We’re so excited to have Mindy on the blog today sharing a day in her life as an Orange County interior designer. This creative industry is fast-paced, and every day looks a little different. Still, we thought it would be fun to have her give us a sneak peek inside being MGD’s principal designer. Mindy started working in interior design in 2011 and founded Mindy Gayer Design Co. in 2014. Since then, the studio has worked on projects around Southern California and beyond, and the team has continued to grow. Mindy leads our team so well, and we’re excited to share her day-to-day on the MGD log today. So, keep scrolling and come along for the ride!
From Mindy:
We’re lucky enough to call Balboa Island home. I love being so close to the ocean and to our design house in Costa Mesa. First thing every morning, I take a pass at my emails to check in on anything that may have come in overnight. Construction and design can be time-sensitive, and it’s important to me to be available to our clients and subcontractors via email as much as possible. Once I’ve gotten through my inbox, I will head out to grab an iced tea on my way into the office or to a site visit. Fun fact: I don’t drink coffee! Zinc Cafe and Haute Cakes in Orange County are two of my favorite spots for a morning caffeine kick.
Site Visits
I typically try to schedule site meetings first thing in the morning. So, most days I’ll stop by one of our job sites to check in on progress and meet with our subcontractors. It’s always so fun to see a full-scale remodel or new build through from the beginning. This is when you’ll often see me sharing behind-the-scenes on our Instagram Stories! As an Orange County interior design studio, most of our projects are semi-local, but we also work with clients across Southern California and beyond.
After site visits, I’ll head into the office and spend some time checking my emails and replying to texts and correspondence I’ve received while out in the field. Next up, I’ll touch base with our design team and see what our internal priorities are for the day. We typically work with clients on their remodels or new builds from start to finish, and are responsible for everything aesthetic, from the materials and finishes to the furniture pieces. It’s so fun for us to see all of the details come together! A few of the things we’ll work on on a daily basis are reviewing furniture floor plans, cabinetry designs, elevations, and sourcing materials, finishes, and fabrics.
When lunchtime rolls around, our team loves trying new spots around our neighborhood. A few of our go-to’s are A Market, Arc Butcher & Baker, Rye Goods, and (of course) Mendocino Farms! If I’m not able to sneak out for lunch, I’ll order something in from one of our local spots around Costa Mesa. A perk of being an Orange County interior designer is being just a stone’s throw away from some of the best restaurants and cafes in California!
Client Design Presentations
Several times per month we’ll have client presentations in our showroom where we work with our clients on ideas for the layouts, finishes, and materials we’re using in their projects. Working with MGD is a very collaborative process, which I love! It’s important to me that each and every project perfectly reflects the client and family that lives there.
For the rest of the day, I’m typically on client and contractor phone calls or emails working with our team on regular problem-solving. We all know that there are always last-minute adjustments and issues that arise during construction. Our clients and contractors rely on us to come up with solutions, suggestions, and cost-saving alternatives in the field. Recently, we’ve also had to troubleshoot delays in shipping and construction due to COVID.
Creative Think Time
Once my team leaves, I’ll usually stick around the design house to get in my personal creative think time. Coming up with new ideas and concepts is such a rewarding part of my job as an interior designer. So, it’s important for me to create that time for myself regardless of what is going on around me.
We hope this has been a fun and eye-opening read for everyone who’s curious about what it’s like to be an interior designer! For a peek inside the projects themselves, head to our portfolio. To shop Mindy’s go-tos for her home and wardrobe, head to our affiliate shop! Let us know in the comments what you’d like to hear from us next. As always, thanks for following along!