Did you ever do something for 'fun' as a child not realising it was one day going to become your dream job? I remember sitting at dads desk when I was 10 tracing over dads floor plans and then redrawing them with new designs all day long. For me this was so much fun. And to this day I still love it, however these days I make a living from it too.
Dad was a draftsman and builder so he had all the tools, a full drawing board, scale rulers, tracing paper, you name it, he had it. And whenever he wasn't using them, I would sneak in and get to 'work'. Then came the SketchUp obsession. I wasn't even in High school when I started creating houses in SketchUp. Those houses had a lot more imagination but very little practicality. I still remember my very first 3D model. It was a simple 6x6m square which consisted of 5 floors, each with a different room and it was complete with a rooftop pool. It was the house every kid dreamed of, a pool, stairs, it even had a slide to get to the bottom floor. Fast forward to University where I undertook a Bachelor of Environmental Design (Architecture). This is where I learnt the functional side of design, and how to create spaces that are both beautiful yet functional. with the needs of the client being the most important aspect.
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Straight out of uni, I worked for a local building design firm, drawing floorplans for a number of large building companies. After a few years in the building design industry, I decided I didn't want to be sitting in an office all day working behind the scenes for someone else. I wanted to be hands on, working one on one with my own clients, helping them create the home of their dreams. So I furthered my studies into the realm of Interior Design which is where my love for design truly kicked off.
When I started with The Interior Design Institute, I had this sudden realisation that this is what I was born to do. I don't regret my degree in Architecture as it has given me a broad range of knowledge, but I do wish I had realised sooner that it was the interiors that set my heart on fire. I love everything about interiors, from spatial planning, to selecting colours all the way to styling my living room 50 different ways just for fun. I love visualising spaces in my head and watching them come to life, so I started Samantha Milne Designs so I could turn my passion into my lifestyle, and help others achieve their dream homes.
As I embark on this new venture I hope that you enjoy seeing my designs come to life and I aim to give you all some useful tips and inspiration to use in your homes.
Follow my journey @samantha_milne_designs
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