“I love what I do and feel lucky to have made a long-lasting career out of it. Every project is a one-off and a chance to learn something new”

My decorating career began in England in the late 1980’s. Selling my London flat during the property boom allowed me to quit my sensible office job to travel. By the time I got home I had made the decision to switch to a career in a creative trade.

Leonard Pardon’s School of Specialist Paint Finishes in Knightsbridge, London was on my radar. Looking at the brochure, I was fascinated by the idea that one could make something look exactly like wood or marble using tools and paints. Leonard is a master at the craft of faux finishing and I soaked up every piece of wisdom he was generous enough to pass along. I signed up for an intensive course and soon realized how lucky I was to have stumbled upon this exciting career opportunity.

At my first job in the field I painted a friend’s restaurant and soon after I painted a shopfront, both highly visible projects. Before long I was sub-contracting for a custom kitchen cabinet shop, gaining referrals and expanding my repertoire with every project.

In 1998, I took another leap of faith by moving to New York where I met my husband, Frank Anselmo. His wallpapering expertise enables a world of possibilities for my clients, as I do for his. The Decorating Business is our professional collaboration, we have worked together on countless projects, both residential and commercial.

Taking on more of an organizational role has been a natural progression for me. I have a highly organized and pushy (for good) personality and have found there are many ways I can help a project along besides painting.