HomeWork: How interior designer and stylist Nina Provan gets it done

“I like routine, but I don’t live by routine – I live by what needs to get done,” says Mount Martha-based interior designer and stylist Nina Provan. Her days often demand switching between managing her own interior design and styling business, running the cushion label Ni Ni Creative with her business partner, and being a single mum to two children aged two and five.

Handling both the creative and the administration side of the business allows Provan to shape her day to suit herself. “If the creativity isn’t coming then there is always something on my list I can return to – chasing invoices, making supplier payments, all that day-to-day stuff that you need to be doing to run your business.”

Even among the juggle, it’s a slower pace, she adds. “When you live in the city, you can feel this pressure to always be on the go. Living in a quieter seaside spot has definitely slowed down my approach to how I live my life.”

Morning

I’m usually up around seven to pack lunches and get the kids ready. I’ll either eat some cereal or toast with the kids before school drop-off.

Three mornings a week I go to the gym. I’ll head home and get started for the day around 10am. The first thing I do is check my emails, see what’s urgent, and then start attacking my to do list.

My day-to-day is split between administration, accounting, creative work and client liaison. A large portion of my job can be done from home. The hardest part is often getting into flow for the creative work.

Midday

For lunch I’ll usually have leftovers or just eat whatever is in the fridge because I don’t have time to make myself a proper lunch.

Living and working in the same space makes it tempting to pick up a few toys or faff around with chores – there’s that distraction, which is easy to fall back on when you’re feeling a bit flat with work. I’ve tried to improve in that area by [multi-] tasking – if I’m on a phone call or something where my brain doesn’t need to be completely switched on, I’ll put the washing on or fold clothes.

Afternoon

I’ll go and pick up my kids just after 3pm on most days. If I need to go to the supermarket or the post office, we’ll do it together as a bit of an activity. Once we are home, the kids like to potter and play together and that gives me an opportunity to jump back on the computer, but I make a concerted effort not to have my laptop open.

Evening

Dinnertime is ridiculously early because I like to eat at 5.30 with my kids. Once a month I catch up with some local mums whom I’m friends with and we’ll go out for dinner.

Sometimes I’ll pick up my laptop after the kids are in bed but my brain is often tired from the daily grind. I might watch some Netflix, but I also love to water the garden in the evening – it’s really peaceful and a reminder to slow down.

I’ll usually be in bed by 11pm.

Madeleine Dore is a freelance writer and the creator of Extraordinary Routines.