Interior designer Ariel Okin has risen up the ranks as a top name in her field. And while the New York based mom of two manages a busy schedule and bustling client roster, she notes the importance of slowing down and being intentional in both work and motherhood.

The brain behind swoonworthy spaces like like Goop’s Manhattan headquarters and children’s brand Maisonette’s beautiful Brooklyn offices. As the founder of the eponymous interior design firm Ariel Okin Interiors and lifestyle destination Fenimore Lane, she has a knack for bringing her elegant yet striking style into her work.

“I really gravitate toward interiors that are classic, timeless, and personal. Some of our signature elements are polished tailoring, an interesting mix of textiles and color, and a heavy use of antique and vintage items,” Okin tells Mini. “We are known for being ‘traditional with a twist,’ but each project really differs by client. The most important element of our designs is that they reflect their owners, and feel warm, livable, and timeless.”

We caught up with the mom of two daughters to break down her process for putting together practical family spaces, plus get a sneak peek into her day-to-day routine.

Ariel Okin Morning Routine

By nature, I am not a morning person. One of the hardest transitions for me having kids was being “forced” to become a morning person.

I’m lucky that my kids are also not really morning people (I swear it’s genetic!), but getting out of the house to school is kind of a mad dash because none of us are fully functioning that early. I laugh because my mom and I were the same way growing up.

My kids wake me up and they eat a quick breakfast. Lately, they are really into the Sweet Nothings smoothie pops. They think it’s a treat, so it’s a huge hit, and they have great, clean ingredients!

Then I’ll get the girls dressed or sometimes my older daughter will get herself ready while I get ready. She’s becoming more independent lately, getting herself dressed, and picking out her own outfits. It makes me so happy to see her feel so proud of herself.

Both of my girls are at the same nursery school this year and they love going to school together. I’ll have a few sips of coffee quickly, scarf down a piece of toast or a hard boiled egg, throw their shoes on, and then we run into the car.

In the car on the way to school, we call my mom every morning, and then I drop them in their classrooms and head back home to start my day. Once I get home, I finish my (now cold) coffee that’s been sitting on the kitchen island.

On an ideal day, I’ll get in a workout and then have a proper breakfast. If I’m going to the office, I change into grown up clothes (I do drop-off in sweats), then I head into meetings. I feel like I’ve lived nine lives by the time I start my work day.

Conquering Mom Guilt

I have mom guilt at least once a day, if not more! I am often working from home and when I’m in the house at my computer and I hear the kids in the next room, I always get a pang of guilt. It’s a really hard balance.

One of the things that I’ve found to help is family dinner. It’s one of my non-negotiables. I sit with the girls during dinner and catch up on their days. I also do bedtime every night. It’s rare that I will miss either of those things. I often turn down evening events because dinner and bedtime is really important to me. Yes, I miss out on some really fun and cool stuff, but it’s important to me to be present for those moments in a consistent way.

Unless I have a completely un-movable meeting, which is rare at that hour, I do drop-off every morning. I find having those baked-in, set moments with the girls each day makes it easier for me to be fully present at work. When the guilt creeps in, I can logically tell myself that I have that quality time at those times, so that I can feel OK about not being around when I need to get work done.

Designing Family Spaces

Try to always utilize fabrics that can take a beating, whether they are performance formulas or just easily wipeable. Opt for patterned textiles, because it’s easier to disguise a big stain when there’s a lot of movement, rather than something solid.

I also love slipcovers, because you can zip it off and throw it into the wash! I use large woven wicker baskets from Serena & Lily and Pottery Barn with lids to hide toys and books and keep clutter contained.

Thinking about the intention of the space and how I want to use it before I create my floor plans allows for little active moments, like creating a book nook tent in my older daughter’s room for nighttime reading (twinkle lights are a must!).

Misconceptions Around Family-Friendly Design

There are so many misconceptions about family-friendly design! Namely, that you have to wait for your kids to get older until your house can be beautiful or fully designed— that is just so not true!

Utilizing the right textiles, durable materials, and furniture that can withstand a bit of a beating and can patina over time (vintage and antiques!) are all surefire ways to create a beautiful home that you don’t have to worry about being ‘perfect.’ Also, perfect doesn’t ever exist in the real world, kids or not!

Her Personal Style

Right now, I’ve been living in Kule shirts (striped, solid, long sleeve, short sleeve, you name it!) with high-waisted, wide leg jeans or green utility pants, and loafers or white sneakers, with a cable knit sweater or field jacket thrown around my shoulders in case it’s still chilly.

I’ve been loving my Rue de Verneuil tote at the moment for hauling my laptop to the office or into the city for days that I have meetings. I also love my trusty L.L. Bean totes with our AOI logo. And for rainy days, I love my olive green Stutterheim rain jacket or a classic trench.

This article appeared in the Spring 2024 Issue of Mini Magazine. Photography by Donna Dotan.