I got to know Laura last year, a fellow blogger and super talented interior designer – after we mutually started following each other on Instagram. I was blown away by her gorgeous interior account, and we got even friendlier when she offered to help me with Rio’s nursery during the end of my pregnancy (when the hormones were taking over!). Not only does she have an impeccable eye for design and detail, she’s also such a warm, down to earth and inspiring lady – who I’m now also so fortunate enough to call a friend. Her determination and drive is incredibly inspiring, and of course, her interior taste is nothing less than exquisite. Click on through to get to know Laura below!
1. WHAT’S THE STORY BEHIND YOUR GORGEOUS INTERIOR BLOG?
I started the blog back in 2010 as a hobby/outlet from my job as a property developer in Mallorca. Don’t get me wrong, I loved my work, but lots of mud, cement and building materials was what I was faced with on a daily basis on site! The blog was my way of sharing lovely interiors images and inspiration for the room designs at the end of each project. I kept writing it alongside my work as a developer, and in the last few years it has evolved into a larger part of what I do. It’s still mainly interiors focused, but with lifestyle and travel elements, which I love.
2. DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN 3 WORDS?
Loving, Loyal & (a bit) Hasty!
3. YOU’VE JUST ANNOUNCED YOUR PREGNANCY (CONGRATULATIONS!) – WHAT’S YOUR GO-TO SNACK TO KEEP YOUR ENERGY LEVELS UP?
Thank you so much! It’s such an exciting time, but as you say, also quite exhausting and hard to keep your energy levels up! I’ve been struggling with pregnancy insomnia throughout a lot of the pregnancy, but now I am linking it to hunger, so am having a lovely milky drink before bed. Milk is something I never normally drink, as I don’t really like the taste, but I’ve been mixing it half and half with Oatly chocolate milk and drinking it warm just before bed. Fingers crossed, it seems to be making a difference!
4. FAVOURITE PLACE YOU’VE EVER VISITED, AND WHY?
Favourite place you’ve ever visited, and why? This is a really tricky question as Patrick and I travel a lot and have loved so many places we have visited! We both adore the Balearic Islands – we lived there together for the first few years of our relationship (Patrick grew up in Madrid). We love Spain as a whole, but the Balearics hold a very special place in our hearts. So much so that we invested in a house in Menorca last year, which is really a business investment, but also somewhere we hope to spend time together as a family over the next few years. I also totally fell in love with the Perhentian Islands in Malaysia when I visited just after I left school. Very rustic and simple, but utterly beautiful and I dream of visiting again one day.
5. POSITIVES & NEGATIVES ABOUT WORKING IN BLOGGING AND SOCIAL MEDIA?
There are so many positives; the people I have met through blogging and social media is one of the things I love the most – such a warm and friendly community of creatives and I have made some lovely contacts/friends through it. Other positives are being able to work to your own rhythm and from home, but that can also be a negative too as you can from time to time feel slightly isolated. There is also (perhaps a self-inflicted) pressure to be producing more and more content all the time. Now there’s not only your blog to keep on top of, but Instagram/Stories and other social media and it’s a lot to keep on top of alongside my other work. I also feel a bit pressure to be creating video content for YouTube, as this is the way so many bloggers are going, but currently I still feel unsure about it and I think it’s only something I will do if I feel I have something genuinely new or interesting to offer. Oh, and the algorithm changing all the time is frustrating (I’m sure you’ve all heard enough whinging about this recently!). But overall, it’s a wonderful thing to do and be able to earn a living from, so varied and creative and I do feel very lucky.
6. WHAT’S THE BEST PART OF WHAT YOU DO?
I love the variety of what I do. From blogging and social media to developing properties (which is the core of our business) and interior design. No two days or weeks are ever the same and the wonderful thing is the flexibility that Patrick and I have, being able to work together from home.
7. HOW DO YOU LIKE TO UNWIND AFTER A LONG DAY WORKING?
Most days I love to relax after working with a bath and possibly some yoga. I adore Yoga with Adriene on YouTube and before I was pregnant would try and squeeze it in every day. If it’s the weekend or we’re in London then we love to relax with friends, cooking or eating out together.
8. WHAT EXCITES YOU MOST IN LIFE (OTHER THAN NOW BEING PREGNANT, OF COURSE!)
Other than being pregnant, which is super exciting, property is probably the thing that excites me most! Both Patrick and I are so passionate about renovating and love nothing more than planning/starting work on a new project. In fact, so much so that we are already getting itchy feet and thinking about where might be next for us in terms of a renovation/move – nothing until next year though as this year is all about welcoming baby BM and focusing on that, which will be such a special time.
9. BEING YOUR OWN BOSS, HOW DO YOU MANAGE TO STAY MOTIVATED AND CREATIVE?
It’s not always easy, but in general I find inspiration and motivation comes from everywhere – from life, from media/social media and from random things that I spot and store away for when creativity isn’t free flowing. I think working for yourself it can sometimes be hard to find motivation – spending time with friends and other bloggers is always a great way to spice things up and come up with new ideas.
10. FINALLY, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR TEENAGE SELF KNOWING WHAT YOU KNOW NOW?
Oh, this is a hard one to answer… I guess it would be to listen to your instincts, to be brave and to trust that what is meant to be, will be. I lost a very dear friend to cancer when I was 21, which was a very challenging time, but it definitely made me live life in a stronger and more decisive way. Realising that life can be so short, was a great motivation to not be afraid of taking risks and to work hard to create a life I love, so I think that was a really important lesson.
Follow Laura via her blog & Instagram.
Don’t forget to e-mail me or leave me a comment below if there is someone in particular that you want me to interview next!
