The important style lessons designers learnt from their mothers

Author: Emily Hutchinson

Mum has shared some valuable life lessons over the years – from tying shoelaces to teaching us our wrongs from rights, she is truly a no-fail book of wisdom. We asked eight key experts in the design space to share the lessons they picked up from their mums. From op-shopping strategies to knowing how to put things in their place, these designers’ mums have helped pave the way for successful design careers and happy homes.

Being unique is oh so chic
Storage specialist Sally Hart of Clever Closet Company

“Mum saw decorating as another opportunity to express herself. The lessons I took from observing her decoration ‘attitude’ more than style would be along the lines of: ‘Don’t worry about what others think of your decisions, be yourself’. Our bathroom walls and ceiling were painted in high-gloss deep crimson. No! That was never ‘in’, as we said back then, but it certainly was original!

“She taught me to enjoy decor and the beauty in things for what they are, regardless of trends or value. I don’t know if Mum was having an affair with the man at the Mexican homewares shop called Hacienda, but, at one point, for some reason we were infiltrated with Mexican furniture,” says Hart.

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Embrace pre-loved items
Kate Hansen from The Room Illuminated

“My gorgeous mother loves all things old, antique, vintage, secondhand – pieces with a story and charm. She displays family heirlooms with pride and loves nothing better than a good forage in an op-shop or antique store.

“I have grown up hearing all the stories behind the family pieces. I’ve also grown up tagging along on all the op-shop expeditions. In turn, I’ve developed a love for vintage treasures. I don’t think a week would go by without me having a good forage in an op-shop. Mum and I still bond over our tales of what we’ve ‘scored’ on our op-shop trips or what we were lucky enough to spot in hard rubbish!”

Keep the home tidy and harmonious
Interior Designer Nelly Reffet of Twinkle and Whistle

“Decoration and interior design have always been quite central to my family life. Not in any professional capacity, although my mother, a pharmacist, always had fun in styling the windows of her workplace. But, in my family, we believe that a happy home is harmonious and tidy.

“Although I am not as good at cleaning as my mum and grandmother are (both actually love doing housework… None of it is a chore to them, but a relaxing activity… Seriously!), I have always, even as a very young child, made sure that everything was in its place and now I help others do the same.”

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Hunt and gather
Interior designer, decorator and stylist Luci Dibley of Luci.D Interiors

“Growing up, I lived on a rural property with my mum and we would regularly go for walks and collect things from nature to bring back to the home. We always found treasures in nature such as flowers, branches and even old birds’ nests that we would work into the decor. I try to incorporate natural elements into my own home. For example, I have a branch with moss on my bookshelves. I think collecting tells a story about where you’ve been and is something my mum taught me,” says Dibley.

Know the value of home
Interiors consultant Sophie Seeger

“My mum would take me to open-houses and walk through the home and say things to me like, ‘The scale of those windows is all wrong; the proportions of the room are too small; those columns are just add-ons and serve no function; the floor finishes are cheap and nasty’.

“When I turned eight, the conversations during these open home visits changed. She would then question me, asking, ‘Sophie, what would you do to make this room cosier? How would you change the window to emphasise the view? Sophie, what’s wrong with the design of the bathroom?’

“In my opinion, this education of architecture, design, decorating and art was not viewed as ‘education’, but rather an inherent part of my growing up and everyday life. It taught me to look at everything with a keen eye for balance, composition and beauty. Needless to say, the property agents didn’t take kindly to my mother!”

Have fun and don’t be afraid of change
Interior designer Brendan Guy

“I was lucky to grow up in a house where the furniture and art constantly changed. My mother was always moving furniture around the house and swapping rooms around.

“One day the dining room would suddenly become a sitting room, the next a bedroom would be gone and replaced by a library! It taught me to be fluid when designing my own spaces.

“She is certainly no minimalist when it comes to decorating. Her greatest tip was that there should always be something for the eye to look at. She also taught me that no matter the style of a piece of furniture, art, or object, if you loved it, it had a place in the home.”

See objects for what they could be
Blogger and stylist Vanessa Kettlewell

“My dearly beloved mother has been the biggest source of inspiration my entire life. In life, she taught me to be considerate, creative, resourceful and kind. In her passing she taught me about resilience, strength, gratitude and love.

“Growing up, I was always in awe of the way my mum could use objects and items in unconventional ways to create beautiful spaces or an incredible piece of art. She made sculptures out of chicken wire and plaster, she dabbled in pottery, loved to sew and could paint and draw like no other.”

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Push the boundaries
Interior Designer and owner of Birdblack Design

“My mum was a huge influence on my design career and really encouraged me to push boundaries in my work. I’ve been taught from day dot that I am able to be anything I want to be. Mum worked as one of the first Mechanical Engineers, which then was – and somewhat still is – a male-dominated world. She let nothing hold her back and proved her worth through her intellect, ingenuity, skill-set and integrity. Not only has this helped me get the career I love, but it also helps me be a better designer. My mum taught me innovation – to think outside of the box, which is how I drive my design today. She taught me that there is ALWAYS an answer to everything – that nothing is too complicated or too impossible. This is a motto that I take into my design studio every day.”

And don’t forget to dream big…
Interior designer Jaana Bithell

“My mum gave me this card – I think it was for a birthday, or just some words of encouragement when I was going through my university studies. To this day, I carry it around in my purse as a constant reminder that she is behind me every step of the way.”