How I got into Interior design. Very boring, I wouldn't bother.

I will try not to numb your mind here, but apparently, when running a business and especially when starting a business it is absolutely imperative that you blog. I had never really seen myself as much of a blogger, yet here we are.

Forbes Magazine?

Gosh, ok, so it feels really bizarre that I am now pushing forward to create my very own interior design company. Mum and I have always chatted about the idea we might like work together and celebrate our passion for interior design. Its the sort of conversations you have over cheese and wine when the wine is giving you a sort of alter ego and you feel like you're going to be in Forbes magazine before you know it.

This is one of the houses I grew up in,

when we lived in Colchester in Essex.

So handsome isn't he?!

Not tax evasion.

I lived in 6 houses in 4 different counties before I was ten. Nothing to do with tax evasion, of course, it was down to the fact my mum absolutely adored the thrill of finding the next project. I grew up surrounded by carnage, which of course I would help with when I wasn't super busy with primary school. My father made me a little work bench, and mum made me a tool belt so I could help; 7 year old me was absolutely convinced most of the extensive renovations were down to my commitment to the project. And of course, I believe that to this day.

St Mary's Girls School Shaftesbury

I went to St Mary's school for girls in Shaftesbury; the building was absolutely stunning. The history of the building fascinated me, what must these walls have seen?! I imagine a huge amount of whisperings from all the girls, especially after the school socials with the local boys schools. Fortunately it was no longer a convent as such.

I think it was at St Mary's where I found my love of buildings, art and interior design. The final day of school, we had a presentation. A fair amount of my peers were headed to Oxford or Cambridge. I, however, wanted to get out into the big wide property world and jump straight into a fulltime job, so I became an estate agent. (Daddy was thrilled. (not)).

If I wasn't at work, I would be at my little flat painting furniture and moving things around. Things were continuously moving and changing colour. But why not hey?! Who doesn't want a bright pink table? Turns out it was me, I didn't want a bright pink table, we live and learn.

My father would always say I need to do something useful. I'm still not sure whether he meant useful to him, or to the world, but either way I decided being an electrician would be useful. So that's what I did, I went back to college in Salisbury and studied electrical installation. My friends would take the mick in quite a big way of course, I would expect nothing less. I was the only girl in the class, I was also 23 which was certainly above average at Salisbury College, but did I care?! absolutely not. I loved it; I was learning, I was doing better than the boys of course and my mind was running wild with all the electrical things I could change at my little flat!

Moving to Dubai. On my own.

OK, so I didn't end up with my pink electrical van which I had envisaged, but that's because I moved to Dubai. Because, sunshine obviously! I moved to Dubai on my own, I hadn't actually even been there before. I had done a lot of googling though, which was absolutely petrifying, google basically says if you breath in the wrong direction in Dubai then that's it, you are simply thrown in jail for the rest of your life.

I saw and sold some incredible properties in Dubai, it was truly eye-opening, my favourite would be in the Burj Khalifa, the view was incredible, especially when the fountains were on. Although it did make my stomach turn if I went too close to the window. Very high.

I lived in Dubai for a while, and probably took about ten years off my life. The lifestyle and the long island ice tea's were both quite intense. So I moved back to England, and landed in Ashley Cross, Poole which is perfect because it was near the water which I adore.

Key Drummond Estate Agents, Canford Cliffs

For years I worked in Canford Cliffs, selling all sorts of luxury homes from Sandbanks to Branksome Park. The beach was a 4 minute walk from my desk, which was really great on the one occasion I had time to walk down. I saw so many incredible properties; from super homes in Branksome Park to penthouse apartments looking across Poole Harbour. But, there was always one really important element when selling a property - the interior design. This might sound super obvious, but I would see stunning properties, which had been basically assaulted with awful interior design which would make my job to sell it exceptionally hard.

Studying Interior Design

I knew what they needed to rectify the issue and sell the property, but that wasn't my place, I had to work with what I'd got. So, I decided I wanted to study interior design, and make it my place to help people in need with their interior design. I enrolled at the National Academy of Design and did an exceptional amount of studying so I can officially say I am a qualified interior designer.

I hope this journey hasn't lulled you into a coma. If not, and you find yourself in need of interior design assistance or simply want to share your own story, feel free to reach out. Here's to creating spaces that tell stories!

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