Homes One Interiors Turns Five Years Old!

Dear Friends

This year my business turns five!

I’m celebrating in February by working on projects in Kensington and Chelsea (at the Barracks) and other exciting cities around the world…

I’m feeling grateful.

This month I want to share five lessons I’ve learned from this past half decade, of being a London-based interior designer:

1. Be bold

Trust yourself over anyone else and never doubt your first ideas. It’s too easy to get distracted these days, from the certainty of your initial convictions and sparks of intuition. Being willing to go against the status quo has often been the decisive factor for me – don’t be phased by criticism, or the prospect of!

2. Learn on every job

While alignment with your own vision is key, it’s also key to absorb the messages and talents all around you. The design world is an industrial mycelleum of ideas and influences, and while too many cooks can spoil the broth, immersing yourself in the conversation and being permeable to new thinking keeps everything fresh.

3. My principal roles are ‘artist’ and ‘mother’

Even though my job title is Interior Designer, I see my roles as artist and mother first. I am not usually fully comfortable selling myself in social situations or networking events, and to be honest I avoid both like the plague. I am most at home when expressing myself artistically, by designing and sourcing design, or being with my son Ramsey and husband Karim, than I am anywhere else.

4. There is no overnight success

I think you need to recognize what you are good at and then focus on your strengths. By letting go of the need to have number one hits, you allow yourself time to develop your life’s work and the patience to go with it. When you work holistically, everything happens in an organic way. Trusting this has been a source of joy and abundance for me.

5. Be real

Having a team of 20 people is rare these days – and you don’t need it to impress anyone. These days everything happens over a cup of coffee within a trusted network of recommendation and referral. You can minimize your costs and operate as a sole trader but still deliver a five-star service. Just be your natural size and you will get a natural fit with clients.

Someone asked me recently what three things make me different as a designer? i replied:

1. My own taste – background and conditioning leads to unique self-expression.

2. Use art wisely – you don’t have to spend much but you do have to know where to go, and what to do with it.

3. Great procurement deals – after five years in the business my network of trade and crafts people may well be my most valuable business asset.

More on my fifth birthday celebrations soon!

I grow my business through referrals. If you know anyone who would benefit from meeting me, please let them have my name and number.

Thank you for your support and friendship.

With love,

Najwa