A Weekend in the Life...of Senior Designer, Ayca Stiffel

By Design Interiors
Jun 6
3 min read

Ever wonder what a weekend in Houston looks like for an interior designer?

Here's a glimpse into a perfect H-Town weekend with senior designer: Ayca Stiffel! She sharing her morning routine, go-to breakfast meal-prep, and some 'hot spots' for food & wine in Houston, TX.

Come join Ayca on her 'perfect' Houston weekend!

Houston interior designer, a day in the life with Ayca Stiffel

Let's begin the day!

I always take my dog, Zoe, for a walk around the neighborhood first thing in the morning. Earlier the better, with this Houston heat on the rise! Then, I'm always on the go, so I'll grab one of my prepped egg bites for a quick breakfast. I'll usually finish them off by Saturday, and prep a new batch on Sunday.

-- check out my recipe below --

Ayca's Egg Bites

Makes 12 / preheat oven to 375

Ingredients

6 eggs

4 cups chopped spinach

1/2 cup cottage cheese

1/2 cup yoghurt

1/4 cup tahini

1/2 tsp Cumin

1/2 tsp baking powder

Salt /pepper

Feta cheese

Directions

Chop spinach

Place paper cups / oil muffin pan

Spoon spinach into pan

Put eggs, cottage cheese, yoghurt, tahini, cumin, baking powder, salt pepper to your liking into food processor.

Chop up feta cheese.

Pour into cups, mix inside each piece, make sure all is filled to top.

Bake for 18 to 20 Minutes

Next, if time allows, I'll hop on my Freebeat for a 7 to 10 mile stationary bike ride! I love when I can squeeze this into my day.

Now, since this my perfect weekend...a trip Downtown is in order!

My favorite brunch or lunch spot is, Tiny Boxwoods: specifically the West Alabama location. I love their variety of great food, drinks, and the European-inspired décor.

For Happy Hour, I highly recommend 13 Celsius! They have the best wine selection and delicious accoutrements. I actually worked with the owner, Ian Rosenberg, a few years ago when he renovated the space. I love how it turned out! You must go for the ambiance - especially in the evenings - it's amazing!

On to shopping...a favorite past time!

My 'go-to' place to shop is Kuhl-Linscomb. They have all you could possibly ever need, or want, within their vast 5-building emporium: from high-end clothing, jewelry, skincare, kitchenware, gifts, and home good...they have everything under the sun.

For apparel, I love UAL (United Apparel liquidators). It is a bit of a hidden gem in Houston, (you're welcome) They have a huge array of high-end, luxury clothing, and accessories at a discounted rate. It is amazing what you'll find here - go ready to shop!

I love evenings in Houston

In my ideal day, I'd find myself at my favorite restaurant for dinner: BCN Taste & Tradition. It is a Michelin Star-rated restaurant (for all the BEST reasons); they have excellent food and service! They are a 'must-go' when in Houston for sure (P.S. If you ask, they will even bring out their treasured Picasso pieces for viewing!)

Lastly, to end my 'perfect day,' I'd take a moment to stop by the James Turrell Skyspace at Rice University to watch the sunset. It has the best vantage point for watching the sun fall behind the Houston skyline. Truly, the perfect way to end the day!