Following My Dreams: Leaving South Africa for a New Life in London

1. Can you tell us about your upbringing in South Africa and what led you to move to London?

I grew up as an only child to second-generation Portuguese immigrant parents in South Africa. We were a close-knit family, and I attended an all-girls convent school in Durban's northern suburbs.

After graduating with an accounting degree, I visited London for the first time on holiday. From the moment I arrived, I knew it was where I wanted to be. The energy, opportunities, and excitement made it feel like home. Though cliche, walking over London Bridge years ago after an evening in the City felt meant to be.

My now-husband and I married in 2014 and moved to London together the following year to start a new adventure.​

2. What was your experience like when you first moved to London?

Busy yet eye-opening! Out of our group of friends, we were one of the first to move abroad. Though young and naive, we were eager to start this new chapter.

Our first flat was a tiny 26 sqm apartment in the heart of Balham—a dream location! However, the flat was full of questionable quirks, like dodgy plumbing where we’d often receive electric shocks each morning due to improperly earthed taps. We laugh about it now, but at the time it was far from ideal. We were too scared to ask the landlord to fix it! Life was wonderful though, characterized by a “work hard, play hard” attitude. After renting in SW London for a few years, we moved to SE London and bought our first flat—a 1 bed ground floor garden flat in a Victorian terrace in Hither Green. This was a big step, as all our friends lived in SW London. We were ready for a change though, eager to discover a new part of London.​

3. Did purchasing a home during the pandemic period benefit you? If so, why?

It benefited us financially to take advantage of the stamp duty relief at the time. Though we hadn't planned to move from our flat in Hither Green, when we calculated the savings from the relief, we decided to list the flat. We wanted more space and, secretly, I wanted a big renovation project. The flat sold quickly and we managed to buy an off-market, probate Victorian house about a 15-minute walk from our flat. The market was booming then, with homes selling for well above asking price. We were lucky to secure our new home, though the work it needed felt daunting. I may have had a slight meltdown moving in—so excited yet overwhelmed by the work ahead. We lived in the house for a year in the state we purchased it in before commencing a full renovation in 2022.​

4. What advice would you give to those in the market for a new home?

Be as open as you can and don’t overthink every little detail. For example, walls can be broken down, things can be moved, and a £5,000 decorator’s fee is a lot more affordable than £50,000 extra on the asking price. My mom always told me that (nearly) everything is fixable, so don't panic! Explore new locations, don’t necessarily go where everyone else is going. Explore completely new parts of London on the weekend and get a real feel for different areas. Consider going against the grain and you may just find a little gem. Of course, though, do your research and due diligence; buying a home is such an enormous financial and life commitment.​

5. What do you appreciate most about the community you live in?

The day after we moved into our new home, we received multiple knocks at the front door from neighbours on our road - we were welcomed to the area with bottles of wine, mobile numbers were exchanged and from there, many new friendships were formed. I think this describes the general sense of community we live in - the people are genuine, down-to-earth and just absolutely lovely. I feel very lucky to live in the Corbett Estate in Catford - it's a melting pot of different people, cultures and backgrounds. I count most of my neighbours as good friends and we often spend time socially together. From the Cat Cafe down the road run by the most epic coffee connoisseur who loves a chat (about all things coffee and beyond), to fun brunches at Wanderlust cafe, or a bagel and a stroll through Mountsfield Park, I love Catford and the people who live here.​

6. Can you describe your transition from working at Facebook to becoming an interior designer? What do you enjoy about your new profession?

I loved my job at Facebook, but interior design has always been my true passion. The skills I developed at Facebook and before have served me well in my interior design career. I now get to be creative every day, which I love. Starting my own business has required a lot of work, with long hours and late nights, but I feel grateful to be in this position and work with wonderful clients. To enhance my technical skills, I'm studying for an interior design diploma part-time. For a few years, I also took on interior design projects on the side while working at Facebook. I renovated a fixer-upper in Yorkshire, redesigned our own home, and worked on other renovation and interior projects. I immersed myself in interiors and renovation whenever I could. By the time I pursued interior design full-time, I had some experience and a base to build upon.​

7. Could you share your experience about your renovation process? What did you enjoy about it?

We started planning our renovation as soon as we finalized the purchase. We knew the house needed extensive work throughout, so likely we'd need to expose the brick walls everywhere—it was really a blank canvas. Room-by-room renovation didn't make sense here, so we lived in the house for a year without any work, although we did remove the pebble-dash exterior facades—I was eager to do something while we saved for the major interior work.

During that year, we figured out what mattered most in the house, where we spent the most time, how the light moved, etc. We contacted an architect recommended by a friend and shared some sketches for an extension. The architect finalised the drawings, then I designed each space room-by-room: mood board, floor plan, elevations, scaled drawings, ensuring functional, cohesive spaces. We designed around how we specifically used the house, settling on an unconventional kitchen/extension layout. Builders came on board; we moved out for four months during the messiest work. Despite my planning, I made some on-site changes as we went.

Now we're furnishing and finding art, textiles, and accents to make it homey and cozy—my favorite part! Overall, things went well. The house now feels warm and inviting.​

8. What accomplishment are you most proud of?

Having the courage to take a risk and leave the safety of my 9-to-5 day job. I was made redundant and could have considered another similar role as a next step, but in my heart, I knew it was the right thing to finally fulfill my passion. If not now, then when? I was tired of dreaming, wishing, and thinking through everything in my head all the time; it was time to finally make the big shift.​

9. How would you describe your personal interior design style and which designers have inspired you?

A fusion of traditional British interiors blended with elegant yet understated accents and splashes of color and pattern. I adore antiques, quirky fabrics, and mixing different textures with playful touches. I draw inspiration from designers like Beata Heuman, Handalsmann & Khaw, Buchanan Studio, Rebecca Wakefield, Laura Gonzalez, and Colombe Studio. I also find inspiration in hotels around the world.​

10. Designing a home can be a daunting task. What are your top tips for making it a success?

Plan thoroughly and well in advance for any construction work. Detail everything as much as possible. Assemble all elements on a mood board to ensure the room and overall house connect cohesively. Measure repeatedly! Draw scaled room plans with furniture layouts immediately—perhaps the perfect spot exists for a vintage floor lamp, so ensure a nearby plug point in the right position. Maybe you want a concealed curtain track—builders should know early to create a channel. Try preserving a home’s architectural integrity and historic features if applicable. Last-minute changes later can cost more and cause delays, so plan as much as possible ahead of time. If uncertain, consult a professional to simplify the process.​