Day in the Life of an Interior Designer

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be an interior designer? Well, I can tell you that no two days are the same. Between site visits, client meetings, and the variety of jobs we’re working on, my days can be spent all on the go or all in front of a computer. However, I decided for one day to capture activities as they happened, so you can get a peek into how things run here at our design studio on Bainbridge Island.

First things first, I pick up coffee from Cups, one of our favorite island coffee spots and only half a block from our office. I’m getting one for me and for my client with whom I have an early morning meeting.

My client comes to the office and brings some backsplash tile that she’s putting into the bathroom of her new detached studio. I help pick paint colors to sample (always using Samplize!), and we discuss some other finishes and cabinet details. She’s a consultation client, so I help with decisions and then she puts the plan into action.

After a quick lunch checking email, I have a Discovery Call with a potential new client. I love these complimentary introduction calls. It’s exciting to start to imagine a project, even before I’ve been in the space. I take a bunch of notes and follow up with an email about how to move forward.

This afternoon, I’ve got a zoom call for a preliminary presentation (this is the idea stage) and I want to send a photo of the actual materials to the client. We’re doing a mudroom and laundry room for a busy family, while giving it a nice dose of personality.

We hop on our zoom so I can present the preliminary design to my clients. We review some of the inspiration, then layout of both spaces with proposed finishes. Once they’ve approved this design direction, I’ll make final finish selections (hardware, lighting, etc) and get some quotes on cabinetry, while getting estimates from a few of my favorite island contractors. After our meeting I jot down what they liked, didn’t like, and any action items we discussed.

I do a quick desk tidy and pack up to go pick up my kid! That’s one day in the life of an interior designer.