Lucy Richardson hears how being made redundant was the spur Samantha Lowdon needed to start her own interior design business.

THE recession cloud has had a silver lining for Samantha Lowdon, who is turning her passion for interior design into a flourishing business.

Being made redundant prompted the determined mother of one to focus on her design venture, which is attracting customers from across the region.

Whether clients want a room transformed or just updating with new curtains and atmospheric lighting, she can provide a bespoke service from £100.

It was while she was working in the design team at Magnet that she achieved a first class degree in interior design from Teesside University in Middlesbrough.

After losing her job at the kitchen company’s headquarters in Darlington in 2009, she was able to put all her efforts into launching her own firm.

Chrysalis Interiors has already had commissions in Guisborough, Seamer, Darlington and Hutton Rudby, where she lives with her husband, Stephen, and fouryear- old daughter, Jasmine.

She said: “Being made redundant gave me a push and I thought ‘This is it’. Working part-time and being a mum means you can’t fit in a business as well. But changing circumstances meant I could now show how creative I was.”

A free consultation allows Mrs Lowdon to quiz her clients about their likes and dislikes, hobbies and the room’s functions.

“A lot of people do not have the time or maybe the confidence to redesign things for themselves. I can come in from a different angle and suggest concepts they perhaps would not have thought of themselves.

“People are reluctant to use different patterns together, but by following a few simple design guidelines, and with some good choices with colour, you can produce that wow factor.”

She then puts together a mood board filled with swatches of fabrics to illustrate how the finished room would look, and she personally project manages every job.

“When it’s all finished and you see the client happy and what you have designed come to life, it’s a really good feeling – a fantastic sense of achievement,” she said.

Her vision is to create stunning, unique looks which can’t be found by walking into a high street store. She prefers to use high-end fabrics and wall coverings, including Romo, Harlequin and Designers Guild.

“I don’t follow trends, but I try to create a unique look. It’s worth splashing out on fabrics and lighting, but there’s no need to buy the most expensive carpets.”

In the future, she is looking forward to sourcing one-off pieces of furniture for clients by scouring the region’s antique shops and reclamation yards. She’s also eager to put her design stamp onto a public place, such as a bar or restaurant.

“I feel very lucky to be able to do what I do,” she said. “People are staying at home now more than ever, so to bring my clients pleasure makes me very happy.”

For more details, call Chrysalis Interiors on 07870- 747518 or 01642-706144, email enquiries@chrysalis-interiors.

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