My Design Story……..

My design journey began when I was quite young. I’ve always loved anything creative — arts and crafts filled my childhood. It doesn’t surprise me that I turned out this way. Both of my parents were creative in their own ways, especially my mum.

Mum started teaching me to sew when I was twelve. She could also crochet and knit. Dad painted in oils, and my brother still has a couple of his paintings hanging in his home.

My interest in interiors began in my teens. I loved making cushions for my bed — and yes, that’s where the cushion obsession began. Much to my husband’s amusement (or mild frustration), he once mentioned how much he loved having eight cushions on the bed… insert eye roll here.

I also started making curtains for our living room. I sewed them from calico and even learned how to dye them. (Don’t you just love apricot?)

Although interiors were calling, I followed the fashion design path first. I loved fashion before I could even sew — I used to draw designs and ask Mum to bring them to life for me. After finishing school, I made the big move from tiny Wellington in the Central West of NSW to Sydney to study at East Sydney Tech in Darlinghurst. It was a bit of an eye-opener for a girl from the bush in stone-wash jeans.

I completed my Associate Diploma of Arts in Fashion Design and worked in the industry for several years. Later, I married and moved to Armidale. After having my two boys, I launched my own clothing label. I loved the creative side, but I found running it quite tough.

I continued nurturing that passion by designing for The Australian Wool Fashion Awards — now known as the Fleece to Fashion Awards here in New England. I was spurred on by my husband Lachie, a fourth-generation wool grower and chairman of Fleece to Fashion for many years.

Winning my first award at The Australian Wool Fashion Awards - 2nd prize for my wedding gown presented to me by MP Kevin Anderson in 2015.

For years, I toyed with the idea of studying interiors formally. I kept mulling over emails from an academy offering an online certificate in Interior Design. Eventually, I took the plunge. I completed the first course in just three months — but I didn’t feel confident enough in my knowledge, so I enrolled in a more comprehensive program.

I began studying with The Interior Design Institute, completing my Certificate and then my Diploma in Interior Design. During that time, I also completed several advanced modules and undertook an additional course in SketchUp with The Little Design Corner — something I now absolutely love and use regularly in my business.

Not long after, I launched Happy Home Interiors. Around the same time, I began working part-time with a local architect. I had the privilege of working alongside some incredible women — architects, a draftsperson, and a talented interior designer. That experience was invaluable. I learned so much and thoroughly enjoyed collaborating with such intelligent and creative professionals.

That chapter gave me the confidence to continue building my own business and fully embrace what I love most — creating.

Much love

Kiri