After more than 25 years as a Primary School teacher, I reached a point in my life when I decided it was time to follow one of those dreams — my love of interior design.
I had always been fascinated by interiors. I loved the way colour, texture, furniture and carefully considered details could completely transform a room. More importantly, I loved the feeling that a beautiful, well-designed space could create — somewhere that felt welcoming, comfortable and truly personal.
So, after many years in education, I decided to take a leap of faith and turn my passion into something more.
Where it all began
My first interior design project was for a friend — her lounge.
It was a relatively small beginning, but it was enough to tell me that I had found something I genuinely loved. I enjoyed every part of the process: listening to what she wanted, developing ideas, finding the right pieces and, ultimately, seeing the room come together.
Then things moved rather quickly.
My next major project was a whole house for a family immigrating to London. It was a wonderful opportunity and a real step up from that first lounge. Designing an entire home meant thinking about the bigger picture — how every room would work individually, while still feeling connected as part of one home.
It also taught me something that has remained at the heart of my work ever since: good interior design begins with understanding the people who will use the space.
From homes to hotels — and everything in between
As word spread, my client base grew throughout North Yorkshire, and I found myself working on an increasingly diverse range of projects.
There were family homes, hotels, restaurants and even a reflexology clinic. Every project was different, and that was part of the excitement.
I loved the variety and the challenge of understanding what each client needed. A family home needed to feel personal and lived-in. A hotel needed to create an experience for its guests. A restaurant needed atmosphere as well as practicality. Each space had a purpose, and my role was to bring that purpose to life through design.
But gradually, something else began to happen.
Clients started asking me to take care of more than the design.
When design became project management
Clients soon began asking if I would project manage their renovations as well as design them.
It felt like a natural progression. I realised that I could offer something beyond the initial design concept — I could oversee the whole journey from the first ideas through to the finished space.
Over the years, I have built up a fantastic team of trusted tradespeople. They work brilliantly together and, perhaps most importantly, they are exceptional problem solvers.
Anyone who has undertaken a renovation will know that things don’t always go according to plan. There are unexpected discoveries, tricky decisions and moments when a solution needs to be found quickly. Having a team that is experienced, reliable and able to work together makes all the difference.
That team has become a huge part of what I do.
The ultimate compliment: trust
One of the things I am most proud of is the level of trust my clients place in me and my team.
Clients now feel comfortable leaving us to manage their renovations — even when they are travelling. They can go away knowing that their project is being looked after and return to a completed home, rather than returning to a long list of decisions, problems and unfinished jobs.
Of course, they are never out of the loop. I make sure they receive regular updates and photographs throughout the project, so they can see the progress being made and feel involved even when they are miles away.
For me, that trust is incredibly rewarding.
When clients come back
Perhaps one of the greatest compliments is when a client asks me to come back.
Sometimes it is to make further changes to their original home. Sometimes it is to take on a second property. And sometimes, after completing one renovation, they simply know they want me to be involved in their next project too.
I particularly love being asked to design or renovate a client’s second home. It feels like a real vote of confidence — not just in my design ability, but in me and the team I have built around me.
Those relationships are one of the most enjoyable aspects of the business. A project may have a beginning and an end, but the relationship with a client can continue for many years.
More than interiors
Looking back, I could never have imagined that a decision to change direction after 25 years of teaching would lead me here.
In many ways, though, my years as a teacher prepared me for interior design more than I realised. Teaching taught me to listen, communicate, organise, solve problems and, above all, understand people. Those skills are just as important when creating a home as they are in a classroom.
Today, I don’t see interior design as simply choosing paint colours, fabrics or furniture.
It is about listening to a client’s ideas and turning them into something real. It is about finding solutions when challenges arise. It is about bringing together a talented team and making sure everyone is working towards the same vision.
And ultimately, it is about creating spaces where people can live, relax, entertain and make memories.
What started with a friend’s lounge has grown into a career I could never have planned.
Sometimes, following a dream really does open the door to an entirely new chapter.
If you are thinking about a project of your own, I would love to hear about it — get in touch and tell me about your space.