SCOTS INTERIOR DESIGNER TURNS ON STYLE
TO HOME IN ON THRIVING CAREER

23/08/06

An Aberdeen woman is applying her artistic talents to a growing business venture. Lynne Frost spoke to Keith Findlay about her great passion for interior design.

Attention to detail and a strong emphasis on colour co-ordination are at the heart of every aspect of Lynne Frost's life.

They are also characteristics that have helped to turn her long-standing interest in interior design into a thriving business.

Aberdeen-born Miss Frost, 27, runs Lynne Frost Interiors from premises in the city's Chattan Place, with the help of business associate Sara Hyslop.

The venture is still in its infancy, but Miss Frost has been surprised and thrilled by just how fast it has taken off.

She anticipates annual turnover will reach £200,000 during 2007, much better than she envisaged when she set up the business in May of last year.

"We have done very well in the past 12 months," she said.

"What we have achieved so far is much better than I had expected at the start."

Perhaps it is not so surprising, however, when you consider the number of plush new homes being built in the Aberdeen area and that many of the buyers have no time on their hands to devote to furnishings.

Add into the equation the amazingly complex range of colours and styles to choose from and you begin to see how many people opt to have some one else to do all the hard work.

Miss Frost has been putting her creative talents to good use for as long as she can remember. As a child she would regularly give her bedroom a makeover and help out with decorating.

After leaving Bridge of Don Academy she initially intended going on to further studies at Gray's School of Art in Aberdeen. By then she was already working part-time for a local interior designer, Mikhail Peitranek of Ambiance Interiors, and when she was offered a full-time position with the firm she jumped at the chance.

Her decision not to go to Gray's might have raised a few eyebrows at the time, but she has never regretted it.

"I don't think I could have learned the business any other way," she said. "The director designed his own fabric collections. I shadowed him as well as carrying out day-to-day duties of the interior design industry.

"I also assisted the in-house seamstress. My duties included making up estimates and allocating the correct fabric quantities."

She stayed with Ambiance for six years, learning and building up her skills along the way before being offered a job at another local company, Gatts.

Miss Frost said: "I specialised in antique furniture, reupholstery and restoration, and carried out interior design for a variety of projects."

After working for Gatts for just over two years and then in a number of short-term jobs she decided to set up her own design business.

Her clients range from single people wanting a new look for their homes, families looking to redecorate and businesses in need of a property makeover.

One of the jobs she is most proud of involves a bachelor pad in Royal Deeside.

"I project managed the re-design of this country house," she said. "The client wanted to keep the traditional feel, but make it modern to fit in with his tastes and personality. Dark colours were chosen to represent masculinity and I shopped locally for all supplies and soft furnishings.

"We went shopping locally for furniture and went as far as buying towels, plates, pans, and cutlery. Everything was bought for the new house and everything matched."

Another project involved designing a family home around existing furniture. "I did a little boy's bedroom in denim blue, with very smart car wallpaper and a more modern girl's bedroom for a 10-year-old," said Miss Frost.

One of her most challenging jobs is the continuing restoration of spectacular Invercauld Castle, near Braemar.

Work on the privately owned castle, which is run as a hotel offering a wide range of leisure activities, is expected to take several more years.

She has also done work for Udny Arms Hotel in Newburgh. She said: "Our remit was to transform the function suite into a multi-purpose, yet sophisticated area suitable for corporate events, weddings and private parties."

The transformation of a home or business premises can be tailored according to whatever budget is available and applied to new fabrics, wallpaper, furniture and lighting.

While the client's wishes and thoughts are an important part of the process, they sometimes get in the way - Miss Frost admitted that some of her customers have no sense of colour co-ordination and have to be "steered" in the right direction.

Getting the colour scheme right is an approach the interior designer also applies to her life outside of work.

Handbags, shoes and clothes all have to be in harmony, while colour was an all-important factor in choosing her car and new mountain bike.

The car is black, in keeping with her favourite colour for clothes, but she was a little more daring in choosing a blue bike.

She has just taken up cycling and her other great passions in life include her dog Charlie, and a rapidly growing collection of designer handbags and shoes.