My design journey began somewhat unexpectedly in 2018 when my husband and I purchased our first renovation project. Having always been far more interested in creative subjects than academic ones since school, and with a natural eye for colour and detail, I was excited to take on the project and document the process on social media. As I shared our renovation, I quickly gained traction—growing from 0 to 10,000 followers in just a couple of weeks—long before viral reels made quick growth easy! I began receiving messages almost daily asking if I was an interior designer or if I could help design other people’s homes. At the time, I didn’t see myself as a designer—I simply wanted to develop the skills to design my own space.

As the renovation progressed, I decided to further my skills by taking courses in design and learning CAD software, which opened up new opportunities. I became deeply engrossed in the process, enjoying it far more than my day-to-day job, and it became clear that this was my true passion. Once the renovation was complete, and with my newly acquired design skills and first hand experience of our own project, I decided to take the plunge and respond to the requests for help, gaining additional experience working with a range of different styles and client briefs.

At the same time, I began freelancing for design studios, helping them with CAD drawings and 3D renderings, which gave me invaluable insight into the industry. It wasn’t long before I realised that my future was in design, and after a year of somehow balancing a full time job and my freelance design, I made the decision to establish my own business.

I started with Virtual Design (E-Design), which allowed me to work on small projects from Hong Kong to the USA and beyond, all while gaining diverse experience. As the business grew, we expanded into Full-Service Design Studio, managing projects from concept to completion. About two years ago, we introduced our Hybrid Service, which bridges the gap between virtual and full-service design, giving clients more flexibility on the service while still delivering almost the same level of involvement as our full-service projects. Today, we’ve grown to a team of six (soon to be seven by the end of the year), and the business continues to evolve. The journey has had its challenges, but each experience has shaped the business into what it is today, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Lighting is absolutely key in all our interiors. In every room, we use multiple light sources, including downlights (where necessary), wall lights, picture lights, pendant lights, table lamps, and floor lamps. What’s crucial is making as many of these sources dimmable and controlled separately. A tip I always recommend is to install 5-amp sockets in each room, so you can switch on all the lamps from one main switch, instead of having to go round and turn each one on individually.

Texture and colour are equally important. Without texture, a space can feel flat and lack interest. For example, in the formal living room at Wood Farm House, we used an antique textured wooden coffee table, a natural marble fireplace surround, bronze metal lighting, and a combination of velvet and linen for the soft furnishings. Even original artwork with visible brushstrokes adds texture in a way that flat prints can’t.

For colour, I’m a huge fan, which is why I loved this project so much—the clients weren’t afraid of it and really embraced the use of bold colours. It’s what makes the house such a standout.

We were fortunate to be brought onto the project early, which is so important for large-scale renovations like this. Being involved from the start meant we could help make key decisions early on, such as retaining the original brickwork around the kitchen entrance and keeping an old doorway, which we transformed into a lovely nook with a bench for shoes and coats. Throughout the house, there are lots of details like this—if you take the time to really look around, you’ll notice how the original features have been thoughtfully incorporated into the design.

We wanted to respect the traditional Cotswold architecture while also creating a fresh, fun space that suited our clients who have young families. We leaned into the character of the farmhouse but balanced it with playful, more modern elements through the use of colour, fabrics and textures, ensuring it didn’t feel too formal or old-fashioned.

One of my favourite examples of this is the attic ‘Mary Poppins’ room, (pg 46) where we used floral wallpaper on both the walls and ceiling, but with a more modern, playful print. We paired this with a vintage chest of drawers that was custom-painted to give it a nod to tradition, but with a fun twist. To tie it all together, we added wavy, modern headboards. It’s a great example of how we blended the old with the new—it feels classic but has a fresh, youthful energy that fits the family perfectly.

Surprisingly, we didn’t encounter many challenges during the renovation of Wood Farm House. We were fortunate that it wasn’t a listed building, so we didn’t face any restrictions. We had freedom with the internal modifications, it was only the orangery that required standard planning permissions.

If memory serves me (perhaps I have blocked out any bigger challenges, haha) the biggest hurdle we faced was aligning the wallpaper in the attic, as the ceilings were quite wonky! However, we had an excellent team of tradespeople, which made all the difference. Having a strong team is crucial because when you do come up against challenges, you can rely on them to problem-solve and find effective solutions together.

