About Victoria
Hello. I’m an interiors and lifestyle journalist and the Editor of Houzz.co.uk. I’m also the author of two interior design books. My first book, Happy by Design: How to Create a Home That Boosts Your Health and Happiness was published by Octopus in 2018 in the UK. It has since been translated and published for multiple overseas markets including the USA, Canada, Poland, Russia, the Czech Republic and China. My latest book, Rewild Your Home: Bring the Outside In and Live Well Through Nature, published by Quadrille, is out now.
I started my career as a homes journalist and stylist in 2005 and have written and styled for many leading interiors titles over the years such as The English Home, House Beautiful, Real Homes and Ideal Home. As well as print journalism I’ve also worked extensively in digital media. Prior to setting up the UK editorial team at Houzz, I was the Creative Editor at myDeco.com and the Channel Editor at Housetohome.co.uk. I’ve also been invited to join the judging panels for various interior design awards such as the Evening Standard Home Design Awards and Grand Designs Live.
A firm believer in living simply and finding ways to create bright, happy spaces, I’m passionate about the healing power of nature to boost our health and happiness. I believe good home design should have nature, simplicity and wellbeing at its heart.
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Q & A
This interview with Victoria was first featured in Hip and Healthy Magazine
How Did You Turn Your Passion Into Your Career?
I feel very lucky to be able to write about interior design and garden design for a living. I always knew I wanted to work in interiors. I’ve collected interiors magazines since I was at school and dreamed about one day working for one. I studied English and History of Art at University and wrote for local and student newspapers throughout this time but when I graduated I had no idea how to break into the magazine world. I decided I needed some practical experience to set me apart, so I got a job at an interior design firm and this gave me a crash course in all things interior design. It also gave me a really valuable insight into the industry and more importantly, it allowed me to build contacts and to start approaching magazines.
Eventually I got a placement on a magazine in London and from there I started networking, building relationships and getting freelance styling and writing work. In the evenings I studied a range of Interior Design Courses at Central St Martins and after two years of freelance work I got my first full-time job on an interiors title. It was all the sweeter thanks to the long road it took me to get there!
As my career has developed I’ve been able to explore areas of design that are particularly close to my own heart, namely wellbeing and health, and in 2018 I published my debut book Happy by Design, which looks at how interior design can contribute to our health and happiness. In lots of ways, this book is the culmination of all the knowledge and tips I’ve gathered over the past 14 years.
What Advice Would You Give to Anyone Starting Out?
Find your niche! If you want to work in interior design, there are many different routes – do some research to find the one you think would be the best fit for you and channel your energy into making this niche your own.
Build your own profile. Start to build your own network through social media. Connect with industry professionals, share your own work, and if interiors journalism is your niche then write, write, write, every single day.
Don’t give up. Every rejection letter gets you one step closer to an acceptance letter and no one gets their dream job straight away, so don’t feel disheartened. I have a big folder at home full of rejection letters that I collected at the start of my career!
Follow your heart but use your head too; learn from people you admire, absorb everything you can from the industry and think about where you want to go.