The Full Story
About Bya
Moving to Salt Lake
On June 19th, 2019, we were challenged with a new life changing direction. We moved to Salt Lake City, Utah with two teenagers due to my husband’s new work assignment coupled with the fact that we have always known we would have to call it “the end of our China days” when the kids entered high-school.
Everything was new to us and as scary as it sounded, we were happy for this new start. I know it may sound strange to many of you reading this, but we wanted to settle down. We lived abroad too long, in too many countries, and travelled way too much. We were ready to “retire” from Globe Trotting. We wanted a place to call home.
I don’t remember the artist’s name, but this artist’s song, which was popular on the radio at the time, managed to describe exactly how we felt: “Home is not where you are from, but where you belong.” The U.S. is not perfect, but it is our home, and we belong!
Kids didn’t have it easy being “the new kids” in high-school” but slowly and surely, even under the doomsday of COVID, we all survived and made it!
Kids now grown up and graduated from high school and into their young adult life, making the most out of every day in their lives, Rick settled and happy go lucky, doing what he does best. The most driven man I have ever met, a provider for us and for his company. I can’t stress enough how grateful I am for my family, my closest friends, and for the people I have managed to meet and befriend. I am blessed in so many ways that I feel I have a unique opportunity to pay it forward with my interior design as I know I can help people in this area of need.
Martha Morris, my faithful realtor and friend, gave me my first opportunity. I hit the ground running helping her get her flip done. Right after, I was so energized, and I thought I would get some visibility, but it didn’t quite happen. Despite trials, and meeting people that were flipping, attending REI meetings, I didn’t quite know how to begin as I really was another fish in a new water. I thought that by applying to a job would be a starting point, so I spent the first 3-6 months vested into finding a job, but I guess I was seen as yet another fish out of its water.
I tried to get into MLM, which only lasted a few meetings for me to realize that was not what I loved to do. Then, I thought to start a Shopify business to sell sustainable products along with my BClean Cloths, which I still think are the best cloths ever, but nothing seemed to take off. I kept going with the Shopify idea, but it was more difficult than anticipated. To have a store I had to have product and although I tested many, nothing seemed to be a great fit for me. I wanted the kids to contribute to the Shopify idea, but even asking them to find products that they would be interested in selling, at the time they thought it was a horrific idea. So, I gravitated again to the pursuit of what I felt was my calling, interior design. At the same time, I continued to sell my BClean Cloths, which I had stock, as well as going to REI meetings to meet like minded people.
Education seemed a good place to start so Rick and I decided to purchase a real estate investing education program for me. Although I felt cheated on its content and both of us felt we overpaid for what we purchased, I learned the basics which gave me enough know how to at least have conversations with meaningful people about real estate. We made some huge mistakes. There are some bad people out there, ready to con you with their products and services. You cannot let those mistakes define the rest of your life. So, we picked ourselves up and we continued to plough forward. I won’t say it was easy, but Rick and I have a positive mindset and I am grateful for his when I needed it.
The path to Real Estate Investing
In October 2019, I attended a SLERIA meeting, where this young well to do flipper, Mike Baird, was talking about his own REI group, The Smarter Real Estate Tribe and mentoring new investors into flipping. They called him “The Flip Man of Salt Lake City” and he seemed genuine. He was very emotional when talking about his milestones in REI and he gave me great vibes. I remember that for him design was just a “plug and play” model. His comment would give me the opportunity to approach him to tell him I could NOT AGREE WITH HIM and if he ever needed design help, to contact me. And I did just that! January 2020 rolled and Covid was the thing. The world seemed to have slowed down and, in a way, it gave me an edge. The real estate market propelled as people were confined and all they wanted to do was to remodel their homes or move to a more updated home as they were spending way too much time in a house that they felt wasn’t suitable for their lifestyle any longer. There was a phenomena of moving to larger homes as people were finding problems with their homes by spending so much time in them. Families were homeschooling, parents were moving in with their children so that they could be together, and, as there was nothing positive going on, moving to a new home felt good for everyone. For Americans, the feeling of owning a good home gives them a sense of pride and security. People needed that during Covid, more than ever! We also purchased a second home. We had our two 40HC containers coming from China with all our belongings and our home had not been remodeled yet because I have not been able to meet meaningful people to remodel it. Now as I write this account of how I got into real estate investing; I feel I was in the right place at the right time. Mike Baird started mentoring investors how to flip and he had several people signed up for his mentoring services. He was busy yet he was looking to grow his Smarter Real Estate Tribe, almost as a means of passive income. Investors looked up to him and the Tribe was generating good advertising for his mentoring services. One day I received a call from Mike Baird. He sold me a membership for his Smarter Real Estate Tribe, and I sold him interior design services for his flippers. And that was the beginning of launching my interior design and my real estate investing business in Utah County.
Meet My Team
At Bya Interiors, our success is built on the strength of a small but mighty team—driven by passion, creativity, and integrity. Led by Bya Patzner, we collaborate with a curated network of experienced professionals and artisan subcontractors to bring each project to life with precision and purpose.
From design and build to real estate development, we approach every challenge with a hands-on, problem-solving mindset—delivering beautiful, high-quality spaces with no shortcuts and no surprises. Our team doesn’t just work together—we think, solve, and grow together.
Whether you're a client, investor, or future partner, know that behind every space we transform is a team fully committed to excellence, transparency, and results that inspire.
The year 2026 has brought its share of uncertainty—and I’ve learned to treat that as opportunity. When things feel noisy or unclear, I focus on what I can control: adapting, pivoting, and protecting my momentum. In Utah, the real estate investment market is active, but prices remain high. Investors know that real profit comes from buying right—and that requires patience. While patience isn’t always my strongest skill, I keep moving forward by offering interior design and remodel services as a licensed General Contractor. I work with both real estate investors and primary homeowners, helping them turn ideas into spaces that function beautifully and feel genuinely “lived in.” I also decided it was time to revamp my social media to increase my visibility—so more people can discover what my team and I do best. Whether we’re planning a refresh or building a full transformation, our goal is always the same: clarity, quality, and results. I’m always looking for the next “grandma’s gut”—the next great project and the right people to build it with. I value partnerships, especially ones that combine different strengths. Good labor partnerships and smart financial collaboration can create momentum, solve problems faster, and make the work stronger. Divide & Conquer—together, we grow faster. And I never stop learning. I previously taught Design Theory in Shanghai for the Raffles Institute of Design (Singapore). Teaching shaped how I see my role: not only to create, but to share. That’s why I stay involved with REI education and community groups—so I keep my restless mind active, stay relevant as the world changes (including with AI), and continue giving back to the communities that have supported my journey.
