Academy Student Spotlight: What It’s Really Like to Take the Course

We’re so pleased to be sharing this conversation with Academy student Melanie Lovell.

After nearly two decades in Finance, Melanie made the courageous decision to pivot into interiors, turning a long-standing love of architecture and design into a new and exciting chapter. With a strong analytical background and a natural eye for detail, she joined the Sophie Paterson Academy to deepen her technical knowledge, gain practical industry insight and build confidence as she established her studio.

In this Q&A, Melanie shares what prompted her career change, why she chose the Academy, and how the course has supported her early projects including a beautiful transformation within her own home.

Can you tell us a little about your background and what led you to enrol in the Academy?

After studying Maths at University, I fell into the world of Finance and did this for almost two decades; it’s a career that I was grateful for and that taught me many useful skills – but over time, I realised my soul longed for more creativity! My passion for beautiful architecture and design became impossible to ignore – I found myself drawn to home design magazines, devouring each page with delight and capturing images on my phone of every design inspiring space I encountered, whether I was on holiday or during my commute to work.

A renovation of our Surrey home in 2020 was the real turning point. The lovely feedback I received from family and friends, made me wonder: could interior design be my full-time career? I knew I’d love helping people create homes they truly adore. So, I completed a design diploma whilst I was still working in Finance and started taking on projects for friends. In 2025, I finally plucked the courage to leave Finance. When Sophie Paterson launched her own Academy that same year, it felt truly meant to be. I had discovered her on Instagram whilst doing my own renovation and later, watched her YouTube videos, noting down how practical and valuable her design advice was. I have now started my own interior design studio, Melanie Lovell Interiors.

What you were hoping to achieve by completing the Academy?

As someone new to the industry, I felt that the supplier list would be hugely valuable; it can be overwhelming stepping into the Design Centre in Chelsea and having a trusted list of companies to work with is the kind of insider knowledge that usually takes years to build.

I also wanted to improve my knowledge of industry terminology that isn’t necessarily common knowledge (for example, the names of different parts of a staircase (“treads” and “risers”). This is the kind of knowledge that is incredibly useful when speaking with trades on a project.

Any interior design challenges you hoped the course would help address?

Due to my numerical background, I was particularly pleased to discover that the course provided specific measurements – from circulation space requirements to pedestal table widths. This level of technical detail is often difficult to find, and it was something I had really hoped the course would include.

The course also answered so many practical questions I had around panelling, joinery, hard finishes and furniture arrangements. It was so comprehensive that it even highlighted design challenges I hadn’t yet encountered or anticipated in the early stages of my career, which has been incredibly valuable as I continue to grow and develop as an interior designer.

Why did you choose the Sophie Paterson Academy?

The course promised practical, hands-on guidance, which I needed. While my previous diploma gave me a strong foundation in design history, styles, and presentations, I wanted advice and tips that would be useful in designing specific spaces. Having watched Sophie Paterson’s YouTube videos, I was confident her course would be full of practical insights that only come from working in the industry for many years.

How has the course helped you?

The course exceeded my expectations! It’s exceptionally detailed and has given me a wealth of knowledge that will support my future projects. I love that I now have checklists and workbooks to refer to for each space I design – they will help bring structure and clarity to my project process going forward.

Are there any key aspects of the course that you found particularly insightful?

Being detail-oriented from an accountancy background, I particularly appreciated how comprehensive the course content was. I learned that each room has different requirements and challenges to consider – circulation and spacing guidelines, recommended stair runner widths, rug thicknesses and specific design terminology were just a few of many areas covered that I have found incredibly insightful. I also loved that the learning was delivered in two formats: video content and workbooks. Having the ability to revisit the workbooks at any time has been especially valuable and makes the course a resource I know I’ll continue to refer back to.

How have you applied what you learned in the Academy to your own projects?

As a first project after the course, I followed Sophie’s advice to experiment within my own home! So I redesigned our long-forgotten living room space. I reworked the layout, considered circulation spaces, layered lighting and textures, and focused on creating a timeless, personal scheme. The transformation has been incredible: what was once a dark and underused room is now warm and inviting! A new fireplace mantel now anchors the space while the updated media unit features beading details, picture lights and hidden storage for novels and board games. This space has truly become the most loved and functional room in our home! There are still a few finishing touches to add to this room, but I am already so happy with how it has turned out; I genuinely feel that this course has given me the clarity and confidence to design thoughtfully and with intention.

What would you say to someone considering joining the Academy?

I highly recommend the Sophie Paterson Academy course – it is a valuable investment in yourself, your career and your home. The course is incredibly detailed and practical, and the supplier list alone is worth its weight in gold; I loved binge-watching the course videos like my favourite Netflix series – it was that good!

Melanie’s journey is such a wonderful example of what’s possible when passion meets practical guidance. We are so proud to support designers at every stage of their careers, whether they are pivoting from a different industry or refining existing skills and to see them apply their learning with such confidence and clarity.

If you’d like to hear more experiences from our Academy students, you can read additional reviews and testimonials over on Trustpilot.

For more inspiration, visit our website and explore our portfolio to see how we’ve brought individuality and character to each of our clients’ homes through thoughtful, personalised design.

For exclusive behind-the-scenes insights, subscribe to our YouTube channel. For daily inspiration and updates, follow us on Instagram @sophiepatersoninteriors and Tik Tok @sophiepatersoninteriors.

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Academy Student Spotlight: What It’s Really Like to Take the Course

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