Systems, setup + support for interior designers

Behind every beautiful room is a well-run studio.

I set up Dubsado, Houzz Pro, the Microsoft tools you already own and AI workflows around the way your design firm actually works, then stay on to support you. You get your evenings back. Your clients get a smoother experience from first inquiry to install day.

Set up inDubsadoHouzz ProExcelPowerPointOutlookTeamsAI tools

ExampleA client journey I can set up for you

New clientRuns on its own
  1. Inquiry form receivedAuto-reply + questionnaire sentAutomated
  2. Discovery call bookedThu · 10:00 AM · Teams link + Outlook invite sentAutomated
  3. Proposal, contract + retainerSent together · signed in 1 dayPaid
  4. Welcome packet + client portalSelections board shared in Houzz ProAutomated
  5. Design presentationReminder scheduled 2 days beforeNext up
Your only taskReview + send the proposal
Sound familiar?

Your studio has outgrown its back office.

Most designers don't have a talent problem. They have a systems problem. It shows up in small, draining ways every week.

  1. 01Proposals eat a whole evening.
  2. 02You chase deposits by text.
  3. 03Selections are scattered everywhere.
  4. 04Clients ask "where are we?" every week.
  5. 05You can't take a week off.

Systems can be fixed. That's the whole job here.

Services

The tools you pay for, finally working.

Whether you're starting fresh or untangling an account you set up three years ago, everything is built around your process, your brand and the way you talk to clients.

Client journey

Dubsado setup

Every step from first inquiry to final invoice, connected and automated.

  • Branded inquiry forms with instant replies
  • Discovery call scheduler with Microsoft Teams links
  • Proposal, contract and retainer in one send
  • Payment plans with automatic reminders
  • Workflows for onboarding, milestones and offboarding
  • Connected to your Outlook email and calendar
Projects + procurement

Houzz Pro setup

Sourcing, selections and purchasing in one place instead of fourteen tabs.

  • Product Library filled from the AI Clipper in one click
  • Mood Boards, plus Selection Boards with client comments and one-click approvals
  • Branded proposal templates for your team
  • Purchase Orders that pull straight from your proposals
  • Selections Tracker for order and shipping status
  • Client Dashboard for boards, selections and invoices
Automation

AI workflows

Practical AI for the work you dread, set up to sound like your studio.

  • Meeting notes and client recaps from your calls
  • Client email drafts that still sound like you
  • Social media captions and post drafts from your latest projects
  • Portfolio write-ups and newsletter drafts, ready for your edits

Already using an AI tool? We'll build on it. Starting from scratch? I'll help you choose the right one for your studio.

Tools you already own

Excel + PowerPoint templates

Branded templates built around your process, so every project starts organized in programs you already know.

  • PowerPoint decks for concept presentations and design proposals
  • Excel FF&E schedules and selection trackers
  • Excel budgets, procurement logs and order tracking
  • Outlook email templates, a shared inquiry inbox and team calendars
  • Teams channels for internal project chat
After launch

Ongoing support

Software changes and studios grow. Someone who knows your setup is a message away.

  • Fixes and tweaks when something breaks
  • New templates as your services change
  • Onboarding for new team members
  • Quarterly check-ins on what to improve next
Packages

Start where you are.

Every studio starts with a conversation. Pricing depends on your team size and how much is already set up, so I'll share it on our discovery call.

Start here

The Studio Audit

For designers who know something's off but don't know where to start.

  • 90-minute review of your tools and client journey
  • Map of where time and money are leaking
  • Written roadmap with recommended next steps
  • Yours to keep, whether or not we work together after
One session + roadmap
One platform

The Foundation

For solo designers and small studios ready to get one system right.

  • Full setup of Dubsado or Houzz Pro, or a custom Excel and PowerPoint template kit
  • Branded templates, forms and documents
  • Core automations for your client journey
  • Recorded training walkthrough
  • 2 weeks of support after launch
Typically 3–4 weeks
Most complete Everything, connected

The Full Back Office

For growing firms juggling multiple projects and team members.

  • Dubsado and Houzz Pro, set up side by side
  • Excel and PowerPoint templates, plus Outlook and Teams setup
  • AI workflows for notes, emails and specs
  • Team training sessions
  • Studio playbook documenting every process
  • 30 days of priority support
Typically 6–8 weeks
Monthly

On Call

For studios already set up who want a systems person on their team.

  • Monthly hours for fixes and improvements
  • New templates and workflows as you grow
  • New-hire software onboarding
  • Quarterly systems check-in
Month to month

Not sure which fits? Pick "Not sure yet" on the form and we'll figure it out together.

How it works

From inquiry to install day.

The same steady process every time, so you always know what's happening and what's next.

  1. 01

    Discovery call

    A 30-minute conversation about your studio, your tools and what's frustrating you most.

  2. 02

    Map your process

    We walk through your client journey step by step and decide what to automate and what to keep personal.

  3. 03

    Build

    I set everything up in your accounts, in your branding and your voice. You review before anything goes live.

  4. 04

    Train + launch

    Live training over Teams for you and your team, plus recorded walkthroughs to come back to.

  5. 05

    Support

    I stay on after launch to fix, tweak and improve as real clients move through.

About

A systems person who speaks design.

I'm Luke. I've spent 10 years in data analytics and technology, working with firms and companies of every size across a range of industries. Along the way I've built reporting, cleaned up processes and set up the tools that keep teams running smoothly.

For years I've also run the systems behind Brooke MT Interiors, my wife's full-service interior design firm. That means the inquiry forms, proposals, procurement tracking and every automation in between. I know how a design studio actually works, from the first discovery call to install day.

The Design Back Office brings both together, so you can spend your time on the work only you can do.

Luke, founder of The Design Back Office
LukeFounder, The Design Back Office
10 yearsData analytics + technology
Questions

Good to know.

Don't see yours? Ask it in the form below.

Do I need both Dubsado and Houzz Pro?

Not always. Dubsado is strongest for the client journey: inquiries, proposals, contracts and payments. Houzz Pro is strongest for the project itself: selections, sourcing and purchasing. Many studios use both. Some do fine with one. The Studio Audit is designed to answer exactly this.

I already have an account set up. Can you fix it?

Yes. A lot of my work is cleaning up accounts that were set up quickly and never revisited. I'll keep what works and rebuild what doesn't.

Do you work with designers outside Iowa?

Yes. Everything is done remotely over Microsoft Teams with screen sharing, so I work with studios anywhere in the US.

My studio uses Gmail and Google Workspace. Can you still help?

Yes, for Dubsado and Houzz Pro. Dubsado connects to Google email and calendars as well as Microsoft. My templates and office setup are built in Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams, so if you're on Google we'll keep your current email and calendar and connect your other systems to them.

How much of my time will this take?

Expect a few hours up front to map your process and gather your documents, then short reviews as I build. I handle the setup itself.

Will AI make my studio sound generic?

Not if it's set up well. I build your AI workflows around your own past emails, proposals and descriptions, so the drafts sound like you. You always review before anything reaches a client.

Which AI tool should I use?

Whichever one fits how you work. If you already use one, we'll build your workflows around it. If you're new to AI, I'll walk you through the options and recommend one based on your studio, your budget and what you want it to do. Dubsado also has a built-in Notetaker for client calls.

Let's talk

Tell me about your studio.

Share a little about your firm and what you're interested in. I'll review it personally and follow up about next steps.

  • 01You fill out this form
  • 02I review your studio and follow up
  • 03You book a time for your discovery call

About you
What you're interested in
Where you are now Tools you use today

I'll only use your details to reply to you. No newsletters unless you ask.