Page 49 - June 2022

WORK/LIFE

interiors once the building was finalised, so I If I wasn’t an interior designer, I’d have
My 9-to-5 became a visual merchandising manager for been…
Space NK to get more interiors experience. It Probably an architect – it would have also been
The Brighton-based Scottish interior gave me a brilliant understanding of rolling out a wonderful job!
designer, Barbara Ramani, shares her design, but it didn’t fulfil me creatively.
daily life and career path. What’s the best piece of career advice
After my first son was born, I began doing small you’ve been given?
interior design projects for free, to start my
Where do you call home? portfolio. One client sold the property I styled I have two. Firstly, ‘do what you love’. It sounds
like a greetings card, but I realised I’d never be
Brighton – my husband and our two boys and then asked me to take on the design for successful or happy in a job that I didn’t care
moved here in 2019, after 12 years in London. their next home as my first paid commission – I about - we spend the majority of our lives
We’re originally from Glasgow and moved to jumped at the chance and since then, work has working so it’s important to do something that
London together. We’d always loved Brighton’s always come in. brings joy.
playful, creative vibe and craved the fresh air
and the seaside. We do miss Glasgow, so we’re The best part of my job is…
often back to get our fill of family banter! Barbara Ramani Finding the sweet spot where I’ve nudged Secondly, ‘don’t be afraid to fail’. My career has
come on leaps and bounds when I’ve taken a
Interior designer clients out of their comfort zone and showed risk and even failed. I’ve learned more from my
My day starts with… them the potential of their home. It’s incredibly failures than I have my successes, so I’m not
My two-year-old screaming for milk at about rewarding when they can relax and be afraid to make mistakes!
6am! I’d love to say I do yoga, drink smoothies confident that every detail they’re about to
and skip out the door in high heels, but the concept presentation, where I use 3D models spend their hard-earned money on will be
absolute opposite happens – from 6-9am I’m so my clients can ‘walk through’ their space absolutely perfect. You can find out more about Barbara’s
a slave to my boys! I throw on a bit of makeup, and get a real idea of the feel and function. I work at barbararamaniinteriors.com, and
hustle the boys out to nursery and school, could be working on budget management, My most memorable career moment is… catch Interior Design Masters with Alan Carr on
and start working just after 9am - not before a obtaining quotes and sourcing items for a After three years building my business, I was BBC iPlayer.
coffee and popping on earrings and red lippy. budget breakdown.
chosen to be a contestant on Interior Design
Masters with Alan Carr on the BBC, which took
My main responsibilities are… Sometimes, I have site visits to check on things to the next level. I was then asked to
Designing interiors to be a true reflection of progress, or I might be sourcing bespoke art. work as the design producer on Channel 5’s
who my clients are and how they live. I take I’ve also worked on television design production Dream Home Makeovers with Sophie Robinson
many projects from concept to installation, – which is like normal interior design, but on – I’ve followed her work for a long time so that
managing sourcing, procurement and budget/ super speed! was a starstruck moment for me.
project management. It’s my responsibility
to allow clients to relax and let their dream I got my job… After work I…
interiors come to life around them, and I After being surrounded by inspirational interior Brush off stress with a long jog through the
take their vision and channel that into an design growing up. My mother was a curtain South Downs, and I go sea-swimming with
environment that’s inspiring, welcoming and maker and upholsterer, and I got to go with friends every weekend. In the evenings, my
completely bespoke. her to jobs in grand houses and castles. Her husband and I book a babysitter and head out
passion for design meant our home was always to one of many amazing restaurants in Brighton
A typical working day usually involves… beautiful! – we love Burnt Orange, The Flint House,
Different stages of different projects at one Murmur, Kindling and The Coal Shed – or we
time! I may have Zoom consultations, where I adored studying architecture at Glasgow’s might go to a comedy night at the Komedia. If
I demonstrate design ideas to help clients Mackintosh School of Art, but I always felt we’re in Glasgow, we love Ox & Finch or Rioja
visualise the space. Or I may be creating a disappointed that I couldn’t get stuck into the in Finnieston.

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