A Day in the Life of an Interior Designer

Photo of Hong Kong interior designer founder and design director Britta Butler in the living room of one of her completed interiors

One of the reasons I enjoy my job as an interior designer so much is that no two days are exactly the same-so one thing it never does is get boring! Running the Hong Kong office means that what I do is a mix of management, marketing, design, and admin. I’m also someone who thrives on creating order in the midst of chaos, so I actually really like making a daily schedule and (mostly) sticking to it. Wondering what that looks like? Well, here is a typical day in my life, from when I wake up until I brush my teeth before bed. Let me know in the comments if it was anything like what you imagined it would be!

6:30 am: Wake up by my natural alarm, aka my pug Simba and my French bulldog Nala.

Stanley_Hong_Kong_-_pug_french_bulldog_on_rocks_at_beach

7:00 am: Head to the gym for cardio and weights. I’m not really a morning person, so luckily my gym is within walking distance of my home.

8:30 am: Shower, get dressed, then eat breakfast. The latter usually consists of half a bagel, turkey bacon, egg whites, a bowl of raspberries and blueberries, and a cup of English Breakfast tea. Yes, I am a creature of habit!

9:20 am: Hop on the minibus that takes me to the B Squared Design studio in Wong Chuk Hang.

10:00 am: Office opens. Start the day by checking emails and responding to any urgent requests or inquiries. Review the schedule for the day and prioritize tasks.

10:30 am: Meet with client at their home or at our office to discuss project updates, design options, and make decisions on materials, colors, and furniture.

Wong Chuk Hang Hong Kong - B Squared Design Office Interior Meeting Room Round Sample Table

11:30 am: Head back to the studio if the morning meeting did not take place there already to work on other projects’ design concepts and drawings with the Team. This may could involve any of the following: creating floor plans, sections, elevations, electrical plans, selecting furniture, fixtures, and finishes, and creating digital or physical mood boards to present to clients.

12:30 pm: Take a lunch break to recharge.

2:00 pm: Conduct construction site visit for ongoing project to check on its progress, answer any questions from contractors, and ensure that the design is being executed as planned. I take note of any adjustments or modifications that may be required by us to make in order for the work to move forward as scheduled.

Sai Kung Hong Kong - Construction Site Meeting Contractor Britta Butler Kitchen Renovation

3:00 pm: Check emails for the second time in the day.

4:00 pm: Take a 15 minute Discovery Call from someone interested in working with B Squared Design on a new project to see if we’re a good fit.

4:30 pm: Go on an initial site visit for a potential new client. This includes doing a walk-through of the space to discuss possibilities and taking measurements and photographs of the space in order to put together a Scope of Work for the potential client to review and decide whether they want to sign a contract with us.

6:00 pm: Wrap up the day by organizing files, clearing my desk, and checking the calendar for the next day's meetings and tasks.

Then it’s time to head home, where I normally spend my evenings either reading a book (I’m a voracious reader!) or watching a tv series (you’ll never guess what my favorite genre is…). Then last but not least, before I go to sleep I call the US to speak with my family and friends, as it’s their morning there.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is a typical day in my life as a designer. Of course, should you like to fit yourself somewhere in there to discuss a project of your own, I would love to make that happen. Here’s the link to schedule a call. Hope to hear from you soon!