You’re feeling overwhelmed and exhausted with running your business.
While you wish you had time and energy to be creative, you’ve got almost nothing left by the end of the day.
This isn’t what you thought the interior design business would be like — you wonder if it’s even worth it. You have a bigger vision for your interior design business, but you just don’t know where to start.
As a former interior designer myself, I’ve been there.
I’m Desi, a Master Certified Life & Business Coach for interior designers who are exhausted from the hamster wheel and want to get out of the hustle.
As a former interior designer who found another way, I understand how it feels to be trapped in the constant spin of busy work.
Through my intimate group program and private coaching, I coach designers through mindset tools and practical strategies so that they can make the time to build meaningful progress toward their business and life goals.
As a creative business owner, my business is an integral part of my life. I was overwhelmed with wearing all the hats and working way too much — until I discovered mindset work.
Burning out in commercial design & going for it.
Before I started my residential business, I worked in commercial design. While I loved the design industry, I was burnt out from working 60+ hour weeks (and throw some half-marathon training in there), but I didn’t see an opportunity to work fewer hours. Putting in crazy hours felt like the norm for the industry. I was entertaining the idea of leaving design altogether to escape the anxiety I felt daily in my design work and create some breathing room.
I took the leap, bet on myself, and started my design business.
At first, I started my business to be flexible. Envisioning our future family, I wanted to set myself up for the flexibility I’d like when the time came.I was excited because I’d be able to structure my life in a way that served my personal priorities and do something I loved. Back then, I thought having my own business was risky, but now I see that investing in myself was the safest bet I could make.
It wasn’t long before I realized that I ended up creating a job for myself.
I used to feel like I was never doing enough at home or work. But really, I was doing too much and trying to do it all at once without a clear goal or vision of where I was headed. Between running a household and managing our rental properties, not to mention, so many things I wanted to do to grow the business — I was caught in the weeds and didn’t know where to begin. What I craved most: personal freedom to be with our growing family.
I had to redefine success on my terms. I had a very clear picture of what I thought it would look like and then realized that was out of alignment with what I really wanted. I had to be open to redefining success along the way as my priorities and life circumstances changed. It was the first time seeing that we create our opportunities and that we could be totally wrong about what’s available to us. This was a big lesson.
I never allowed myself to enjoy the success I created at home and work.
Here I was, winning awards, published, and bringing in more revenue than I did in my full-time commercial job — all while working part-time hours. But something was off.
Instead of relishing where I was, I was stuck in my head, thinking that I should be farther along in the business. The money was good, but the stress wasn’t worth it.
These feelings of not-enoughness led to lots of starts and stops in my business. I’d go all-in on work because I thought I couldn’t have both work and family at the same time to the degree that I wanted them, and then I’d find myself exhausted. So I was always starting and stopping — all because I thought I wasn’t doing enough. I now realize that by constantly moving the goal post, I was setting up unrealistic expectations of myself.
Initially, my journey to find solutions started with action and more action.
I felt like if I could just figure out the “right” way to do things, see how others were doing it, or work hard enough to get to some undefined point where then I could finally relax, then I’d have it figured out. Then, I’d be able to be perfect at work, family, and taking care of myself.
I fell into the busy trap — then took a year off.
I was attached to this certain idea of success and never stopped to consider that my version of success was, was in fact, okay. I didn't think that I could make up whatever I wanted for my business and life. So why was no one else talking about this?
The way I showed up as a working mom with our first wasn’t what I wanted — you know, texting a contractor from the hospital bed after having our son and bringing him as a newborn to job sites. So after our second child, I ended up taking a year off. Before my daughter could walk, I started to get the itch to go back to work. I’m a doer at heart. I love to learn and grow and have something that feels like my own.
Over the years, I started getting into personal development, found the podcast of the person who’s now my mentor, and heard, “your thoughts create your feelings” for the very first time. It was a radical idea. All of that overwhelm and stress wasn’t coming from the action I was taking (or not taking) — it was from my thinking!
I started to question myself — this time, with support.
Tired of the guilt and stress that came from wearing all the hats, I wanted more for my business and life, but I wasn't sure where to start or find the hours in the day.
While some people would say, “just hire help,” I had some fears about hiring and getting support. Sure, I could do it on my own, so I felt like I “should.” What if I couldn’t keep up and pay them? If I played it "safe," I could avoid the disappointment I thought I might feel if I didn't hit my goals
After much overthinking, I finally invested in myself and hired my first coach. The investment to work with her was uncomfortable. Funny, when I started working with her, I thought I needed the answer to the question, “How much time should I spend on both work versus mothering?” I saw them as two distinct areas of my life.
My coach helped me in many ways. I appreciated how she gave me space to dream about what could be possible for my life. She also taught me how to find answers within myself — a foreign concept since I was always looking outside to others for guidance. Learning that I could do things my way and truly create anything I wanted was a game-changer.
We have to decide what we want — not what we think we can have.
