A Day in the Life of a Successful Connecticut Interior Designer
What it really looks like behind the curated chaos
Let’s start with a myth-busting moment: interior designers don’t spend their days fluffing pillows and sipping matcha under a skylight. At least not the profitable ones. And definitely not the ones juggling three kids, twelve client projects, and a design firm that runs like a Swiss watch (hi, it’s me).
If you’ve ever wondered what a “typical” day looks like for a full-time, full-service interior designer in Coastal Connecticut—who also happens to be a mom of three—buckle up. This isn’t a pretty highlight reel. This is the real deal.
The Non-Negotiables: Structure, Strategy, and Strong Coffee
Here’s the thing: creativity without structure is chaos. That’s why I live and die by my weekly time blocks. Every task, every call, every site visit gets a lane. Otherwise? It’s just endless context-switching and mental tab overload.
Tuesdays & Thursdays: Reserved for site visits, trade walk-throughs, install days, and progress checks. These are my in-the-field days.
Wednesdays: Admin, inbox triage, sourcing deep-dives, and discovery calls with potential clients (hello, lovely people).
Mondays & Fridays: Flex days. I use them for overflow, prep, or—when I’m lucky—a little breathing room.
This 90% rule of time blocking is my secret weapon. The other 10%? That’s life. Kids get sick. Contractors need you yesterday. Tile shows up cracked. Adaptability is a skill set, not a liability.
Morning: Coffee, Calendars, and Controlled Chaos
Spoiler alert—I am not part of the 5:00 am running club. That was soooo college soccer days (Go Wolfpack!). Between packing lunches, fielding “Mom, where’s my soccer jersey?” and getting three humans out the door, I’m already halfway through my coffee though before 8:00 am.
Once the house is quiet(ish), I review my schedule for the day. I use this time to check in on active installs, confirm trade appointments, and—yes—scroll the inbox. But I don’t let email dictate my to-do list. (That’s how your day gets hijacked by someone else’s priorities.)
Mid-Morning: Site Visits or Studio Focus
If it’s a Tuesday or Thursday, I’m on-site. Think hard hats, paint samples, QR-coded spec binders, and a very full trunk. I’m walking jobs with builders, checking cabinetry alignment, or installing furniture with white-glove teams. Sometimes I’m explaining to a tile installer (again) why the grout does matter.
If it’s a Wednesday, I’m in studio mode: working through client proposals, concept boards, sourcing the perfect unlacquered brass sconce, and onboarding new clients via Zoom. (Pro tip: If you’re trying to get on my calendar, shoot for a Wednesday.)
Lunch: Usually Forgotten
Let’s be honest—this is not a leisurely sit-down affair. Lunch is often scarfed between calls or during a site visit car ride. I always have snacks in the glove box. Always. (If I’m lucky? A giant salad, my favorite is the crunchy rice from SweetGreen. If I’m not? Cold leftovers. It’s called balance.)
Afternoon: Design Deep Work or Client Communication
Afternoons are sacred for uninterrupted design time or scheduled communication blocks. This is when I build presentation, finalize sourcing or review construction documentation. I’ll also hop on status calls with trades and vendors—or check in on open orders and lead times through our systems.
Here’s where the magic happens: templates, SOPs, and tight process. Every email, every order, every document lives in its lane. Efficiency is not a buzzword here—it’s how I run 12+ projects without losing my mind (or my tape measure).
Evening: Mom Mode
Once the kids are home, it’s mom time. Homework, dinner, stories, snuggles. It’s loud. It’s messy. It’s everything.
On occasion after the kids go to sleep, I might get back to work. This isn’t hustle culture. This is my version of integration. My time, my terms.
The House of Huck Take
Being a successful interior designer in Connecticut—one who’s profitable, booked out and happily married (hi hunny!)—requires more than a good eye. It takes structure, systems, and serious boundaries. My calendar isn’t just a schedule. It’s a blueprint for growth and sanity.
You don’t need to do it all in one day. You just need to know what your version of “all” looks like—and protect the hell out of it.
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