exclusively for INTERIOR DESIGNERS
Your Private Library of Business Insights & Strategies
Get the insights, strategies, and expert-backed advice that interior designers have been using since 2020 to grow their businesses, now available exclusively to members and customers of The Design Library and The Workroom. Unlock full access to premium content, exclusive Q&A, lessons from design school, and members-only perks.
💼 When you purchase from The Workroom or The Design Library, you’ll get one year of The DTS Files free. Details sent after purchase.
You’re Running a Business—But You’re on Your Own.
You need to make business decisions constantly.
How to price a new service.
How to handle a difficult client.
Whether to hire—or when to raise your rates.
You don’t have time to spend hours Googling and hoping you find the right advice.
And you def don’t have time to go through a 12 month program that will give you the answer upon completion.
And vague, surface-level content that barely scratches the surface?
Not helpful.
What you do need?
A place to get real, expert-backed insights—on demand.
The Problem with Most Advice? It’s Based on ONE Firm. Not 100+.
A lot of business advice in this industry isn’t based on what actually works in 100+ firms across various business models in different markets with varied clients and services.
It’s based on what worked in one single firm.
And even then … was that business actually profitable? Was it scalable? Did that method work for others, or just the one business?
Or are they just really good at marketing their own success story?
And in some cases, they’re former clients of mine, so wouldn’t you rather get it straight from the source? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
These days, it’s easy to publish content.
AI does it in seconds. Some people just repeat what they’ve heard. Others repackage existing ideas as their own.
But real expertise? That takes time. Years of testing, refining, and seeing consistent results.
That’s the difference between information and actual strategy.
BUT FOR REAL …
The designers I see who make the most progress?
They don’t listen to 117 different voices or try to piece together a strategy from bits and pieces.
→ They listen to one trusted voice.
→ They apply one methodology.
→ They implement it, test it, give it enough time to see results, and then they refine it.
And that’s why they make progress.
Just Because It’s Easy for You Doesn’t Mean You Should Do It for Free
If what I’m seeing in the industry is correct, many others will soon move to a paid content model too.
Some will take the opposite approach, positioning themselves as “giving away free content to lift up the industry.”
And that’s fine (so long as it’s their original work and expertise).
But here’s the truth:
My blog is more than “just a blog”; It’s a wealth of knowledge.
These are the same insights I’ve used to help 100+ private clients and thousands of students and customers refine their businesses.
And for years, it’s benefited hundreds of thousands of designers and businesses, for free.
I know my audience is mostly women, and I see this pattern play out in so many of my clients and students, too—giving away expertise for free, sometimes without even realizing it—because they are so passionate about what they do.
And I was doing it too. And now I’m making a change.
INTRODUCING THE DTS FILES for INTERIOR DESIGNERS
A Private Library of Business Insights & Strategy
The DTS Files is your members-only archive of in-depth business strategy,
expert insights, and real-world lessons from inside the interior design industry.
🎁 Free for one year when you purchase from The Workroom or The Design Library.
As a member, you’ll get full access to all blog content, including:
Complete Access
to the Blog Archive
Our blog posts cover business strategy, pricing, operations, marketing, and client experience (we’ve been publishing since 2020!)
Specialized Design Expertise
via The Design Brief
Our in-house tenured professor and certified interior designer shares what she’s teaching in design school: materials, resources, + best practices.
Behind the Scenes Industry
Trends & Lessons
I’m pretty private and I never share client info. But, I can synthesize what I’ve seen and share patterns, lessons learned, and things to avoid.
Regularly Updated, Experience
Backed Insights
We update our articles frequently so you always have the latest, most relevant strategies based on what WORKS (and what doesn’t).
PLUS, you can get your questions answered anonymously via our Dear Dakota blog series AND access to any new features we run.
No extra content, no fluff. Just full access to the blog, so I can share even more, knowing it’s directly impacting your business.
SPECIAL SAVINGS FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS + DESIGN LIBRARY CUSTOMERS
🎓 If you are currently enrolled in an interior design college program, we’ll happily provide you with one year of complimentary access to The DTS Files. Email us at support@dakotadesigncompany.com from your student email account (ending in .edu) for details.
💼 When you purchase from The Workroom or The Design Library (and you’re an interior designer), you’ll unlock a free year of The DTS Files. Access details will be sent once you purchase. Email us at support@dakotadesigncompany.com for details.
When you see your advice and work (developed and tested over years of experience) being repackaged and resold by others, you hold back.
Now, I don’t have to.
By moving my blogs into a private designer only membership, I can go even deeper—sharing the tested strategies and behind-the-scenes insights that actually move the needle.
You could book me for $550/hour (and hope you remember every question you want to ask) ...
Or, for less than 50 cents a day (aka less than the cost of a single egg in this economy!), you get unlimited access to real strategies from inside 100+ firms.
No fluff. No AI-written nonsense. No “just do what worked for me” advice.
The DTS Files are where real strategy lives.
💼 When you purchase from The Workroom or The Design Library, you’ll get one year of The DTS Files free. Details sent after purchase.
Meet your 111 WPM Writer
(That’s the Midwest in me—I talk fast, and I type even faster.)
Meet Katie McFarlan
Through private business consulting and coaching, educational programs, and premium templates, Katie and her all-female team have helped hundreds of interior designers streamline their services, set profitable pricing, create elevated client experiences, and refine and implement processes their teams and clients will appreciate.
Katie is committed to providing the industry with comprehensive and high-quality resources, articles, and educational content so interior designers can confidently run profitable and sustainable businesses.
By becoming a Founding Member, you get direct access to the real strategies I’ve personally tested and implemented inside 100+ interior design firms and with 350+ students. Strategies that are proven, repeatable, and designed to help you run a more profitable business.
