“DON’T follow trends, use the influences that appeal to come up with a look that truly reflects you.”
That’s the message from award-winning interior designer Zoe Perks, who is trying to keep her feet on the ground after scooping ‘Best Roomset’ at the Grand Designs Show 2018 last week.
The Crumpfields Road resident, who three years ago abandoned the corporate world of Lloyds Banking Group to follow her dream to set up ‘Beautiful Rooms by Zoe’ beat all comers to win at the NEC, in a competition judged by Grand Designs presenter Kevin McCloud and Dick Strawbridge and Angel Adoree of ‘Escape to the Chateau’.
“About three or four months ago I received an email inviting interior designers to enter the competition,” said Zoe.
“I was shortlisted to the last ten and then the final six and invited to the show.
“I’ve only been in business 18 months and I’ve been trying to play it down, but I am pretty pleased.”
Zoe, who is married and stepmum to two, admits she’d always dabbled in interior design, but it was a big step to leave her job and go it alone.
“I did a distance learning course with the National Design Academy, got my disploma and went for it,” she said.
Unlike many interior designers Zoe is not afraid to roll up her sleeves and get stuck in.
“The look I went for at Grand Designs was a bedroom with a bath in it, which for me is the ultimate in relaxation,” she said.
“You have people talking about trends, but following trends is both time consuming and expensive and you end up with something that isn’t you.
“Don’t follow trends, use the influences that appeal to come up with a look that truly reflects you.”
One fan is Astwood Bank butcher Pete The Meat Lawton who said: “She is so talented in what she does, she set up on her own and her work is fantastic.”
Beautiful Rooms by Zoe can be contacted on 07736 927655.
