My Extraordinary Life and how I got here - (the story of a travelling Interior Designer).
I am an Interior Designer, Stylist, Expert Columnist, Trends Forecaster, Colour Expert, Create-aholic, Design Addict, Intrepid Traveller and lover of all things beautiful and unusual.
I have never once taken for granted the extraordinary life I lead; a life of fun, adventure and happiness (mostly). It hasn’t always been smooth sailing, but I have worked hard and never lost sight of my goals. (When I refer to my 'extraordinary life' it is not intended to be boastful but to highlight how much I truly appreciate what I have and that I do not take it for granted, even for a second).
In the year of the millennium I found myself questioning my career and re-considering my life plan. By 2001, I had both the insatiable desire to trade the finance sector for the world of interiors, along with an equally insatiable desire to travel, to leave Perth. I made the decision to undertake a 3 year design course which upon completing would allow me set off to Europe and visit my birth place; England which I so longed to see. The next 3 years passed in the blink of an eye and the importance of gaining some in-the-field experience became apparent. I spent the next 2 years putting into practice the knowledge I had acquired, all the while still longing to discover the world.
"The only person you are destined to become
is the person you decide to be"
- Emerson
By 2007 enough was enough, it was time! I booked a trip to London and tour of Europe with the intention of spending 3 months abroad. That was 5 years ago now and ever since, my life has become somewhat like a ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ storybook. I have considered multiple paths, but now I choose to follow my heart over my head. I can honestly say that I have no regrets and am proud of myself for following my dreams.
So here’s a snap shot of the last few years of my designer / intrepid traveller life in a nutshell!
Living the dream and how I made it come true -
After graduating from the highly regarded Western Australian School of Art, Design & Media, I gained experience working as a commercial interior designer at the heart of design in Perth’s Central Business District.
Perth, Australia, City Skyline
Sunset at Hillary’s Boat Harbour, Perth (taken on a recent visit home).
Upon establishing myself in London, England my energies became focused on teaching interior design at an academy for art & design in London, before joining a small but cutting edge design firm specialising in high-end residential interiors.
The Ritz, Classy West London
Trendy Shoreditch, East London
I am dedicated to creating working and living environments that operate more efficiently and improve quality of life. My passion is to create outstanding interiors that are both artful and functional whilst assisting my clients to realise their vision.
One of the two luxury villa's that I worked on in Mauritius whilst at Urban Cape Ltd.
As an Interior Designer, I have worked on projects across the globe. I’m captivated by the landscape and cultures of the world. I have travelled extensively (to over 30 different countries and hundreds of cities) discovering brilliant moments of inspiration, fresh ideas and new images. Absorbing this wealth of visual stimuli enables me to recognise emerging trends and to create new styles.
Frank Lloyd Wright’s ‘Falling Waters’, Pennsylvania
The City of Arts and Sciences , Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, Valencia, Spain
“If you can dream it, you can do it”.
- Walt Disney
Amalfi Coast, Italy
Copenhagen, Denmark
"So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation. The very basic core of a man's living spirit is his passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun."
— Chris McCandless
Santorini, Greece with my fiancé’ Matthew
Havana, Cuba
This mind-set led me to my next big adventure in Montreal, Canada, where I worked as a writer, columnist, stylist and style and production coordinator for Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver HOME Magazines. I studied French, learnt to Ski and and made new life long friends.
My old neighbourhood, "Gingerbread Lane", Montreal, Canada
Parc du Mont-Royal (Mount Royal Park), Montreal, Canada
Free as a bird!
Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada
Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada
And now, finally, I have come full circle and returned to the motherland to reside in Melbourne, Australia! I aim to enjoy the brilliant weather, broaden my network, gain new experiences, find new design challenges and keep on adventuring!
Melbourne's White Night Festival which took place the weekend I moved to Melbourne!
Enjoying my new favourite place in the world with my favourite guy.
"And at the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time"
- T.S Elliot
So the moral of my story is that if I can lead an extraordinary life anyone can!
Never be afraid to knock on opportunities door - you don't know what great things could be in store for you behind it!
Granada, Spain
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
– Mark Twain
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