Most interior designers start with color palettes and furniture catalogs. Rob Bowen starts by “figuring out which side of the bed you sleep on.” It’s this kind of detail that separates Rob’s work from the pack. As founder of Rob Bowen Design, he’s built a reputation not just for creating gorgeous spaces, but for crafting rooms that perfectly fit how people actually live. His process digs deeper than aesthetics, getting to the heart of what makes a house feel like home.
Getting Personal About Design
Walk into a design consultation with Rob, and you’ll quickly realize this isn’t about picking out pretty sofas. He’s more interested in how you move through your day. “I know the side of the bed you’re sleeping on. I know where your toothbrush is. I know what’s on your nightstand,” he explains. This detective work extends to the smallest habits most people never think about. “When you get out of bed, do you like that cold stone on your feet, or do you like it to be warm and comfortable? Do you like putting your feet on the sofa or are you more of a sitter?”
These questions might seem nosy, but they reveal volumes about how someone lives in their space. Rob’s figured out that great design starts with understanding these intimate details. Sometimes clients struggle to express what they want. Rob’s solution? Look at what they already love. “I’m usually like, is there anything that you really love? It could be your handbag, your purse, a pair of shoes, your dog,” he says. From there, he can decode whether they prefer symmetry or organic shapes, bold colors or neutrals. It’s like design therapy – revealing preferences clients didn’t even know they had.
When Things Go Sideways
Even the best designers hit bumps in the road. The difference is how they handle them. “A project timeline was delayed due to misaligned priorities between my team and the client,” Rob admits about a past project gone wrong. “While the final outcome was beautiful, the process was more stressful than it needed to be.” That painful lesson changed how his firm handles client relationships. Now they map out expectations and responsibilities before touching a single design board.
His problem-solving approach kicks in when things don’t go as planned. “We break down complex problems into manageable steps,” he explains. Small victories build momentum toward solutions. When someone on the team gets stuck, others jump in. “Resilience stems from knowing we are stronger together.”
Trust Goes Both Ways
Rob values client input, but he’s learned that too much second-guessing kills good design. “You hired me as a professional. Let me do my job, and I promise you, you’re going to love it,” he says. This confidence isn’t arrogance – it’s born from experience. The design process becomes “a beautiful dance” when clients trust his expertise while contributing their vision. The best projects often come from established relationships where trust runs deep. “Some of the most successful projects are the ones where our clients are like, ‘Hey, we’ve done high-end homes with you. I love every single one. Let’s push the boundaries a little further,'” Rob shares. That’s when the real magic happens.
In an industry known for big personalities, Rob’s humility stands out. “I should never be the smartest person in the room,” he insists. His team includes designers he describes as “hemorrhaging creative juices” – a colorful way of saying they’re bursting with ideas. The business side gets handled by his husband Jason, creating what Rob calls “creative on one side with military interrogation on the other.” This partnership lets Rob focus on design while ensuring the business runs smoothly. “It’s kind of a neat ‘Yin and Yang’ between me having all this wild creative energy and him making sense of it.”
Success That Lasts
Rob measures success not by industry awards but by how clients feel about their spaces years later. “The most rewarding part is 5 years from the day they’ll call me and say, “I still love this house even more than I did the day I saw it. It’s still relevant, it still looks new, it’s still fresh, and it’s still inspiring.”
His advice to young designers cuts through industry pretension: “Throw your ego out the window. It’s not about you.” This client-first approach drives everything he does. “Let my work speak for itself. I don’t have to tell you how cool I am. I would never say I am the coolest person in the room. You have to listen to me. It’s like, no, I’m here for you.” That focus on creating spaces that serve people, not designer egos, explains why Rob’s work endures while flashier designers come and go. After all, trends fade. Good design lasts.
Visit the Rob Bowen Design website to learn more about his unique approach to design.
