Our Interior Designers Katarina and Rebecca have recently joined Team Bell & Swift so we thought now was the best time to find out more about them, why they chose to enter the industry and what they’re currently working on!

You’ve recently joined Team Bell & Swift, how are you settling in?

K:  I feel very lucky to be a part of the talented Bell & Swift team. Everybody is so lovely and the overall atmosphere in the studio is great. I enjoy working on some exciting projects and can’t wait to see where this new role takes me in the future. 

R: I'm settling in brilliant; I couldn’t have wished for a better studio and team out of university in the summer. Everyone is so lovely; I feel like I have been here ages!  I've only been here about a month, and I have learnt so much from everyone! I think coming into this small team was the best thing for me allowing me to get hands-on experience on a couple projects instead of just being stuck doing one thing which I knew a few junior designers end up getting! I'm grateful for Dawn and Craig for giving me this experience and can't wait to learn more and gain new skills.

What is your role?

K: I’m an Interior Designer so I will essentially be supporting on all aspects of projects including creation of InDesign presentation documents, sourcing inspirational imagery, preparing sample boards whilst also engaging with suppliers and managing the sample library.

R: I’m a Junior Interior Designer. So far, I have touched on ordering samples, doing presentations, rendering, plans, mood boards and FF&E.

Why did you choose to enter the Interior Design industry?

K: I’ve always been very creative since I was a kid. I come from a musical family; therefore, music and art have been part of my life from my early years. After qualifying as a beautician, I didn’t feel quite ready to settle down and this led me to visit Scotland and explore new places. 

I then started studying Italian language and art at university, but I didn’t find the passion. I wasn’t until afterwards that I discovered there’s such thing as an Interior Design course out there. I did not hesitate and gave it my all…it was love at first sight. What I love the most about being a designer is transforming client’s concept into beautiful and functional design solutions.

R: I always was creative growing up, I loved drawing and doing illustrations any second I had which was a bit confusing for my parents as they are both accountants - so we always argued which one I got my creative side from! I was then allowed to design my own room when I was about 14, I always loved interior design before then, but I thought it was more of a hobby than something I could see myself doing in the future! After designing my own room, my love for it increased and I knew this is I what I wanted to do. So, when I was 16 I found an Interior Designer who let me shadow them for about a week, and that is when I knew this was a career I wanted to pursue.

What projects are you working on at the moment?

K: So far, I’ve been involved in a few very exciting projects such as Escapade Silverstone, Four Points, Edinburgh and a couple of new projects coming up which I can’t share much about at the moment… watch this space!

R: I have been working on a few projects mostly, Escapade Silverstone and a few new projects that are coming up! All will be revealed soon.

Where do you find everyday inspiration?

K: My everyday inspiration comes from the nature around me. I see beauty in the smallest things.

R: Not to sound cheesy but I find inspiration just around me, even when I'm out for walk through a new street I love to examine a new house or shops I'm seeing! My main inspiration is travelling, when I get to a new city, I just walk around for hours taking in their way of live and it inspires me so much. I recently went to Copenhagen and I came away wanting to move there, the shops, design and galleries were amazing to see and just felt so inspired when I got back!

Outside of work, what do you like to do on your weekends?

K: In my free time I love going to the gym and doing all things fitness. I find going a walk while listening to a favourite podcast very relaxing. I also love going to concerts, movies or just chilling at home watching favourite TV shows with my hubby. I also enjoy reading books, playing guitar, painting, DIY or learning new digital skills.

R: Probably my main thing that I make sure to do on the weekends is to see my friends, which mainly results in having a drink and catch up or going for a coffee and chatting! I love being social and I think because I'm away from home I would say this time in my life my friends are my family, so I make sure to see them at least twice a week! I also love doing morning yoga on the weekends as I just can't get up early enough to do it before work! If I can, I’ll try to get away for a weekend to Edinburgh or Manchester!

If we met outside of work, what should we chat to you about?

K: I would be happy to chat about anything but politics or football!

R: I would happily chat about anything I think, maybe chat about how work is going, I always manage to chat about what we are all watching now – that’s one of my favourite topics of discussion! With my friends we are always planning our next weekend away!