Anouska Lancaster, Noushka Design
My name is Anouska Lancaster and I am an award-winning Interior Designer. I set up Noushka Design in 2011 as I felt that there was a gap in the market for a forward-thinking design company, which tailor made design schemes for the individual. I was bored of seeing non-descript grey and beige interiors; that were soulless and cold. My vision was to create a bespoke design company which created interiors that reflected the various passions, styles and personalities of its clients. My designs are colourful, bold, and brave; and always tell a story. It is important to me that each and every interior is as different as the person that I am designing it for. Noushka Design is a celebration of individuality and personal style.
I never sat down and planned my career. My career evolved as my life did. I have always been artistic, and I knew that I’d always fall back onto a career that was creative, even if I went off track for a while. It’s my journey that has lead me to be as successful as I am today. Creative people are very different from academics. Creative’s follow their heart more than their head, and usually, this means that they’ll end up doing something they love, as it’s what keeps them passionate and alive. I trained to be an artist and then went travelling. Later on, after having my children, I fell into Interior Design and absolutely loved it. I finally found the job that I felt I was meant to do. I loved being able to make a difference to people’s lives, to give them the confidence to express themselves through their interiors and create a sanctuary where people could truly feel ‘at home’. It was like a light had been switched back on and I was able to pull on my life experiences to create an original concept and a business that worked with my lifestyle.
When you are an entrepreneur, you face continual challenges. The biggest struggle I’ve faced is believing in myself. After a violent and traumatic first marriage and divorce, I decided that I wanted to be an independent woman and finally take control of my life. I wanted to be a woman that could not only support her children but make them proud of her. My children were my first clients. After fleeing my former marital home, I moved into rented accommodation and had to create a new home for me and my children, a place that they felt secure in, and that they adored. Their new bedrooms were a collection of everything they loved and were a true reflection of their personalities. It was as if we were all ‘reborn’. I suddenly realised the power of Interior Design. The power of being able to express ourselves through our environment to create a space where we could be ourselves completely. That was my ‘Lightbulb Moment’. This first project taught me a lot, not just about design, but about managing finances. I had to do a lot of upcycling and was forced to be creative on a budget. Interior Design should not be limited to the wealthy, or the ‘rich and famous’. Interior design should be accessible to all, no matter who you are or what the budget. This is something that I wanted to emphasise with my business Noushka Design. I wanted to banish the myths and give people the confidence to express themselves through their interiors.
Website:www.noushkadesign.com
Instagram: @noushka_design
