“Its important to establish the right expectations.”
Bryan and I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Trade Tales from Business of Home for a conversation that felt less like an interview and more like a real reflection on our journey as business owners.
We talked about growth, leadership, mistakes, recalibration and the hard but necessary decisions that ultimately made our firm stronger.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s that building a design firm is just as much about designing the business as it is about designing beautiful homes.
“Being ready is a myth. You start, you suck, you get better.”
When Bryan and I started Yates Desygn, we were disciplined, sometimes almost to a fault. Through trial and many errors, we came to realize that we each needed to become an asset to each other. We needed to created an environment where our individual talents could be fostered with room to grow. We kept overhead lean. We were careful with every hire. We said no more often than we said yes.
We weren’t interested in rapid expansion for the sake of appearances. We wanted longevity. Stability. Control over quality.
Every project had to align with our long-term reputation. Every new team member had to elevate the firm. That intentionality allowed us to refine our process. We established the level of execution and detail that defines our work today. Looking back, those early constraints were a gift. They forced clarity.
From the outside, things looked strong. The portfolio was growing. The recognition was building. The projects were exciting.
But internally, something wasn’t right. Morale had quietly dipped. And it caught us off guard.
That was a humbling realization. As founders, you assume that if the business is performing, the team must be thriving too. That isn’t always true.
Growth introduces complexity. Responsibilities blur. Communication strains. Even very talented people can feel stretched thin or unsure of their lane.
Bryan and I had to pause and ask ourselves a hard question: Are we building something that works well for everyone inside it?
That moment of honesty changed everything.
“We wanted to create an environment in which creativity and inspiration can happen.”
Instead of pushing forward and hoping things would smooth out, we decided to reassess the entire structure of the firm.
A business consultant challenged our assumptions and forced us to look at how we were operating, not just what we were producing.
We realized that there was too much overlap in responsibilities. Too much gray area. That worked when we were smaller, It didn’t scale.
So, we re-calibrated with the intention of creating a studio where creativity could thrive because it was support by processes and direction.
We clarified roles. We aligned responsibilities with individual strengths. Accountability became clear, not implied.
The difference was immediate. Not just in efficiency, but in energy.
When people know what they own and where they excel, confidence rises. And when confidence rises, the entire studio shifts.
“It all starts with our team.”
One of the most important changes we made was developing internal curriculums that outline real, tangible pathways for growth.
In creative firms, advancement can feel ambiguous. Titles blur. Expectations shift. That ambiguity creates anxiety.
We wanted to eliminate that.
Now, our team understands exactly what growth looks like here. Through conversation they know what skills to refine, what leadership looks like, and how they can evolve within the firm.
Clarity changes morale. It builds trust. And it mirrors how we approach design: with structure, specificity, and alignment.
“Its all about this design web.”
What we discussed on Trade Tales reinforced something Bryan and I deeply believe: Beautiful interiors are the result of disciplined process.
They come from clear communication. Defined expectations. Strong leadership. Accountability at every level. And doing great work with great people.
We now apply that same rigor internally. And our clients feel it.
It shows up as:
- Greater accountability
- Clearer communication
- Thoughtful collaboration
- Confidence at every stage
When the business behind the scenes is strong, the client experience becomes seamless. That’s not accidental. It’s designed.
“I don’t know what successes looks like to me, because I am always evolving”
The episode is an honest one. We didn’t just talk about wins, we talked about missteps, ego checks, and the moments that forced us to evolve.
For anyone building a creative firm, or navigating growth inside one, I think there’s value in that transparency. There is value in learning from the low moments to assess what led you there. Simultaneously, there is value is in understanding that 10,000 hands may touch a project before it is installed in a client’s home. Anything you can do to simplify processes, communicate more clearly, and define goals will be fundamental in setting yourself up for the evolution of success.
Bryan and I are incredibly proud of where Yates Desygn is today. Not just in the work we produce, but in the team we’ve built and the culture we’ve intentionally shaped.
If you’re interested in the business side of design, leadership lessons, or what it really takes to build something sustainable, I hope you’ll give the episode a listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.