily decisions, it can feel like your brain never fully turns off. In this episode, I introduce the concept of a digital brain and explain how creating external storage for your ideas, systems, and responsibilities can dramatically lighten your mental load and support a more efficient interior design business. I share why your human brain was never meant to hold everything and how relying on memory alone increases overwhelm and mistakes. You'll learn how to create simple, centralized digital spaces that protect your time and mental bandwidth, support better delegation, and reduce the constant looping of unfinished tasks. When you free up mental space, you create more room for creativity, thoughtful leadership, and strategic growth in your design business. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.desicreswell.com/165 Access the free Get It Done Daily Planner: https://www.desicreswell.com/resources Sign up for my Monday Mindset email list to get bite-sized insights on topics that you can use to set your week up for success: https://www.desicreswell.com/monday-mindset Follow along or send me a message on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/desicreswell/

February 18, 202629 min

164. Change Your Relationship to Time

Do you find yourself feeling overwhelmed by time? How you relate to time has a significant impact on how you manage your business and personal goals. Shifting your mindset can help you move from a place of pressure and scarcity to one of ease, allowing you to focus on what matters most. In this episode, I guide you through the process of reshaping your relationship with time. By viewing it as a resource that supports you, you'll feel more control over your day and less stressed about meeting your goals. This shift will help you use time intentionally, making it work in your favor. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.desicreswell.com/164 Access the free Get It Done Daily Planner: https://www.desicreswell.com/resources Sign up for my Monday Mindset email list to get bite-sized insights on topics that you can use to set your week up for success: https://www.desicreswell.com/monday-mindset Follow along or send me a message on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/desicreswell/

February 4, 202625 min

163. Crafting a Schedule that Works for Your Workstyle and Goals

How do you build a schedule that actually supports the way you work instead of constantly working against you? So many designers try to copy someone else's routine or force themselves into a structure that looks good on paper but falls apart in real life. The result is frustration, inefficiency, and a constant feeling of being behind before the day even begins. In this episode, I walk you through how to create a daily and weekly rhythm that reflects your workstyle, capacity, and responsibilities as a design CEO. Rather than prescribing a rigid formula, I share the principles and questions I use with my clients to help you design a schedule that bends with the realities of client work, team leadership, creative demands, and personal life. This is about building a framework that supports focus, momentum, and flexibility without burning you out. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.desicreswell.com/163 Access the free Get It Done Daily Planner: https://www.desicreswell.com/resources Sign up for my Monday Mindset email list to get bite-sized insights on topics that you can use to set your week up for success: https://www.desicreswell.com/monday-mindset Follow along or send me a message on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/desicreswell/

January 21, 202639 min

162. Taking a Break When There Is Always More to Do

That feeling of always thinking you could have done more, wishing you were farther along, or feeling behind is something many designers experience. In this episode, I'm sharing my own struggle of closing out the year with a clean slate, only to feel like it wasn't enough. We'll focus on how to manage your time and plan effectively while cultivating the feeling of completeness. You'll learn how to interrupt the emotional patterns that keep you stuck in the "never enough" cycle and why embracing completeness creates momentum. You'll also discover how to become a boss you can trust, one who honors their word and takes time off when promised. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.desicreswell.com/162 Sign up for my Monday Mindset email list to get bite-sized insights on topics that you can use to set your week up for success: https://www.desicreswell.com/monday-mindset Follow along or send me a message on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/desicreswell/

January 7, 202629 min

161. The Whole Cost: Calculate Before You Commit (2026 Goals)

What happens when you set your goals as if the start of the year is a blank slate? In this episode, I am looking at the reality that you are already carrying client work, ongoing commitments, and your personal life into the new year. The key to making steady progress is understanding the whole cost of your goals so you do not overextend yourself or your team. I am sharing the number one consideration you need before setting your 2026 goals and why the whole cost matters for every decision you make. You will learn how to break goals into manageable steps and choose priorities that match your capacity rather than your wish list. This approach will help you plan with confidence and choose goals that you can follow through on all year long. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.desicreswell.com/161 Sign up for Create Your 2026 Roadmap to join us on January 9th and 16th, 2026: https://www.desiid.com/2026roadmap Sign up for my Monday Mindset email list to get bite-sized insights on topics that you can use to set your week up for success: https://www.desicreswell.com/monday-mindset Follow along or send me a message on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/desicreswell/