A Day in the Life of Anna Spiro: Balancing Creativity and Home Life
When asked about her daily routine and how she balances personal life with her professional commitments, interior designer Anna Spiro shares a glimpse into her everyday rhythm, where creativity meets the comforting routines of family life.
“I get up at 6:30 a.m. and take my two Golden Retrievers for a walk, then I get my youngest son off to the bus for school,” Anna explains. “Most mornings I swim laps for about 45 minutes at the Spring Hill Baths. I love that they play ABC radio and classical music as you swim—it’s such a great pool.” It’s clear this morning swim is a cherished ritual for Anna, setting the tone for the rest of her day.
After her swim, she enjoys a coffee at a local café in Spring Hill before heading home to prepare for the workday. "These days, I start work around 9:30 or 10 a.m."
Work at Anna’s studio is varied and creative. “During the day, we work on many client projects, meet with clients to present our concepts, and also carry out site visits and installations,” she says. It’s a full schedule, but she remains dedicated to wrapping up her workday in time to focus on family.
"I leave work late afternoon or early evening and head home to cook dinner for my two sons," she continues. Dinner is an important time for Anna. “We always talk through our day at dinner, and I love this time to catch up with my boys and hear about everything they have going on in their lives.”
Evenings end with a second walk for the dogs, Betty and Walter. “After dinner, I take them out for another walk before bed. I’m usually in bed by 9 p.m. every night,” rounding off her day with the same calmness with which she began it.
A Day in the Life of Anna Spiro: Balancing Creativity and Home Life
“I place a lot of importance on exercise, whether that’s swimming laps at the pool or in the ocean, walking the dogs, doing a cycle or boxing class... exercise helps me manage my daily workload and stress,” she says. For Anna, movement isn’t just about fitness—it’s a mental reset. “It helps clear my mind, balances me, and keeps me positive and happy.”
Anna is also mindful of her diet, particularly because of her coeliac condition. “Being coeliac makes me very conscious of what I’m eating, so I try to eat healthy food,” she explains, underscoring how self-care for her involves not just physical activity but also careful attention to what she consumes.
In addition to exercise and healthy eating, Anna enjoys taking time for herself in other ways. “I try to have a facial and a massage once a month, as well as saunas when I can fit them in,” she adds. These wellness practices are small but important moments of rest and rejuvenation amid her busy schedule.
Creative Process
From Concept to Completion
"From the outset, we start with trying to get a great brief from our client. We work very hard to understand their needs, wants, and budget so we can deliver something exceptional for them. Next, we create an overall design concept, almost like a mood board for the project. This is the foundation for what’s to come."
"From the mood board, we break it down into rooms and schemes—colours, patterns, finishes, and textures."
"Drawing up an initial floorplan with cabinetry and placement is essential to provide the best spatial planning."
"Afterwards, we refine our concepts with finalised schemes, CAD drawings for cabinetry, and FF&E schedules for finishes, based on client feedback. "
"We believe that client involvement is essential in creating a finished product that is both practical and beautiful."
Daily Inspiration: Drawing from Nature, History, and Art
When it comes to inspiration, Anna Spiro finds beauty in the everyday. “I find it mostly in nature or just in my day-to-day life,” she shares. Much of this comes from her time spent at her house on Stradbroke Island. “I find constant inspiration there, especially in terms of colours and combinations.”
In addition to nature, Anna looks to the past for creative fuel. “I also look back at historic design work—there’s so much to be inspired by in times past.” Art is another significant source of inspiration. “Visiting art galleries is a passion, and viewing the work of artists and how they combine colour is very interesting to me.”
Anna’s artistic influences range from masters to Australian talents "I love the work of masters such as Ellsworth Kelly, David Hockney, Matisse but also Australian Artists Sally Lee Anderson, Ken Done, Lydia Balbal to name a few."
Journey to Interiors
Reflecting on her path to becoming an interior designer, Anna Spiro believes her career found her. “I was very lucky to get an apprenticeship with an established interior designer in my last year of school,” she recalls. “I started working for him the following year and ended up going into business with him. Then eventually taking over the business when he chose to retire.”
Anna’s journey progressed naturally, leading her to take over the business when her mentor retired. “I think it definitely chose me, but I honestly don’t know what else I would have been good at—it’s really been the perfect career for me.”
Personal Style: Fashion and Its Influence on Design
When it comes to fashion, Anna Spiro values quality above all. “I really love things that are very good quality. I was brought up to appreciate beautiful fabric and high-quality materials,” she explains. “I think you should always aim to have the best quality you can afford—this applies in both fashion and interiors.”
Anna enjoys creating a unique style by mixing pieces. “I also love mixing less expensive, maybe vintage items, with more expensive pieces to create a very personal and interesting style,” she adds. Her approach to fashion is both thoughtful and tailored. “I get a lot of my clothes, particularly dresses and skirts, made because I believe wearing the right cut is a game changer.”
Interestingly, Anna notes a contrast between her personal style and her design work. “I mostly wear plainer-coloured clothes, yet in my interior work, I love pattern and colour,” she says, showcasing the dynamic relationship between her fashion choices and her creative expression as a designer.
Shop the look
Tell us about your most recent collection…
"We have just released our new fabric and wallpaper collection called 'Imagine' along with a new Spiro furniture collection which is available at our online store – spirostore.com.au – the collections offer interesting pieces in fabulous colours and patterns. We have also just released our new plain upholstery fabric called Pixie Plain which has been hugely popular. It comes in a large range of plain colours which work back with all of our fabric and wallpaper collections."
TELL US YOUR
Favourite textile
"I love linen base cloths as in Queensland, with our humidity, living and sitting on furniture made in linen is like a breath of fresh air compared to hot velvet which is more suited to a colder climate."
unknown fact
tell us a secret
"I’m a bit of an introvert. I don’t love socialising and much prefer spending time with my husband, children and family at home or at our at our house at the beach."
must have items
Whats in your bag
"Hairbrush, hair elastics, sunglasses, perfume, deodorant, 2 fabric samples, dog lead, mouth freshener, water bottle, notepad, pens and a tape measure."
Future Goals: Looking Ahead with New Projects and Expansions
Anna Spiro has exciting plans on the horizon, particularly in expanding her product lines. “We plan on extending our new furniture collections and our offerings on Spiro Store to include more of our custom-made sofas and armchairs, as well as one-off items,” she shares.
In addition to product development, Anna and her team are immersed in several residential projects across Australia. “We’re working on some wonderful projects, and we hope to share them across our social media platforms soon,” she says, hinting at inspiring designs to come.
CREDITS
Tim Salisbury
Anna Spiro
Spiro Store
