Finding time to wind down and recharge during the summer will make you a more productive designer in the long run. This week, we asked nine designers—Catherine Balding, Kim Gettenberg, Nikki Haramoglis, Vanessa Rome, Erin Sander, Hillary Taylor, Alex Thies, Susan Work and Lisa Worth—how they find work-life balance during a season known for a slower pace.
Unplugged
“I’ve learned that the best thing I can do for both my family and my clients is to truly unplug when I’m on vacation. If I’m constantly thinking about work, I’m not fully present for the people I’m with, and I’m also not giving myself the chance to come home genuinely recharged. For me, travel is as much about inspiration as it is about rest. Immersing myself in a new place—the culture, the light, the architecture, the pace of life—fills my creative tank in ways that staying connected never could. Those experiences inevitably find their way back into my work, bringing fresh ideas, a renewed perspective and a deeper sense of creativity to every client project. When I return, I’m ready to dive back in with renewed energy and intention.” —Erin Sander, Erin Sander Design, Dallas
Shifted Schedule
“During the summer, we typically have a shift in hours that allows me to be present when the kids are home. Job-site visits might shift to later in the day, versus during the year, when I meet during school hours. I might work from noon to 8 p.m., or later, if I need to. The fact that I’m a mother of four comes up in my very first client conversations, and I am doing my most efficient and great work for my clients, but that doesn’t [always] translate into face time. I’m available, just not every hour. I also find that during the summer, most of the families we work for also have busy travel plans. It’s essential to schedule regular meetings and presentations well in advance to stay on target for projects. Everyone in our circle is trying to find balance—and my clients do not suffer if I shift my schedule around. The trickiest part of our year is actually when France shuts down in August: les vacances! I find we are planning for that shutdown six months in advance [from a sourcing perspective], even if we’re only anticipating a couple of items.” —Hillary Taylor, Hillary W Taylor Interiors, Salt Lake City
Summer Fridays
“One of the best parts of summer for our team is Summer Fridays. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, we work an extra hour Monday through Thursday and close our office on Fridays. This allows our team to have long weekends throughout the summer, which is great for small getaways here and there, and allows my team to relax and soak in the sun with family and friends guilt free. I find that it makes us much more productive the four days of the week that we work, so nothing really falls through the cracks. It’s a precedent we set upfront with our clients, vendors and builders, and for the most part, they adapt quickly and realize anything urgent can be accomplished earlier in the week, or it can wait until Monday.” —Alex Thies, Adelyn Charles Interiors, Bonita Springs, Florida
Long Weekends
“I believe creativity flourishes when you make space to live, not just work. Summer is a reminder for me to slow down and intentionally recharge. I make it a priority to travel every summer because experiencing new places, cultures, architecture and landscapes is what inspires me most. Whether it’s wandering through a European village, discovering a boutique hotel, or simply observing how people live in different parts of the world, I always return home with fresh ideas and a renewed perspective that naturally influences my designs. I also make a conscious effort to take at least one day off each week to spend uninterrupted time with my family. In a profession where we’re constantly creating, problem-solving, and managing projects, those moments of connection help keep me grounded and remind me why designing homes that bring people together is so meaningful. Finally, I try to set boundaries with technology whenever I can. Stepping away from emails and social media allows me to be fully present, whether I’m with family, traveling or simply enjoying the quiet moments of summer. I’ve found that the best inspiration often comes when I’m not looking for it. By giving myself the time and space to recharge, I return to my clients with greater creativity, clarity and enthusiasm.” —Kim Gettenberg, Redefine Home, Atlanta
Family Affair
“Running a design studio as a family means we’ve built a business that bends to our life, not the other way around. Summer is the season that makes that reality most visible. School’s out, schedules shift, and our two young kids still need us for camp drop-offs, pickups, and random Tuesdays when everything gets canceled due to illness. We show up for all of it because we designed our work to accommodate exactly this kind of integrated life. The projects and creativity don’t stop, but the hours are fluid, and the person we problem-solve with is also the person we’re raising a family with.” —Susan Work, Homework, San Francisco
Seamless Experience
“Our team is incredibly deliberate when it comes to summer planning. In addition to coordinating our own travel schedules, we also account for the summer plans of our clients, trade partners and the many artisans involved in our projects. Each spring, our team comes together to map out the months ahead, carefully aligning project milestones, key deliverables and personal schedules. When one member of our team is out of the office, we ensure the remaining team members are available to keep projects moving forward. This level of coordination creates a highly sequenced workflow, with much of what takes place—both behind the scenes and on our job sites—planned well in advance. In many ways, we view summer as an opportunity rather than a slowdown. We intentionally plan ahead, often using the season to move numerous items into production. By doing so, we capitalize on manufacturing lead times while balancing time in and out of the studio, ensuring projects continue progressing seamlessly regardless of vacation schedules. Just as importantly, our communication with clients remains every bit as active throughout the summer. Our weekly reports and project updates for clients continue without interruption, and our responsiveness remains unchanged. As the business owner, I am always available, even when traveling. While it may take a day or two to settle into a new time zone, my practice travels with me wherever I go. Whether I am in the studio, on-site or working remotely, our clients can expect the same level of accessibility, communication and thoughtful oversight that defines our work throughout the year.” —Nikki Haramoglis, Westward Atelier, Danville, California
Know When to Say No
“Work-life balance is something I think we all struggle with. During the summer months, when I want to make the most of a short season, it can be even more challenging. Because of that unpredictability, it’s nearly impossible to know whether site visits or urgent decisions will arise once a summer holiday begins. In the weeks leading up to my vacation, I make every effort to visit active job sites and ensure everyone has the information they need before I leave. That said, if a client or contractor reaches out with an urgent matter while I am away, I respond. Preventing a costly mistake is worth interrupting my holiday. The messages asking, ‘What do you think of this lamp?’ are a different story. Those are usually met with a polite reply: ‘I’d be happy to help when I’m back in the office.’ I’ve learned that work-life balance isn’t about drawing a hard line between work and personal time—it’s about knowing when your expertise truly matters and when it’s OK to step away. Taking that time to recharge doesn’t just benefit me; it allows me to return with renewed creativity and the energy my clients deserve.” —Lisa Worth, Worth Interior Design, Toronto
Communication Is Key
“Personally, the key to achieving work-life balance in the summer is communication, setting expectations and being organized with deadlines. Communication is so important when juggling work and personal commitments; leaving people wondering adds unnecessary stress. Colleagues and clients appreciate an update, even if that update is that you are still working on a particular piece and will have it completed within the week. Setting expectations is crucial to avoid overpromising and underdelivering. If it will likely take a month to complete the project, communicate that timeline versus the overly optimistic best-case scenario. Finally, keep tabs on your deadlines by adding them to your calendar. Set reminders when they are approaching so that you know what you have time for and where your attention needs to be.” —Catherine Balding, Balding Design Build, Wilmington, North Carolina
Stealing Summer Moments
“My business naturally takes me to the Hamptons each summer, as many of our projects are installed at the start of the season and continue throughout it. Since someone needs to be on-site to receive deliveries and oversee details, that responsibility often falls to me—which conveniently allows me to spend more time at our home in Sag Harbor. During the week, I typically spend Monday through Wednesday in the office and head east on Thursday before traffic builds for the weekend. While I’m working on creating more balance, work still tends to come first. If a project needs me, I’m there; if it doesn’t, I may steal an extra day or two to enjoy the summer. Then, at the end of August, I make a point of taking the final two weeks to fully embrace the season before turning my attention to fall.” —Vanessa Rome, Vanessa Rome Interiors, New York
