My Career: ‘After years in a different career, I feel like I’ve found what I was meant to do’

Name: Michelle Fox

Age: 46

Lives: Enniskeane, Co Cork, but from Tipperary

Job Title: Interior designer/kitchen designer/colour consultant/project manager

Salary bracket: I’m hoping the sky is the limit

Education background: I have a Bachelor of Arts Honours Degree in Legal and Business Studies, and now a Post Graduate Diploma in Interior Design with the Interior Design Academy of Ireland.

Hobbies: I love spending time with my husband and three children, either at the beach or fun days out together, and walking our two dogs. Getting home to Tipp to spend time with my Mam and my family there is very important to me. Also, can I say interior design is my hobby?! I live and breathe it .

Describe your job in five words: Creating the home you love.

Describe yourself in five words: Creative, positive, intuitive, approachable, problem-solver.

Personality needed for this kind of work? Every client is different in terms of their style, lifestyle and how they live in their home, so it is important that I really listen and understand what is or isn’t working for them. Sometimes clients find it difficult to explain exactly how they feel about a space, so being patient and non-judgmental is essential.

Whether I am designing rooms or creating solutions to issues my clients are experiencing in their homes, creativity is a very important part of my work. This really kicks in at the design process, as each project, whether it’s a single room or a full home design, is bespoke to each one of my clients.

I love creating spaces that not only look beautiful, but genuinely improve how people feel and live within their homes. You also need to be able to stay calm under pressure and be solutions-focused, as people’s homes are deeply personal to them and the renovation process can sometimes feel stressful or overwhelming to them.

My role as project manager is to take this away, as I act as their single point of contact, co-ordinating all elements of the design and build process to ensure everything runs smoothly and efficiently.

A big part of my role is helping clients feel reassured, understood and confident throughout the journey, so great communication and organisation skills are so essential. Finally, as I am self-employed, there is definitely a level of self-discipline required to ensure I am working when I should be, and switching off when I shouldn’t.

How long are you doing this job? I changed career in my 40s. I started my study in interior design four years ago, and set up my business, Michelle Fox Interiors, 3.5 years ago - but I have had a lifetime love of interiors and colour.

How did you get this job? I created my own job as an interior designer and project manager when I set up my own business.

Leaving school at 17, and not knowing what I really wanted to do, I went to study Law and Business and ended up with a career in Corporate Pensions. I stayed in that career for 18 years. However, the pull to interiors was always there, but initially by way of a hobby to me. In the corporate world, and over the years, I always had this strong feeling that I was supposed to be doing something else with my life. During covid, and with extra time on my hands, I completed an 8 week interior design course, that sent me on a new trajectory - and I knew that was what I was meant to do.

From there, I decided to properly train in the industry and went on to study with the Interior Design Academy of Ireland, where I completed both my Diploma and Postgraduate Diploma in Interior Design. I also knew, being in my 40s, with three children, that I needed to be able to work around my family and create a life for me and my family that gave me a happy work/life balance, and a new career that I loved. That’s how Michelle Fox Interiors came about.

Initially, I designed rooms for family and friends that I could post on my socials, which really helped to gain organic growth. I also secured consultancy work as a kitchen designer and, while I always had a natural eye for colour and design, the four years of in-house experience gave me invaluable technical knowledge.

My business now is going from strength to strength, from offering in-house consultations to full home design with project management. I absolutely love what I do, and there is nothing more rewarding than seeing how good design can positively impact the way people feel in their homes. After many years in a completely different career, I genuinely feel I have found what I was meant to do.

Do you need particular qualifications or experience?

Having a great eye for design, colour and finishes, along with creativity, is very important in this industry. Personally, I wanted to have formal qualifications, so I studied with the Interior Design Academy of Ireland, as it was important to me to build a strong foundation and properly train in the field. As part of my journey, I secured consultancy work with a fitted furniture company where I became the lead interior designer in bespoke kitchens and furniture.

Working closely within the industry for four years gave me a much deeper understanding of the full design process, from initial concept and space planning right through to production and installation. It strengthened my ability to balance aesthetics with practicality, think creatively when solving problems, and understand how thoughtful design can genuinely improve the way people feel and interact within their homes.

The qualifications and experience have played a huge role in shaping my approach. While interior design is a very creative industry, there is also a huge amount of organisation, communication and project coordination involved behind the scenes, so I feel my previous corporate experience has really helped me build and grow my business also.

Describe a day at work:

A typical morning might involve meeting clients in their home to discuss the design brief. Before my site visit, I provide clients with a questionnaire to complete, which helps clarify exactly what they are looking for and gives me a great insight into their style, personality and how they live in their home.

During the visit, I take measurements and photographs of the space, which can take several hours, depending on the size of the project. Once I return home, I compile a list of everything required for the job, which helps me plan the next stages of the design, and draw floor plans and elevations, complete space and lighting plans, and design bespoke furniture where required.

A large part of the job involves researching furniture, fabrics, lighting, materials and finishes that suit the brief. I also create mood boards and presentation documents that visually bring the design concept together for the client. Explaining the vision clearly and creating that ‘wow factor’ for the client is a very important part of the process.

Another side of my role involves project management, where I work closely with tradespeople and suppliers to ensure the design is implemented correctly on site. Good communication and problem-solving are very important during this stage, as every project can present different challenges along the way. I also offer consulting services to other design businesses, including paint clinics with a leading premium paint brand. Finally, as with any self-employed business, there is always the admin side.

How many hours a week do you work? After dropping the kids off at school, I usually start around 9.30am and work until they finish at 3pm. I am always looking at interiors, either on the phone or on the TV, as it is a favourite pastime of mine, so I could be browsing at any stage of the day or night!

Is your job stressful? How? Rate it on a scale of 1-10:

I don’t usually find my work stressful. I am by nature, a calm individual. That said, like any job there are moments of pressure.

Sourcing one-of-a-kind pieces can be challenging when availability changes quickly, or managing the timing of contractors, where plans can shift - the stress levels can hit a 7 then!

But my motto is that there is always a solution to every problem, so it will all work out beautifully in the end. And, generally, people are great; we are all in business and need to work together to make it work out for the client.

When do you plan to retire or give up working?

I always thought I’d retire early when I worked in the corporate world, now I have no plans to! Instead, my goal is to continue to grow Michelle Fox Interiors into a recognised, long-standing design brand that evolves with me.

Best bits:

The best part of my job is initially seeing my client’s reaction to the space I’ve designed when I am presenting the vision to them. It brings great excitement to people, and I love seeing their reactions. I also love when all the pieces of the puzzle come together and I’ve reached the final styling stage where the furniture, the lighting, the accessories and all the bits are there!

It’s that feeling you get when you walk into a well-designed space, as in you’ll see the beautiful design but you’ll feel the impact of it and that’s pure magic.

Worst bits:

Moving from a corporate job into self-employment takes discipline, and there are fewer free benefits. However, the best bits outweigh the worst bits.

Advice to those who want your job?

I spent far too long in a corporate job that I knew I wasn’t supposed to stay in. Don’t let that be you. Follow your passion and your dreams - because it is worth it. Be brave enough to go after what you want and ask for help when you need it.

Any other comments:

If you are planning a new build, renovation, or extension - whether you need design service or would like project management included for one room or your entire home, I would love to hear from you.

Contact me on hello@michellefoxinteriors.ie or follow Michelle Fox Interiors on my socials Instagram @michellefoxinteriors, https://www.facebook.com/MichelleFoxInteriortarget="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">, or https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellefoxinteriors/