My story
The short version
My design story begins by looking at the world we live in. I love to travel and gather inspiration and ideas from the 60+ countries I've been to. Exciting designs are created when you juxapose old and new. I want to respect our past, while developing something new and exciting, creating harmony between form and function.
For added inspiration, and a more organic approach, I find nature effortlessly pairs the right colours and shapes.
I’ve been fortunate to have lived, studied and worked in the UK and Singapore, the US and Dubai. I hold degrees and professional qualifications in interior design, journalism and history. All this has fed my keen interest in the world, in all cultures, and how we connect to our environment.
The long version
I've not been very visual in the past, afraid to step into the eye of the camera. Today I've decided to take the plunge, and say hello. After all, working with an interior designer is as much about your relationship with them as it is about their ideas. And how can you know if I'm the designer for you unless you know something about me!
To give you an insight into my professional background, I came to work in interior design through a rather circuitous route. I'm a trained newspaper journalist, then like a poacher-turned-gamekeeper moved into public relations and marketing. It's all about good, clear two-way communications, so it's not a massive jump into the design world,
I've always been interested in how and why we live where we do, and so twelve years ago (where has the time gone?!) I retrained as an interior designer at KLC in Chelsea, and in Chicago. Setting up my business and working from home also worked well with having a young family.
I'm based in the beautiful Surrey Hills, a stone's throw from the wonderful world of design in Chelsea, as well as the fantastic local artisans and craftspeople.
But who am I really?
When I'm not drawing, painting or crocheting (my lockdown secret), I'm either swimming, cycling or running.
Yes, you've guessed it, I'm one of those nutty people who thinks Lycra is a good idea and triathlon is enjoyable. So much so, that I proudly take part in World Championships on the GB team.
So what does this mean for your home or office space?
Finding the right designer can be daunting. I think communication is key to building the right relationship. It's as much about listening as it is about presenting ideas.
At Home by Design is not a huge design house. It's a small, tailored service for people looking for interior design support and guidance, whether that's an hour or two to sense-check some ideas, or full project management. There's a budget-friendly package for everyone.
I look forward to meeting you soon and hearing about your design dreams.
