We were lucky to catch up with Misty Molloy recently and have shared our conversation below.

Misty, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Often outsiders look at a successful business and think it became a success overnight. Even media and especially movies love to gloss over nitty, gritty details that went into that middle phase of your business – after you started but before you got to where you are today. In our experience, overnight success is usually the result of years of hard work laying the foundation for success, but unfortunately, it’s exactly this part of the story that most of the media ignores. Can you talk to us about your scaling up story – what are some of the nitty, gritty details folks should know about?

When I first started CoCreative Interiors, I envisioned a thriving business but played it safe. I offered services that were smaller in scope and drew clear boundaries around what I was willing to do. Reflecting on that time, I realize I was holding back, hesitant to dive fully into what my business could be. It took several iterations and self-reflection to accept that I needed to go all in to build something significant.

One of the unique challenges for an interior designer is the long lead time for projects. This extended feedback loop meant it took longer to gather the data I needed to refine my approach, especially regarding pricing and proposals. I often felt like I was navigating in the dark, trying to figure out how to charge for services without a clear benchmark.

One of the most pivotal strategies I implemented was creating a financial cushion. I saved enough to cover six months of my paycheck and business expenses. That buffer allowed me to focus on growth without the constant stress of where the next client would come from. It allowed me to dedicate time to building my network, establishing relationships with architects, builders, and artisans, and pursuing bigger, more transformative projects.

In the meantime, I would still take smaller jobs to keep the momentum going—but I stopped advertising for them. This approach helped me transition without letting go of smaller revenue streams, creating space for larger projects to take priority.

Building a team has been another challenging but essential part of scaling up. Delegating parts of the business was a huge step—trusting someone else with tasks I had always done myself felt risky. However, freeing myself from the day-to-day allowed me to focus on business development and big-picture strategy. Balancing hiring costs with the need to save money was tricky, but having that financial cushion again made this leap possible.

Scaling a business is far from linear—it’s filled with twists, turns, and a fair share of mistakes. For me, the turning point was deciding to stop playing small, embrace calculated risks, and invest in building a foundation that could support bigger opportunities. Today, CoCreative Interiors is a thriving firm that delivers bold, colorful, unique designs, and I’m grateful for every hard-earned lesson that got us here.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m the Founder and Principal Designer of CoCreative Interiors, a firm dedicated to creating bold, colorful, and personalized interior design. My journey into this field began after a successful career in nonprofit, followed by leading strategic growth for a multi-million dollar e-commerce company. This experience taught me the importance of collaboration, building relationships and creating processes that bring ideas to life—a foundation that shaped my approach to interior design.

At CoCreative Interiors, we specialize in working with professionals who are busy with demanding careers and family responsibilities. Our clients want more than a beautiful home—they want a space that reflects their unique personality, lifestyle, and aspirations. Whether they are building, renovating, or furnishing their forever home, we step in as their trusted partner to navigate the process and deliver a fully finished space that’s cohesive, luxurious, and truly theirs.

Our ability to combine big-picture creativity with meticulous attention to detail sets us apart. We’re known as the “anti-gray” firm for embracing bold colors, mixed patterns, and unique finishing touches that elevate a home from beautiful to spectacular. We manage every aspect of the project—from initial concepts to final touches we call “The Zhush”—ensuring our clients a seamless and stress-free experience. Our collaborative partnerships with architects, builders, and artisans allow us to push boundaries while maintaining impeccable execution.

I’m particularly proud of the relationships we’ve built, both with our clients and our industry partners. One of my proudest moments is presenting the value of “Power Partnerships” between independent interior designers and design-build firms, sharing insights on how collaboration can elevate both the process and the outcome. Another highlight has been filming an episode of the television series “Make It Mine”, showcasing design’s transformational power while giving back to the senior community.

At the heart of it all, I want potential clients to know that CoCreative Interiors is here to simplify what can feel like an overwhelming process. We aim to create spaces as functional as they are stunning, blending practicality with unmistakable wow factor. For us, design is more than aesthetics—it’s about telling a story, solving problems, and creating homes that inspire daily joy.

Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.

My side hustle evolved into my full-time business and career, though it wasn’t a straightforward journey. I started CoCreative Interiors while still working as a director of strategic management, focusing on leading projects and driving organizational growth.

From the beginning, I knew I wanted to turn my passion for design into a full-time business, so I started as a side hustle to build a strong foundation before taking the leap. Running a design firm blends my professional background and creative instincts. My strategic management career taught me to juggle multiple moving parts, solve complex problems, and lead with a clear vision—skills essential for owning and operating a successful design firm.

Interior design is about far more than creating beautiful spaces. 20% design and 80% people and project management, it requires wearing many hats and balancing creativity with logistics to deliver exceptional results. I’m also grateful I didn’t dive straight into interior design. My earlier career experiences laid the groundwork for the systems and strategies that enable me to run a thriving business today.

Another significant milestone was hiring my first team member. Delegating parts of the business was challenging, but it freed me to focus on strategic growth, client relationships, and high-level design work. I also shifted from taking on any project that came my way to focusing on ideal clients—busy professionals looking for bold, colorful, high-end designs.

Over time, I developed partnerships with architects, builders, and artisans, which helped us deliver exceptional results and solidify our reputation in the industry. Today, CoCreative Interiors is known for its anti-gray, vibrant approach and ability to create spectacular, personalized spaces that clients proudly call home. What started as a side hustle has become a thriving business, and I’m proud of every step it took to get here.

We’d love to hear about how you keep in touch with clients.

At CoCreative Interiors, fostering lasting relationships with our clients and building brand loyalty is at the heart of what we do. We believe that exceptional design is about creating beautiful spaces and meaningful connections. We stay in touch to show our appreciation in several ways.

Newsletters: We regularly send out a newsletter to keep our clients updated on the latest design trends, projects, and insider tips to stay connected and provide ongoing inspiration.

Holiday Cards: Each year, we send personalized holiday cards to our clients as a small but heartfelt gesture of gratitude for being part of our journey.

New Client Gifts: When new clients sign their agreements, we celebrate the beginning of our collaboration with a thoughtful, personalized welcome gift. It’s our way of setting the tone for an extraordinary partnership.

Holiday Gifts: At the end of each year, we send holiday gifts to all the clients we’ve worked with during the calendar year. These tokens of appreciation reflect the effort and creativity that went into their projects.

Client Parties: One of our favorite traditions is hosting a celebration at a client’s home after completing their project. It’s a chance for them to show off their stunning new space to friends and family—and for us, it’s the perfect way to celebrate their vision coming to life.

These touchpoints go beyond transactional relationships. They create a sense of community and make every client feel valued. Our goal is to leave a lasting impression, not just with our designs but also with the experience of working together.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://cocreativeinteriors.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/cocreativeinteriors
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/cocreativeinteriors
• Other: https://www.houzz.com/pro/cocreativeinteriors

Image Credits

Heather Ison Photography
Tiffany Ringwald Photography
Julia Fay Photography