I love my job

Last week's post about shopping really got me thinking about how lucky I am to be an interior designer.  There's not many jobs out there where you get to shop for a living!  And I meet the most wonderful, talented, friendly, hardworking people - both my clients, and those that I do business with buying products and installing beautiful homes.

I love the diversity of the work.  In any given day, I could be doing any number of things (other than shopping, which is not what I usually do):  Mainly, I am drawing and/or designing.  I spend hours every week at my drafting table, either drawing floorplans or elevation drawings and perspectives.  It's generally where I start a project (space planning) and end a project (perspective rendering), before the client gets to see the design. 

I also spend a lot of time selecting the finishes for a project - maybe it's paint colors, fabrics for upholstery, window treatments, wall coverings, tile, countertops, rugs, flooring.   There's a myriad of choices that it can be overwhelming sometimes (for me too!)

Getting messy is part of the job too.  I recently spent a very hot day at a job site, going over plans and design details with the general contractor and the client.  The home was full of dust and dirt, and I was sweaty and sunburned by the time I left.  But I had a huge smile on my face to finally see my project underway.  

Selecting furniture, lighting, and accessories is a big part of what I do.  There are so many different manufacturers and sources that it is overwhelming.  I try to stay very current on trends, so I read a ton of shleter magazines (House Beautiful, Traditional Home, Coastal Living, and Elle Decor are on my bedside table) and read lots of other blogs (Things that Inspire, Velvet & Linen, Pure Style Home, and Belgian Pearls are my faves).   I go to 'market' every spring and fall (otherwise known as the High Point International Home Furnishings Market) to find new sources, and I constantly scour magazines, catalogs and internet sites to find the perfect pieces for a client's home. 

    

After all that, I document, record, and organize.  I prepare invoices, proposals, and purchase orders.  I track all of my orders, and ensure that each project is on schedule.   I plan, order, follow-up, and schedule.  Though this part of my job is not nearly as exciting, I have an analytical side that doesn't mind (and actually gets quite obsessed) tracking all these details.  

It's hard work, but i really, really love it.  Sometimes if I'm working late at night, I literally have to make myself stop, so I can get some rest.  And even once I'm lying in bed, I keep reworking the spaces in my mind and dreaming of a new color scheme.  

Thanks so much for reading my blog.  I hope that you also love what you do everyday. 

Bronwyn