I grew up in rural Perthshire, surrounded by rolling hills, long winters, and a creative spirit inherited from my grandparents. Those endless dark afternoons in Scotland encouraged imagination, which led me to pursue a degree in clothing design and manufacture at the Scottish College of Textiles. I was determined, even as a teenager, to build a career in fashion, and my education gave me incredible skills—everything from bespoke tailoring to painting my own fabric when I couldn’t find what I needed.
Life, of course, had other plans. I met my partner during my studies, and my dream of running off to Paris was replaced by a different kind of ambition—starting something of my own. After a stint working in fashion production, counting buttons in a broom cupboard for a Marks & Spencer supplier, I realized I craved more creativity. That was the beginning of Primrose Hill Interiors.
What started as handmade cushions and throws sold in galleries grew into a full-scale business. Over 15 years, I expanded across the UK through platforms like Not on the High Street and featured in magazines thanks to events like the Country Living Fair. One of my first stockists, a boutique interior design studio, unexpectedly asked me to run their business. I did—managing projects, clients, and curtains. That experience anchored my love for interiors.
Moving into interior design felt natural. The tactile knowledge from textiles, the eye for detail from fashion—it all translated. Working in the UK exposed me to period homes and authentic design disciplines shaped by environment. In Scotland, light is scarce, and warmth matters. Curtains are layered with bump and lining, and rooms are often designed to embrace darkness and coziness. My own home, a 300-year-old miller’s cottage, was a 12-year labor of love.
Then came the biggest change of all. My husband received a job offer in Sydney. We were living what felt like an idyllic life in Scotland—children, a studio in the garden, ducks and geese in the yard. But we decided to take the chance. We packed a 40ft container, rehomed animals, and set off for Australia with our kids and dog.
Starting over was hard. I loved being a mum, but I needed more. Slowly, I reentered the workforce, first through styling, then in textile sales. But then COVID-19 hit, and my husband lost the job that had brought us here. We had 60 days to figure out our future or face being sent back. It was terrifying. We had to weigh whether to accept repatriation or fight to stay.
We fought. My husband found a new sponsor, and we discovered a faster path to permanent residency through a global talent visa. That moment reignited everything. I went back to work full time, building a strong network of designers and makers in Sydney. I eventually moved back into interiors, joining Tempo Interiors, where I now design full time.
Design in Australia differs from the UK. The light is harsher, the palette earthier. The textures we love in Scotland—wool, heavy layers—don’t always work in Sydney’s heat. But there’s a growing appetite here for blending heritage with contemporary aesthetics. The antique pieces we brought from the UK have found new life. I love giving old furniture a second chance with bold textiles, combining modernity with history.
What began in a dark cottage in rural Scotland has found new energy on the other side of the world. This chapter feels earned, not gifted. Through upheaval, reinvention, and determination, I’m back doing what I love—designing with purpose, experience, and heart.