Michaella Prince

Meet…

popfox interiors

For fifteen years, Michaella Prince dedicated her career to teaching English in Perth, Scotland. She loved helping young people grow in confidence and ability, but over time she began to feel increasingly restricted. “Not being my own boss, being tied to a very strict schedule, and all the school politics,” she says. “I knew something had to change.”

Although teaching was rewarding, Michaella had always been drawn to creative pursuits. She dreamed of running her own business, using her artistic instincts to transform spaces and bring people joy. What held her back, like many career changers, were practical worries. “It was largely financial,” she explains. “I wasn’t sure how I could make it work.”

That started to shift when she discovered The Interior Designers Hub on Instagram and joined the free five-day challenge. “It caught my attention straight away,” she says. “I loved the energy and approachability, and when I looked into the Level 3 Diploma in Professional Interior Design, it just felt right. I wanted something structured that would teach me everything I needed, and the course offered exactly that.”

From the very start, Michaella found the experience both inspiring and confidence-building. “I did worry whether I was good enough or creative enough, but my tutor, Laura, was so encouraging. She really helped me believe in myself.”

Michaella’s new career took off faster than she could have imagined. “Before I took the course, I was worried that I wouldn’t find clients, but I have been very lucky. In fact, my diary filled up while I was completing the diploma, and I’ve been fully booked since then!”

Today, she runs her own design studio, Popfox Interiors, specialising mainly in residential work. Her portfolio includes everything from single-room transformations to full-house projects, and she recently completed her first commercial commission; a fifty-four-bedroom boutique hotel. “It was a huge learning curve,” she says, “but I’m incredibly proud of how it turned out.”

My clients still tell me they can’t believe they live in a house that looks like a magazine.

–michaella Prince | Founder of popfox interiors

Closer to home, one of her favourite projects involved redesigning a Victorian family home in Perth. “We started with the hallway and then moved on to the living and dining rooms,” she recalls. “There were lots of challenges; a fireplace that had to be reduced in height, an offset ceiling rose that couldn’t be moved, and some tricky joinery work; but it all came together beautifully, and my clients were delighted.”

When asked what she loves most about her work, Michaella doesn’t hesitate. “The creativity, the flexibility, and the difference I can make to the lives of others,” she says. “I love being able to problem-solve and redesign a space so that it looks beautiful and functions well. The joy that brings to my clients is incredibly rewarding.”

Since qualifying, she has been featured in several home magazines and now has a six-month waiting list for new clients. But beyond the professional success, it is the personal fulfilment that means the most. “As a teacher, I helped children be the best they could be. Now I help clients make their homes the very best they can be; places they truly love to live.”

The shift has transformed her day-to-day life. “I was treading water before,” she reflects. “Now I feel completely in my element. I am very busy and my brain is always full, so I’m learning to put boundaries in place, but I wouldn’t change a thing. The creative and personal sides of the job make it so fulfilling.”

Her clients often tell her how much her work has changed their lives. “I’ve had people say they can’t believe they live in a house that looks like a magazine, and that rooms they used to hate have become their favourites. That kind of feedback means everything.”

Looking back, Michaella knows she made the right move. “It feels thrilling to be doing a job that I love,” she says. “I didn’t realise how much energy I was wasting before, going round in circles about my career. Now I’m focused, fulfilled, and excited about growing my business. Thank you so much for your support.”

Michaella’s story is proof that with the right training and determination, it’s possible to turn creativity into a thriving career. The Level 3 Diploma in Professional Interior Design at The Interior Designers Hub gave her the structure, skills and confidence to make that leap, and she hasn’t looked back since.