Graduate Spotlight: From Corporate Life to Creative Living with Sharna Seymour

Sometimes, the career you've always been drawn to is the one you eventually find your way back to. For Sharna Seymour, that career was interior design.

After working as an Executive Assistant and later in change management across the telecommunications and wine industries, Sharna decided to revisit her long-standing love of interiors while raising her young children. She enrolled with The Interior Design Institute (IDI) and began turning that passion into a new career.

Today, Sharna is the founder of Saint Design, an interior design studio based in Mount Eliza, creating thoughtful renovations and family homes across Melbourne and the Mornington Peninsula. Her approach is personal, practical and full of character, with a love for natural materials, layered interiors and the little details that make a house feel like home.

We caught up with Sharna to chat about her career change, running a creative business around family life, finding inspiration beyond trends and what she's learnt along the way.

Image Source: Graduated #IDIstudent Sharna Seymour from Saint Design. Photography by @kateenno. Photography styling by @annalese_hay.

Meet IDI Graduate Sharna Seymour

Who are you in a nutshell?

I’m Sharna, a certified interior designer and the person behind Saint Design. I didn’t take the direct route into design. I began my career as an Executive Assistant supporting senior executives, then moved into change management within procurement and supply chain across the telecommunications and wine industries.

When my children were young, I decided to stop treating interior design as the career I almost chose and enrolled with IDI. Today, from Mount Eliza, I design substantial renovations and family homes across the Mornington Peninsula and Melbourne.

I’m at my best when a home has good bones, a few problems to solve and a client who is ready to commit to a transformation and rethink how they live in it.

What's your secret talent or hidden skill?

Styling and dressing people. I love putting outfits together and helping someone find pieces they might not have chosen for themselves. It’s actually very similar to designing a room. You’re working with proportion, colour, texture and personality to make something feel put together without looking overdone.

Life & Work as an Interior Designer

What does a typical day in your life look like?

There’s no typical day, which is one of the things I enjoy about the work. My family and children always come first, and I’m open with my clients about building in what I call a ‘working with children buffer’. They should never feel the impact of that because I manage my own deliverables, timelines and expectations carefully, but I like them to understand that on the odd occasion there may be a conflict.

A large part of the unglamorous design process happens during what I call a ‘creative rave’. I could have a week with nothing. No ideas and no clear vision. Then all the lights, bells, whistles and ideas suddenly switch on and I won’t stop until everything is out of my head and beginning to take shape as a design. That might happen at 9pm or it might happen at 4am!

On any given day I might be on site with a builder, reviewing plans or FF&E details, sourcing furniture, negotiating supplier pricing, tracking down that one seemingly impossible material, developing a new concept or doing the part I enjoy least... social media.

Because I run Saint Design independently, there’s also plenty happening behind the scenes, including proposals, procurement, cost schedules and client communication. There’s always a lot to juggle, but I enjoy being involved in every part of a project.

Do you have any personal or creative rituals you always stick to?

I get inspired first, and I spend a lot of time here. I want to feel passionate about the direction and be sure the client will 100% fall in love with one of the three visions I present.

I like to find a point of difference rather than follow what’s trending, but that can take time. The online world is so saturated that finding the right visuals to communicate what’s in my head isn’t always easy.

Once I get the green light, the creative rave begins!

How would you describe your design style?

I probably sit somewhere within modern transitional, often with European influences, but I don’t like to lock myself into one style.

I want each project to respond to the home and the people living in it rather than look like every other Saint Design project. I’m drawn to warm, layered interiors, natural materials, a mix of old and new and subtly unexpected combinations. Above all, it needs to feel comfortable, functional and like it belongs.

Image Source: Graduated #IDIstudent Sharna Seymour from Saint Design. Photography by @kateenno. Photography styling by @annalese_hay.

Where do you go to spark creative inspiration?

I take a lot of inspiration from travel and destination trends. I think people often want to bring the feeling and aesthetic of a favourite holiday into their home.

One of the questions I always ask my clients is, ‘Do you have a favourite place in the world? Why, and how does it make you feel?’

Much like fashion, there are high and low versions of any look. I’m always looking for ways to keep a design timeless while bringing in details inspired by a destination, family history or personal stories.

Designing someone’s home is so personal and honestly such a privilege. I take the time to get to know the client and their family properly because that’s often where the best inspiration comes from.

Do you follow design trends, or do your own thing?

Design trends are a bit of an ick for me. Much like fashion, you can take something high fashion and pair it with pieces that are 15 years old and still look completely current. Add a few luxury details and suddenly it all feels put together but effortless.

The same applies to interior design. It depends on the base you’re working with, what already deserves to stay and which trend, if any, is right to bring in.

Are there recurring themes or signature elements in your work?

Definitely the blend of old and new, and making the design personal to the client, what they already own and how they actually live.

Functionality always comes first for me. I can’t do wasted space, I love clever storage, and I’m always drawn to layers, texture and lighting. Oh, the power of mood lighting!

Image Source: Graduated #IDIstudent Sharna Seymour from Saint Design. Photography by @kateenno. Photography styling by @annalese_hay.

What kind of space do you work in?

Currently, my dining table! I do have a study, but my dining room has a beautiful aspect and is sunny and warm. Plus, I can multitask from there too.

I have a big felt BESTÅ tub from IKEA for each project where I keep all the relevant materials and samples. Depending on what I’m working on, I just bring out the tub and everything I need is in there. I also take them with me to client meetings, site visits and sourcing appointments.

There’s a beautiful studio designed into my upcoming renovation, so the dining table’s days are numbered.

What’s currently on your professional wish list?