I was stuck in the “how,” and today, I see my clients there too. When we decide and own what we want, the how becomes clear. Learning to feel my feelings and feel on purpose was also a huge part of our coaching together. The truth is, feelings fuel all action or inaction, yet we never talk about feelings in business. I was developing the confidence to have my own back, bet on myself, and trust I'd figure out whatever challenges came my way.
We see so many online stories saying we’re supposed to grow bigger, push harder, and even that growth is supposed to look a certain way. Then when we start comparing, we feel like we don’t measure up. I now know that it doesn't have to be this way. Through my journey and working directly with my clients, I’ve developed an expertise that blends my interior design knowledge, entrepreneurial experience, and effective mindset tools to help you intentionally grow a thriving business that becomes the foundation for greater fulfillment in all areas of your life.
I love that I get to bring my diverse background to my coaching clients today. From working at world-renowned design and architecture firms, consulting for one of the largest hotel companies in the industry, and building a profitable residential interior design practice that allowed me to be there for preschool pick up and make it to the gym.
Before I found coaching, I thought I had to choose between a successful business or a family and my well-being.
Not anymore. Using the tools I teach my clients today, I’ve completely shifted my mindset so that work and life support one another, and importantly, I’m enjoying both. I've created these results for myself — and I know it's possible for you too.
Today, I love that I get to coach clients to have the clarity, confidence, and focus they need to create self-defined success unique to their values and goals.
When I’m not talking through sticky mindset issues with my clients and helping them be more productive without the stress, you’ll probably find me working out, walking the dog, reading, listening to podcasts, being with my husband and two kids, and even quilting.
I love the interior design community and am grateful that I get to work with you in this transformational way. You’re going to love having this high-level support.
There are two ways we can work together, learn more here.
Pour a cup of coffee and get to know me:
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Desi is my real name. My parents wanted a short name to pair with a last name (maiden) no one could pronounce.
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I love to support local farms — I actually have an extra refrigerator for our produce.
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I'm laid back, and I have some intensity to me. I don’t do anything half-you-know-what.
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My parti poodle Olive is my constant companion — don't worry, she keeps all client conversations confidential.
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5 am is my wake-up call — my morning exercise is “me time” and a must before the rest of the house is awake.
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I helped design a university for women in Saudi Arabia when I was a commercial designer at Perkins+Will.
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I’m a co-author in LuAnn Nigara's book, A Well-Designed Business: The Power Talk Friday Experts, Volume 2.
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I’m an NCIDQ certificate holder, LEED AP, and prone to overachieving.
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I trust that everyone is doing their best — including you. Adopt this belief and it will transform your connections.
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"Changing your mindset is essential, yet difficult to do on your own. Desi takes you on that journey. I’m now on a path with sustainable business and life practices.”
“Before working with Desi I was working many hours and not bringing in enough revenue or new projects. I was exhausted, discouraged and at the end of my rope. Now I feel more confident, capable, and equipped.
Desi helped by providing me with the tools to shift my mindset so that I could overcome my perfectionism, commit to a pricing model with confidence, and am make strong decisions and stick with them. She also helped me see solutions, find new ways of working, and provided practical tools for the many issues I was facing.
Changing your mindset is essential, yet difficult to do on your own. Desi takes you on that journey. I’m now on a path with sustainable business and life practices.”
– Carly Fox, Fox + Design
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"Now I feel like I am back in the driver seat of my business, calmer, more confident, and happier as a result.”
“Before working with Desi I was overwhelmed by my feelings of having too much to do. This was stopping me from being able to do anything to get myself organised and feel good about work.
Desi’s emphasis on mindset really helped me understand how my thoughts were creating my feelings of stress which allowed me to regain control. Now I feel like I am back in the driver seat of my business, calmer, more confident, and happier as a result.”
– Mia Spencer, House by Mia
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"I started charging higher rates and have become more profitable."
“Desi has helped me overcome burnout, be more profitable, and make quick, confident decisions for the business. During our partnership I opened a studio space, brought in better projects with higher fees,and stopped taking on non-ideal clients. Desi helps to untangle the confusion of owning your own business so that things can be more manageable and enjoyable.”
- Katie Kurtz, Adorned Homes
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"Now, instead of rushing to reach my goals, I’m enjoying the process. This is actually helping me progress in my business so much faster."
I was hesitant to invest the time and money but now I know that coaching SAVES me so much time and makes me so much MORE money. My revenue has almost doubled since I have started working with Desi and I now charge with confidence.
I’ve learned to no longer stay in a frozen state spinning my wheels. Before coaching I was in a constant state of self doubt and overwhelm. It paralyzed me. Desi taught me how to manage my brain so I could break down projects so they are doable, manageable, and even fun!
Through coaching I have learned to make decisions that align with me - not with what everyone else is doing - and stop making things more complicated than they need to be. Now, instead of rushing to reach my goals, I’m enjoying the process. This is actually helping me progress in my business so much faster. Ironic!
Believe that this work will change your life and it totally will.
– Hailey Christian - Harper Drake Home