As a Founding Member, you’ll lock in:
✔ The lowest price we’ll ever offer
✔ Full access to every article we publish (and the ones we refine & update weekly)
✔ Lessons from design school (written by our in-house tenured professor & certified interior designer)
✔ A front-row seat as we build out even more members-only perks
→ I personally write over 100,000 words a week (Grammarly insights for the win).
→ We publish new insights every single week.
→ We refine, update, and improve our content constantly, because business is always evolving.
***When you purchase from The Workroom or The Design Library, unlock one year free inside The DTS Files!
SPECIAL SAVINGS FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS AND DESIGN LIBRARY CUSTOMERS
🎓 If you are currently enrolled in an interior design college program, we’ll happily provide you with one year of complimentary access to The DTS Files. Email us at support@dakotadesigncompany.com from your student email account (ending in .edu) for details.
💼 When you purchase from The Workroom or The Design Library (and you’re an interior designer), you’ll unlock a free year of The DTS Files. Details will be sent once you purchase. Email us at support@dakotadesigncompany.com for details.
Your membership inside The DTS Files supports my all-female team, my small business, and my family—while allowing me to support you even more.
Here’s What Interior Designers Have Said About the Insights We Share
“I have had a ton of emails from design coaches, but I swear yours are the only ones I read and pay attention to. You are so straight to the point and I loooooove it! I was able to secure my first big deal by following some of your steps.”
“An instant game changer. It’s like you’re in my head and know exactly what I need, and it’s such a relief.”
“You rock girl. I’ve looked high and low, and there is no one better or more professional.”
“The advice here is top notch. Somehow Katie always makes it feel like she’s having a conversation with you. It’s personal, direct, and there is always something I can take action on.”
“I love receiving Dakota Design newsletters and following on social media. I am new in my design business and learn loads from your content.”
“Dakota Design has the best tips and tricks for operation policies and procedures-even outside her primary audience (I’m a small biz attorney). Katie is incredibly knowledgeable and provides actionable advice so you’re not left googling all night.”
“I love reading your emails and blog posts every week. I have a high-end clientele so your content is very relatable to my business.”
“Your newsletter and blog posts are packed full of amazing content. I love the personal stories you share about your experience being on the receiving end of missed opportunities because it really makes me think about what kind of experience (or lack thereof) my clients or potential clients are experiencing.”
“Love and look forward to the Friday emails - first thing I do every Friday morning is read your email - perfect amount of content and I love your writing style. Thank you!
“Your content is incredibly powerful. I’ve shared your information with my design friends more than I have for any other business because your messaging is just that good.”
Questions? Answers.
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Thank you for supporting my small business. If you just purchased something from The Workroom or The Design Library, you’ll receive an email shortly with access instructions to unlock one year of complimentary access.
Once you register your account and are logged in, you’ll have access to all the blog posts.
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The free year is a bonus for new purchases—it can’t be applied retroactively to past purchases or refunded if you join The DTS Files first. If you want the free year, purchase from The Workroom or Design Library first, then we’ll send you your activation code.
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Great question. For years, I shared my insights freely. But as my work gained attention, I saw my strategies repackaged, resold, and passed off as someone else’s expertise without permission. That’s not sustainable, and it’s not fair to me and my team who put so much time and energy into writing articles every week or those who truly value and implement this work.
By making The DTS Files a paid resource, I can go deeper, share more candidly, and ensure the right people—interior design business owners—have access to these strategies.
This isn’t just a blog. It’s a library of insights and advice built from real-world consulting inside 100+ interior design firms.
💼 When you purchase from The Workroom or The Design Library, you’ll get one year of The DTS Files free. Details will be sent with access instructions after purchase
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Think of it as your on-demand business strategist—without the $550/hr price tag.
Business strategy, pricing, operations, and client experience insights—based on what actually works inside real design firms.
The Designer Deep Dives series—behind-the-scenes breakdowns of how top firms are running their businesses (revenue, pricing models, team structures, and more).
The Design Brief articles—expert insights on materials, sourcing, and implementation from our in-house interior design professor, you know, what they actually DO teach. in design school.
Members-only Dear Dakota blog posts—submit your biggest business questions and get expert, strategic advice on the blog.
No fluff. No AI-generated filler. Just proven strategies tested in the real world.
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Most of the business content out there comes from one of two places:
AI-generated articles designed to rank on Google
Advice from people who’ve only ever tested their strategies inside their own business
Or, sadly, my original work repurposed [insert evil laugh]
What’s missing? Depth. Testing. Proof.
The strategies inside The DTS Files aren’t “what worked for me” theories; they’re what has worked (and works) across 100+ design firms of all sizes, locations, and models.
The designers who make real progress? They choose one methodology, implement it, test it, refine it, and see results. The DTS Files gives you the clarity to do just that, without wasting time bouncing between 117 different voices, blogs, and podcasts.
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Sure. You can Google anything. But the real question is:
Can you trust it?
A lot of content out there isn’t even written by actual experts. It’s AI-generated, watered-down, or straight-up copied from people who’ve never had a successful business or tested it across hundreds of business models, markets, and demographics.
What’s missing is an understanding of the nuances.
Inside The DTS Files, you get insights straight from someone who’s been inside 100+ design businesses. Real strategies. Real results. No fluff, no regurgitated info, no guessing.
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We don’t offer private consulting at the moment, but if you want hands-on support, our signature group program, The Designed to Scale Method®, includes:
✔ Reviews of your work during scheduled milestones
✔ Private community with access to me, my team, and other designers
✔ Group consulting calls
Plus, my proven, step-by-step framework for building a profitable, sustainable business.
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There are no refunds. If you wish to end your subscription, simply log into your account and stop the renewal from processing.
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