Brittany Bromley in the Isabel top and Giselle high-rise jeans
#MAKEITHAPPEN
Brittany Bromley, Interior Designer
Like the Veronicas, Brittany Bromley is the product of the career pivot, switching from real estate agent to interior designer to chase after her passions. "Looking back on the way I would show clients properties, I realize I had always been helping them picture how they would live in the space," she recalls. "I feel incredibly lucky to be able to do something that not only brings me joy, but also allows me to bring joy to other’s lives. How we live feeds our souls, and beauty in one’s home can be transformative for your overall well-being." Here, we chat with Bromley, best known for mixing classic design with a modern sensibility, and step into a day in her life—which starts at, yes, 4 AM in the morning.
My Hustle
My hustle…
I am an interior designer with offices in New York and Palm Beach, and projects across the country.
I am an interior designer with offices in New York and Palm Beach, and projects across the country.
What got me started...
Designing feels like breathing to me! In my first life, I was a residential real estate agent, and now looking back on the way I would show clients properties, I realize I had always been helping them picture how they would live in the space. Whether that meant changing the swing of a door or opening up a wall to improve flow, I was always most interested in how the space would function for them. I got my start in designing when several of my clients asked if I would help them decorate their new homes, after hearing my ideas about space planning and my overall aesthetic.
Designing feels like breathing to me! In my first life, I was a residential real estate agent, and now looking back on the way I would show clients properties, I realize I had always been helping them picture how they would live in the space. Whether that meant changing the swing of a door or opening up a wall to improve flow, I was always most interested in how the space would function for them. I got my start in designing when several of my clients asked if I would help them decorate their new homes, after hearing my ideas about space planning and my overall aesthetic.
I feel incredibly lucky to be able to do something that not only brings me joy, but also allows me to bring joy to other’s lives. How we live feeds our souls, and beauty in one’s home can be transformative for your overall well-being. I think that COVID really illuminated that for a lot of people!
What clears my head…
A long bath with a good book and my favorite Cire Trudon candle burning, Abd el Kader.
A long bath with a good book and my favorite Cire Trudon candle burning, Abd el Kader.
When in doubt, I…
Take a deep breath and call my parents. They give great advice and there’s no better support system than my family.
Take a deep breath and call my parents. They give great advice and there’s no better support system than my family.
Greatest challenge—and how I overcame it…
Building a business and having a young family is not for the faint of heart! When I feel like I’m being pulled in too many different directions, I try to remind myself that there’s no such thing as perfection, just progress. And I’m proud to be a role model for my girls—a woman can both have a strong business and be clear and present for her family. Being multi-faceted is what makes us human—my girls and I use the analogy of birds leaving the nest. When the birds return, they bring things with them from the outside world and share that with their nest.
Building a business and having a young family is not for the faint of heart! When I feel like I’m being pulled in too many different directions, I try to remind myself that there’s no such thing as perfection, just progress. And I’m proud to be a role model for my girls—a woman can both have a strong business and be clear and present for her family. Being multi-faceted is what makes us human—my girls and I use the analogy of birds leaving the nest. When the birds return, they bring things with them from the outside world and share that with their nest.
how i make it happen
3 morning musts…
1. Hazelnut coffee with heavy cream for my cafe au lait, plus my favorite acid-kicking mineral supplement
1. Hazelnut coffee with heavy cream for my cafe au lait, plus my favorite acid-kicking mineral supplement
2. I’m a really early riser (often up by 4 AM). The quiet early AM hours allow me to answer emails and plan the day’s priority list so I can feel prepared for my day and be totally present for morning snuggles with my girls when they wake up at 7!
3. Exercise is a must for my mental well-being, so every day involves a workout with my trainer. Some days it’s cardio barre, some days it’s Pilates, others are weights, but that time is just for “me” and helps me reset and feel mentally ready for the day ahead.
3 life hacks…
1. I travel frequently for work, so rather than pack my skincare and toiletries, I have a second set—it’s just zip the bag and go!
1. I travel frequently for work, so rather than pack my skincare and toiletries, I have a second set—it’s just zip the bag and go!
2. In the same vein, packing and unpacking can feel like a full-time job so I use a hanging bag suitcase that gets packed with all my clothes on hangers. When I arrive, I just unzip and hang.
3. I’m always on the go and can never drink enough water—I finally got a gallon water bottle and I fill it each morning with fresh lemons and water. My team calls it “BOB” because it’s my "beast of burden," but I bring it everywhere and it’s the easiest way to keep track of my daily intake.
3 secret work weapons...
1. I’m a to-do list junkie—can’t live without it—it helps me plan my priorities for the day, and ensures nothing slips through the cracks. If something doesn’t get completed by EOD, it transfers to the next day as a priority. For my list, I use a productivity planner, and it not only allows me to prioritize tasks for the day but also delineates people and information I'm waiting on, and a list of people I need to follow up with.
1. I’m a to-do list junkie—can’t live without it—it helps me plan my priorities for the day, and ensures nothing slips through the cracks. If something doesn’t get completed by EOD, it transfers to the next day as a priority. For my list, I use a productivity planner, and it not only allows me to prioritize tasks for the day but also delineates people and information I'm waiting on, and a list of people I need to follow up with.
2. I’m almost always on the move in the car, and even when I know where I’m going, I use the Waze app to make sure I’m avoiding traffic issues—sometimes the 20 minutes it saves me is the difference between a productive day and a missed opportunity or appointment.
3. At BBI, we are big believers in both a physical and digital calendar. Because we manage so many projects at once, and each of them has so many specific timelines and deadlines, we plan our calendars at least three weeks out on a big board in our office, and it’s color-coded by type, by client, and then delegated to a member of the team. It helps to have a visual reminder of what’s coming down the pike a few weeks out.
Personal talisman…
It’s hard to beat the golden rule—I always try to treat others the way that I would want to be treated—and I firmly believe you get what you give, so good karma comes back to you!
3. At BBI, we are big believers in both a physical and digital calendar. Because we manage so many projects at once, and each of them has so many specific timelines and deadlines, we plan our calendars at least three weeks out on a big board in our office, and it’s color-coded by type, by client, and then delegated to a member of the team. It helps to have a visual reminder of what’s coming down the pike a few weeks out.
Personal talisman…
It’s hard to beat the golden rule—I always try to treat others the way that I would want to be treated—and I firmly believe you get what you give, so good karma comes back to you!
Best advice received…
It’s not how many times you get knocked down, but how many times you get up again that’s a measure of your success. Learn from your mistakes, don’t repeat them, and use those lessons as growth and change opportunities.
It’s not how many times you get knocked down, but how many times you get up again that’s a measure of your success. Learn from your mistakes, don’t repeat them, and use those lessons as growth and change opportunities.
my recharge
What I’m reading/listening to/binging…
I just finished Conn Iggulden’s The Conqueror Series on the Mongol empire of Genghis Khan. I could not put it down! On my playlist right now is a rousing mix of Mumford and Sons, Lizzo, The Lumineers, and Brandy Carlisle.
I just finished Conn Iggulden’s The Conqueror Series on the Mongol empire of Genghis Khan. I could not put it down! On my playlist right now is a rousing mix of Mumford and Sons, Lizzo, The Lumineers, and Brandy Carlisle.
Beauty/self-care must-haves…
For my skincare routine, I’m obsessed with Augustinus Bader’s The Rich Cream, Goop's GOOPGLOW Microderm Instant Glow Exfoliator, and Phyt’s C17 serum. I also try to use my ZIIP microcurrent device at least once a week—it makes it look like I’ve had a good night’s sleep—even when I haven’t! My everyday beauty routine is pretty basic: Nars SPF tinted moisturizer, Westman Atelier’s cream blush in petal, and, usually, a good lipstick. Masks were hard for me during COVID—which lipstick I choose says a lot about my mood for the day. I look at it as a form of self-expression!
For my skincare routine, I’m obsessed with Augustinus Bader’s The Rich Cream, Goop's GOOPGLOW Microderm Instant Glow Exfoliator, and Phyt’s C17 serum. I also try to use my ZIIP microcurrent device at least once a week—it makes it look like I’ve had a good night’s sleep—even when I haven’t! My everyday beauty routine is pretty basic: Nars SPF tinted moisturizer, Westman Atelier’s cream blush in petal, and, usually, a good lipstick. Masks were hard for me during COVID—which lipstick I choose says a lot about my mood for the day. I look at it as a form of self-expression!
Favorite thing to do…
Snuggle with my girls, read a good book in the sun, drive while singing at top volume with all the windows down…
Snuggle with my girls, read a good book in the sun, drive while singing at top volume with all the windows down…
Favorite thing to make…
I’m currently perfecting my deviled egg recipe. I also love making salad dressings—on repeat right now is my peanut and sesame vinaigrette, which makes even kale taste decadent.
I’m currently perfecting my deviled egg recipe. I also love making salad dressings—on repeat right now is my peanut and sesame vinaigrette, which makes even kale taste decadent.
One mover and shaker I admire…
Reese Witherspoon. Not only does Reese have a young family, but also several thriving businesses, and most recently her female-owned production company was sold for enough money to keep us in Veronica Beard for life. Female entrepreneurs who wear many hats are so inspiring… not to mention how much I love Legally Blonde, for obvious reasons!
Reese Witherspoon. Not only does Reese have a young family, but also several thriving businesses, and most recently her female-owned production company was sold for enough money to keep us in Veronica Beard for life. Female entrepreneurs who wear many hats are so inspiring… not to mention how much I love Legally Blonde, for obvious reasons!
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