What inspired you to become an interior designer?
Throughout my 20s I bought and developed properties to live in as well as for a hobby. I really enjoyed making the transformations and this led to my career change.
Who has been your greatest source of inspiration throughout your career?
My clients! Every client has a different personal style. We like to work with them to explore their tastes so that we can create a bespoke home for them. It is important to me that each project is different and original.
How do you approach your projects?
The most important thing is to listen to your client and to review the space and how it is going to be used. My team and I then consider all these elements to develop a design scheme.
Who is your favourite interior designer and why?
I love some of the American designers’ work – Kelly Wearstler for her fearlessness and Joan Behnke for her elegant designs.
Would you say that you have a design style? If so, how would you describe this style?
I love colour and pattern and have always been inspired by travel. I like my designs to reflect the people who live in the home and will use the space. My designs are an accumulation of all of these influences.
What do you believe is the biggest challenge for today’s interior designers?
A lot of very creative designers aren’t necessarily good business people. It is essential to run an efficient studio with a consistent flow of projects, provide excellent customer service and deliver on budget. In my previous career, I had to get millions of pounds worth of food into supermarkets on time and on a very tight budget. It taught me how to do that!
What has been your most notable project?
Unfortunately, client confidentiality gets in the way of questions like that! We are really enjoying our work on a Scottish castle. The architecture gives us a lot of challenges. Sometimes new-build houses might not seem so exciting at the outset but you have so much flexibility on how to change them.
Can you talk us through your concept for the City Centre Duplex Apartment project?
We had so much fun with this project. Our clients were a great couple who had very different tastes in interiors. One liked vintage-industrial and the other liked a relaxed, soft look. We created a design that worked for both of them and has their personalities woven through it.
How do you personally feel that you fulfilled the brief for the City Centre Duplex Apartment project?
Our clients were delighted with the result. We have created a home with heart and soul.
Have you witnessed any recurring requests from your clients?
Clients are regularly asking for their homes to be calm sanctuaries in which they can relax from their busy lives.
Do you have a preferred colour palette that you enjoy working with?
I particularly enjoy working with green and blue, they reflect nature, are relaxing to live with and work very well in country properties.
Can you please talk us through the brief that you received for the Fife Farmhouse project?
Our clients wanted the home to reflect the colours of the surrounding countryside and for it to be relaxing.
How do you personally feel that you fulfilled this brief?
There is so much inspiration in nature. We used soft blues and greens with muted neutrals throughout the house. The interior flows seamlessly with the views pictured through the windows.
What do you believe is of utmost importance when it comes to the interior design?
Delivering a great aesthetic is obviously the aim. It is so important to deliver this on budget and on time for the project to be a success.
What advice would you offer to those that are considering a career in interior design?
Be very professional in how you apply for roles. It is a brilliant career and competition can be quite fierce for jobs. Make sure you have researched the company you apply to and send a portfolio to the director so that you stand out. Don’t expect to be a front-line top designer until you have learnt on the job. So much of this job is about delivery. The creative design is just the tip of the iceberg.
What do you believe is the biggest challenge for newly qualified interior designers?
It can be hard to get your foot in the door. We receive hundreds of CVs and requests for work experience. If you work hard on your CV and portfolio you will stand out. Don’t forget to mention your business skills like numeracy, communication and organisation. So many courses don’t teach it and it is vital.
Do you have any favourite suppliers for your interior schemes?
Yes – they are the small creative manufacturers that we have worked with for years as the business has grown. In terms of the big names, I love De le Cuona for paisleys, Jim Thompson for colourful fabrics and Colefax for their soft country blues.
What can we expect to see from you over the next year?
We are working on a remote Scottish cottage in the Mull of Kintyre. The beautiful countryside colours of the region are inspiring our design. We also have several projects in central Edinburgh where we are focusing on immaculate cabinetry and bespoke lighting schemes.