Over the years, as I’ve built my portfolio, I’ve worked hard to define my true style. Anyone who’s renovated knows there are countless beautiful design styles and inspiration images out there, but if you try to incorporate everything you love, you end up with a mismatched space. Figuring out your personal style takes time, and achieving a look that’s timeless is an even greater challenge. We often get huge pinterest boards from clients with so many varying styles, so our job is to take it back to the basics and build from there.

We always aim to avoid seasonal or yearly trends in our designs. It’s easy for clients to get pulled in by what’s currently popular, and while it’s their home, and we’ll always cater to their preferences, we approach each project with the question: ‘Will this look just as good in 10 years as it does today?’

One of the key ways to keep a design timeless is by using natural materials like wood, marble, limestone, wool, and linen. Pairing these with classic patterns—stripes, checks, and florals—creates a solid foundation. Often, people try to replicate the same look with porcelain limestone tiles, quartz countertops, or laminate flooring. While these options may sometimes be more practical, they can lack the depth of texture that natural materials provide, meaning you’ll need to find ways to add texture elsewhere to achieve the same feel.

A common misconception is that the answer to timeless design is to paint everything white. In my opinion, it’s quite the opposite. I advise avoiding brilliant white at all costs. If the aim is for a neutral home, a neutral with a beige undertone works much better and stops it from feeling sterile. One of my personal favourite tips is to colour drench—taking the wall colour up onto the ceiling, doors, and skirting boards. This approach has been around for decades and isn’t just a trend; I find it gives a more current and fresh look to a room, often making ceilings feel taller, which is always a bonus!

Creating spaces that are both stylish and functional can be a challenge. Often, the more aesthetically pleasing elements can be less practical. However, I found this project easier in some ways because, as a holiday rental, it didn’t need to be as functional as a primary home would.

For instance, take the glass partition into the utility/pantry at Wood Farm House. In a day-to-day home, a client might have hesitated to go ahead with that design, as this is typically a space where you hide away any mess. But since Wood Farm House is a holiday rental, guests aren’t there long enough to accumulate significant clutter. If it were someone's everyday home, we might have opted for café curtains to maintain some privacy from the view into the room.

Of course, renting out a property comes with its own set of challenges. We ensured that we used fabrics of commercial quality, steering clear of anything too light for sofas and armchairs. We wanted guests to feel at home and comfortable without worrying about damaging the furniture, and this approach applies to all our designs. Our usual clientele consists of young families and/or pet owners, both of which require careful consideration in terms of fabrics and room layouts, so we’re well-equipped to handle these needs.

Mixing materials, especially natural ones, is the foundation of our design. In the kitchen, we planned for a traditional shaker style in a neutral colour to balance out the hues throughout the rest of the house. However, to ensure the kitchen didn’t feel plain or boring compared to the other rooms, we knew we needed a showstopper marble for the countertops. Any other material simply wouldn’t have worked; the marble was essential for transforming the kitchen from lovely and classic to a real WOW space.

We also incorporated a lot of bespoke joinery throughout the house, with one of my favourite pieces being the bunk beds in the children’s room. Custom joinery is a fantastic way to add individuality and character to a space. For these bunk beds, we made a last-minute decision to use two small double mattresses instead of two singles, allowing for greater flexibility if extra guests need to share the room.

The combination of all these carefully chosen materials— from the marble in the kitchen, living room, and bathrooms to the bespoke woodwork found in almost every room—adds depth and interest, making Wood Farm House a truly inviting and memorable home.

Oh gosh, this is a hard question to answer! Having stayed in the house multiple times since completing the project in January, I find that each time I visit, I end up with a new favourite room. What I love most about the end result is how unique every space is; each room has its own theme, which made the design process so enjoyable and allowed us to be really creative.

Overall what made the project so great was the wonderful clients we had the pleasure of working with. The client/designer relationship can truly make or break how you feel about a project. We collaborate with clients for months, sometimes years, so having someone you enjoy being around makes all the difference. Renovating can be stressful, but our aim is to make it as stress-free as possible for our clients, and having fun along the way with clients who trust you with their project is so important. Many of our previous clients have turned into friendships that continue long after their projects are complete, which we absolutely love!