Natalie Sanders Interiors
A former marine biologist, who travelled the world diving on the coral reefs of the tropics to carrying out boat surveys for killer whales of the Pacific Northwest, local mum Natalie Sanders has launched her interior design business… and is, you guessed it, inspired by the sea and nature...
Tell me about you and your family/where you live
I live in Slough with my husband, Adam, our daughter, Quinn, and our cat, Oscar.
What's so good about the local area? Where are your favourite places to go?
We have the Jubilee River right by our house, which is perfect for a bit of a nature fix and blackberry picking in the summer! We have so many open green spaces near us, which you wouldn’t really think of when you think of Slough. I love that I can walk into Eton and Windsor easily and meet friends for a coffee or lunch. At the moment, my favourite place is the Jelly Lounge – a kids' soft play in Windsor. OK, so it’s really Quinn’s favourite place but I get a free coffee with my ticket, the decor is on trend and she has a fab time – everyone’s a winner!
Tell me about your Interiors business
I run my own interior design company called Natalie Sanders Interiors. I offer two main services. The bespoke service, where I visit your home, listen to your requirements and likes, and come up with a fabulous design to suit your tastes and lifestyle. I can oversee all the work: contractors, purchasing and styling, so you can sit back and enjoy the big reveal! I also offer home staging
for when you are thinking about putting your house on the market. Having your home professionally staged and styled really helps to let the viewers imagine themselves living
there and ultimately ends in a faster sale and more money! I am really passionate, though, that interior design isn’t exclusive to the very high-end customers where everything is custom- made. Everyone deserves a beautiful home and so I work with any budget. It’s amazing what a difference can be made by simply changing the paint colour and furniture re-arrangement once you know the tricks of the trade.
Have you always been interested in doing this? What do you like about it the most?
I have always loved looking around other people’s homes, checking out homeware shops and whiling away countless hours reading home magazines or watching Grand Designs, but it wasn’t until I was on maternity leave that I decided to really go for it and make a career out of
it. My first project was to design a friend's flat on a fairly limited budget. I spent hours sourcing the best price for everything and mulling over how to make it all perfect. The hard work paid
off as her reaction was priceless. It was the best feeling in the world knowing that I had done a great job for her and seeing how proud she is to show off her home still brings me so much joy. It is that feeling that I strive for in each and every job.
What prompted you to decide to take it that bit further and start your business?
When I was pregnant, I knew that I wanted to be able to spend as much time with my daughter as possible. My job at the time meant I was away with work travelling across
Europe or further afield and I just knew it wasn’t for me any more. I really wanted to create
a life for me and my family that would mean I could work flexibly, taking on as much or as little as was right for us, and spend as much time as possible with Quinn. Although running your own business is a lot of hard work (and I still have a lot to learn), it is the ability to manage my own diary that most attracts me to working for myself.
What did you do before?
I was a marine biologist! I had the most amazing 10 years learning about our fascinating oceans, travelled the world doing research – from diving on the coral reefs of the tropics to boat surveys for killer whales of the Pacific Northwest! However, being at sea for weeks on end and being away from loved ones isn’t something I wanted to do any more. I will always love the oceans and so it's unsurprising that the coast, well nature in general, is what inspires me in
my designs now.
Did you have to do any business courses or training for your new business?
About six weeks after Quinn came along, I started a Diploma in Interior Design with the Institute for Interior Design. I also undertook an advanced module in Home Staging and Styling.
I loved every single assignment of my course and I managed to get the diploma done in seven months using each nap time and evenings to study. I did projects for friends and family whilst training and as soon as I graduated, I set up my own company! The last year has been the most intense and rewarding year of my life, in every single way. I wouldn’t have changed a thing. I am an eternal student so I am already eyeing up more courses to take my knowledge and skills in interior design to the next level.
What is the best part of it? And the worst?
The best part is seeing my client's face at the big reveal when everything is in place and looking perfect. It is the reason I do this job and it brings me so much joy. I also love going shopping and buying lots of beautiful things without it costing me a penny! The worst part
is buying lots of beautiful things and not being able to keep them!
Who is your idol?
I have so many! I absolutely love Charlie Luxton – he designs the most beautiful homes that are not only practical but also environmentally friendly. I also really admire Sophie Patterson and Laura Hammett, two incredible luxury interior designers who also have young children. They
are a real credit to working mums and the ultimate girl bosses! And, of course, Sir David Attenborough. Need I say more?!
Anything else we don't know about you?
I am a bit of a nerd. I have a PhD and I am generally happiest when learning something new, which thankfully I always am in interior design. Each client has their own set of specific needs, which means that with each project I have to learn new styles, tricks and skills. Plus styles and trends are always evolving. There isn’t enough hours in the day to keep up with it all!
What's your style?
My style is really inspired by the coast. I love going to upmarket coastal hotels, such as Christchurch Harbour Hotel (where we got married) and South Sands in Salcombe. I just love the use of natural materials, muted tonal colours with pops of turquoise and a sense of bringing the outdoors in. I always take my inspiration from nature and so my designs always start with a beautiful scenic photo that captures the colours, the textures and the ambience
that I want to recreate.
What’s on your bedside table right now?
I have a large beautiful driftwood table lamp, a candle from the Cookham Candle Company and a framed photo of Quinn and I that my husband gave to me for Christmas. There is also a muslin cloth, tube of teething gel and a teddy on there as well – the reality of being a parent!
What's in your handbag?
Usually that is the changing bag so all the baby paraphernalia plus my purse, a nude lipstick, my diary, a notebook for jotting down ideas and sketches, and of course a tape measure!
What's your ideal weekend?
A quiet weekend away with my loved ones in a little cottage overlooking the sea with a log- burning stove. I am longing to go to The Edge in Whitsand Bay (the most gorgeous coastal holiday home from Unique Homestays) but that would have to be a weekend without Quinn as it's right by the cliff edge!
Natalie is offering Mum’s About Cookham readers 10% off any interior design service or home staging.
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