More substantial renovations and whole home projects where I’m brought in early enough to have a real impact on the layout, functionality and overall direction.

I’d also love to build strong, ongoing relationships with builders who understand the value of having a designer involved from the beginning. The dream is a steady mix of beautiful projects with clients who trust the process and are ready to do something special.

Do you have a guiding ethos or philosophy behind your work?

Functionality before aesthetic, always. A home can be beautiful, but if it creates frustration or doesn’t support the way the client actually lives, then it has missed the point.

I also want clients to understand why decisions are being made rather than feel like the design is simply being handed to them. It’s their home, so the process should feel collaborative, personal and exciting.

Image Source: Graduated #IDIstudent Sharna Seymour from Saint Design. Photography by @kateenno. Photography styling by @annalese_hay.

How do you maintain a healthy work-life balance?

I’m not sure a 4am creative rave technically qualifies as balance!

The reason I started working for myself was to have more flexibility around my family, so I don’t try to force everything into a traditional nine to five. I build buffer into my timelines, communicate clearly with clients and work when I know I’ll be at my best.

Some weeks are more balanced than others, but being present for my family while still having something creative that is mine is incredibly important to me.

What makes you happiest in your work?

Nothing beats hearing a client say, ‘We can’t thank you enough. We still can’t believe we live here!’

I love solving the problems that have frustrated them for years, then watching the plans, samples and hundreds of small decisions finally become their home. Seeing them fall in love with it all over again is very hard to beat.

If you could collaborate with anyone in the design world, who would it be and why?

Kelly Wearstler. She is so brave with everything she approaches and never seems afraid of scale, colour, pattern or doing something completely unexpected.

I’d love to see how her mind works up close and how she takes an idea that could easily feel too much, then somehow makes it feel exactly right.

Image Source: Graduated #IDIstudent Sharna Seymour from Saint Design. Photography by @kateenno. Photography styling by @annalese_hay.

Goals & Dreams

What’s your next big goal in design or business?

To build a body of work that feels unmistakably Saint Design without every project looking the same.

I want to take on more substantial renovations and whole home projects with clients who trust the process and are open to doing something personal, brave and a little unexpected.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

I’d love Saint Design to be regularly recommended for substantial renovations and whole home projects across the Mornington Peninsula and Melbourne.

I’m not interested in building a huge studio where I become removed from the actual design work. I still want clients to know they’re working directly with me and for the business to feel personal, hands on and genuinely enjoyable.

What design challenge would you love to tackle one day?

I’d love to design both a boutique hotel and a private retreat. Travel is such a strong source of inspiration for me, so creating an entire destination and deciding how someone should feel from the moment they arrive would be an incredible challenge.

It would bring together everything I love about interiors, including mood, lighting, storytelling, functionality and those unexpected details people remember long after they leave.

From Corporate Life to Interior Design: Sharna’s IDI Journey

Why did you choose to study with IDI?

I chose IDI because it seemed really do-able. It felt like I could take it one step at a time, and the module topics made sense to me.

I also loved that I could start slowly, then add advanced modules or decide to continue with the diploma along the way. It gave me the flexibility to ramp things up when I felt ready.

What was it like changing careers?

I began my career as an Executive Assistant supporting senior executives, then moved into change management within procurement and supply chain across the telecommunications and wine industries.

Changing careers was exciting, but there was definitely a period of wondering whether I could turn something I loved into a real business. I soon realised I wasn’t completely starting again. The organisation, communication and problem solving skills from my corporate career transferred naturally into working with clients, suppliers and trades.

Image Source: Graduated #IDIstudent Sharna Seymour from Saint Design. Photography by @kateenno. Photography styling by @annalese_hay.

What was your favourite part of the course and why?

I loved seeing each module build on the last and gradually understanding how all the different parts of a design come together.

I printed and bound every module, which became a little ritual for me. The final portfolio was probably my favourite part because it brought everything together and showed me that I could take a project from the initial brief through to a complete design.

What advice would you give to new IDI students starting their journey?

Print and bind your modules! For some reason, having a physical copy made everything feel less overwhelming, and it was nice to see the pile growing.

You don’t need to have your business plan figured out yet, but I do recommend thinking about a business name and logo. It will help you submit professional looking work, and you can start building templates in the final module that can later be used for real projects.

I also think it’s useful to follow a handful of designers whose social presence you like and really take note of what, when and how they show up online. Personally, I find this part the most overwhelming, so learning from others early on can be really helpful.

What’s Next for Saint Design?

What exciting projects are you working on right now?

Protea House, which is an absolute beast! It’s being completed in stages and will take a few years to fully come together, but I’m so excited to get stuck into this one.

We’ve prioritised natural light, entertaining and several different living and chilling areas for the children as they move into their teenage years. The design will be transitional but loaded with character.

Image Source: Graduated #IDIstudent Sharna Seymour from Saint Design. Photography by @kateenno. Photography styling by @annalese_hay.

Connect with Sharna

Follow Sharna’s work and explore more of her beautiful residential projects through Saint Design.

Website: saintdesign.com.au

Instagram: @saint.design.interiors

Pinterest: @saintdesigninteriors

Email: Sharna@saintdesign.com.au

Thinking About Exploring Interior Design?

Sharna’s journey is a lovely reminder that it’s never too late to explore something you’ve always been drawn to. From a corporate career to creating beautiful, functional homes through Saint Design, she’s built a creative business that works around the life she wants to live.

If you’ve been curious about studying interior design, take a look at our online interior design courses. You can learn at your own pace, build practical skills and discover where your creativity might take you.

And if you have any questions, we’re always happy to chat! Send us an email, WhatsApp us or contact us on Instagram :)