Time for a review

It is now nearly 20 years since I threw my mortarboard in the air and left the security of Liverpool University to have my first taste of my chosen career, Building Services Engineering. It seemed like the ideal choice combining my love of art and science. Having graduated top of my class I began working for a small practice in London. Qualifying as a Chartered Engineer I rose to Associate level before taking a break to look after my three children. Whilst the building industry is still very much male dominated it is catching up fast and the advances in IT meant that on my return to work I was allowed to work flexibly from home. However I found this limited my involvement in projects and I missed the interaction with the project team at design and site meetings. Attending a series of life drawing classes, my creative side resurfaced and I began to think I needed a new direction.

Ground works complete

Project completion

As the size of our family grew so did our need for space. On our first home I found myself absorbed in the design of a loft conversion to our 1920s semi. As well as providing the space we needed, the conversion resulted in a substantial rise in the property's value which helped pay for our relocation from London to the North West. My ideas scrapbook from interiors magazines grew and I became slightly obsessed (very according to my husband) with looking at interiors on the Internet. Refurbishment of our new house soon turned into extension plans. Initially we decided to convert the garage into a gym/office and store room without any major work to the house. However, having lived in the house for a period, we found that the flow of the house was not working. The kitchen, dining and living spaces were all separated from each other and trying to deal with cooking and arguing children after school lead to the idea of creating an open plan living, dining and cooking area. From my sketch plans detailed drawings were submitted to planning which passed easily. I then found myself on familiar territory organising contractors. The real fun began when choosing fittings and tiles for the wet room, lights, paints and furniture. I loved researching the many different products available.

Wet room view 1

Wet room view 2

The end result produced many favourable comments and a chance remark from my brother encouraging me to study this properly got me thinking............







So here I am embarking on a Foundation Degree in Interior Design trying to study, work and look after 3 kids.......I must be mad!!! I am keeping in mind the following quote to keep me going

"It is hard to fail but it is worse never to have tried to succeed"

-Theodore Roosevelt