Catherine Connacher

Meet…

blaven interiors

When Catherine worked as an Occupational Therapist in the NHS, her days were full but her creativity was stifled. “I liked helping people,” she explains, “but it wasn’t creative enough. I didn’t like the boundaries of a 9–5, and I knew I wasn’t reaching my potential doing a job I wasn’t passionate about.”

A Fine Art graduate, Catherine had always felt the pull towards something more creative; but like many, she assumed making a living in the arts was a pipe dream. “I couldn’t see how I’d make the same salary working for myself,” she admits. “It was mostly a money fear.”

That fear began to shift when she discovered The Interior Designers Hub’s Level 3 Diploma in Professional Interior Design. “A friend recommended it, and when I looked into it, I liked how approachable and comprehensive it felt. The structure, the support, the SketchUp training; it just seemed to include everything I’d need to get started.”

Once enrolled, Catherine threw herself into learning, and within just a few months her new career began to take shape. “I actually got my first design job when I was about a quarter of the way through the course!” she says. “I think I was ready to go, but I wanted to make sure I’d ticked all the boxes in terms of knowledge and skills.”

That first project snowballed into many more. By the time she completed the diploma, Catherine had a full pipeline of residential work. “It’s been incredible,” she says. “I mostly work on single rooms and full house renovations, either as design-only projects or full design and project management. I also offer virtual consultations and a Designer for a Day package.”

“I finally feel like I’m doing something meaningful with my life.”

–catherine connacher | Founder of blaven interiors

It hasn’t just been a career change; it’s been a life change. “Completing the qualification has given me financial stability, freedom and flexibility,” Catherine says. “I make more money now than I did in my previous career, and I have the flexibility to be around for my kids after school and take school holidays off.”

Of course, the transition came with its learning curve. “It’s taken a couple of years to get the business side right, to be profitable,” she admits. “But honestly, the best way to learn is by doing it; making mistakes and figuring it out as you go.”

Now, as the founder of Blaven Interiors, Catherine describes her work as exciting and deeply fulfilling. “Every day is different, and the days fly by. The relationships with clients are what I love most; bringing them joy in the transformation of their spaces.”

Looking back, she’s proud of how far she’s come and grateful she took the leap. “It’s given me a creative outlet, financial stability, and a meaningful career that fits my life. It really is the best thing I ever did.”

Catherine’s journey shows what’s possible when you combine talent, determination and the right training. The Level 3 Diploma in Professional Interior Design at The Interior Designers Hub gave her not only the technical skills to design professionally, but the confidence to turn her creativity into a sustainable business.

Her advice to anyone sitting on the fence? “Just go for it. You’ll never regret investing in yourself.”