In Conversation with Helen Harding from Act One Interiors
Designing and making beautiful bespoke soft furnishings, and helping clients achieve lovely homes.
What inspired you to be an interior designer?
I've always loved colour, creativity, making things. As a teenager it wasn't felt to be 'enough' of a career, so I went in another direction - but came back to what I love in my late thirties. My passion is improving and renovating my own homes, and now I can do this for my work as well.
If they were to make a toy action figure of you, what would your accessory be?
Oh, I'm not very up on action figures these days! But as a child I loved my Action Girl and was forever doing up her house that my father had built for me, complete with horse and stable!
To what degree have you actually controlled the course your life within the design world has taken?
I've kept it really low key actually. I much prefer to enable my clients to achieve their own ideas than to design for them. Some of my clients are pretty impressive creatives, and some need a little more help. I just go with the flow!
What would be your dream interior project?
Well, I’ve been fortunate enough to be involved in some pretty dreamy ones already… but whilst I enjoy the variety of different home styles my clients ask me for, my favourite is the classic country farmhouse – I’ll take as many of these as you like!
What’s something you know you do differently than most people?
I don't know about most people! But one thing I am passionate about is reducing our impact on the planet, particularly with regard to plastic - so I have been finding ways to keep my little business as environmentally friendly as possible.
If you could go back in time and speak to your adolescent self, what advice would you give them about the design world?
Do it now! Have confidence in your abilities and follow your passion.
Act One Interiors
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Photo courtesy of Helen Harding