Story & Lesson Highlights with Brittany Zimmerman of Fairfax and Loudon counties

Brittany Zimmerman shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Hi Brittany, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
The first 90 minutes of my day really set the tone for the rest of the day. I make my bed, pick up around the house, get in a protein-packed breakfast and go for a walk or do Pilates. Once I’ve accomplished those things, I feel that I’m ready to get into my office and be creative without any loose ends or personal to-do’s hanging over my head. My office also has to be tidy or else it makes me feel scattered, so I will often pick-up around there as well before getting into emails and my calendar for the day!

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Some designers rearrange furniture, I curates stories.
As the founder of Bleu Bee Designs, I have built a brand around the belief that the most captivating homes aren’t purchased off a showroom floor: they’re collected, layered, and deeply personal.

Based in Northern Virginia and serving clients along the east coast, our small team specializes in full-service design and one-of-a-kind styling with a signature love for antique and vintage treasures. My approach blends soulful character with modern livability, ensuring every space feels both elevated and effortlessly welcoming. Clients trust us to uncover unique pieces, reimagine heirlooms, and craft rooms that feel custom-tailored to their lifestyle rather than copied from a catalog.

Bleu Bee Designs offers a range of services from renovations and material selections to decorating with furnishings, drapery, and that magical finishing layer of accessories that makes a house feel like home. Whether guiding a single-room transformation or thoughtfully refining the final details of a nearly-there space, our process is grounded in collaboration, creativity, and authentic style.

At the heart of Bleu Bee Designs is a simple promise: your home should tell your story. With a keen eye, a love for artistry, and a passion for personalized design, I turn everyday spaces into beautifully crafted reflections of the people who live in them.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
My parents saw me the most clearly for who I am and who I was, long before I could see myself. My potential, my passions, my creativity – it was obvious to them and they nurtured each unique part of me which helped to shape me into who I am today.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
I took a very non-linear path to interior design and decorating. When I majored in event design and sport management in college, I worked in that arena for seven years. When I decided to leave that industry, I felt like a failure because I was entirely too burnt out to continue being creative. With a sharp turn, I pivoted to the fun and creative avenue of teaching PreK and Elementary aged students in small private schools. I was able to be creative but also to have built-in rest periods (summer and winter breaks), which allowed me to rest and figure out how to move into decorating, a field I’d always dreamed of working in. Sometimes we have to nearly give up to get to the point of deep-diving into our souls to find what it is that truly lights us up again.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
The “version” of Brittany that is seen on social media, in articles and in person is truly who I am. Since the beginning of Bleu Bee Designs, I knew that I could only be successful if I was my brand.
There was no differentiation between my brand values and my own personal values. The aesthetic and style that I decorate and design in, is also (mostly) what I love as well. I feel that in being my authentic self overflows into my business in a natural manner, so there is no hidden version of myself or our brand.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope that when I’ve moved on to glory, that people will recall how I made them feel seen, loved, heard and appreciated. If people look back on the life that I lived, I want them to know that I cared about them in this life and beyond. I wanted nothing but to help others, to bless them with the talents I’ve been blessed with, and to show them love and grace.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.bleubeedesigns.me
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bleubeedesigns_/

Image Credits
Christy Kosnic Photography, EmmiClaire Photography (Emily Alwood)