Her Design, Her Story

She wanted to study architecture. The careers advisor said her maths wasn't strong enough.

So Sarah went and built an entire career in design anyway, just via the scenic route: advertising, David Jones, hand-drafted joinery, high-end Sydney residential, a boutique studio in regional Beechworth, and now a fully handmade, Instagram-only textile business she runs from 22 acres.

In this episode, Sarah traces the sliding-door moments that took her from a country town in NSW to designing Westfield retail interiors, to closing her own store to care for sick family members, to rebuilding from scratch with nothing but leftover fabric and a login she barely understood.

She talks candidly about the 80/20 rule of showing up online, why she still hand-drafts everything, designing by season, and the surprising reason her answer to "if your brand was a celebrity".

Chapters

2:11 — Welcome, Sarah: from Albury to a career that "went the opposite direction"

5:21 — Boarding with a stranger in Canberra to study advertising and marketing

9:55 — The pivot to interior design — 2,000 applicants, 30 spots

14:09 — First industry job: detailing joinery for Westfield's retail stores

19:10 — Leaving Sydney for 22 acres in Beechworth and starting Salisbury & Maude

23:58 — Closing the store to care for two unwell family members

26:06 — Turning leftover fabric into quilts — and an accidental Instagram business

34:07 — The 80/20 rule: why the unpolished, behind-the-scenes stuff matters

43:31 — Designing by season: how Beechworth's four seasons shape her palette

54:26 — Quickfire: the celebrity answer that left her in tears.

Brought to you by Royal Oak FloorsJessica Bettenay is the founder and creative force behind By R.A., an innovative interior design and renovation studio redefining the way people build and transform their homes.With a passion for creating thoughtful, highly personal spaces, Jessica combines creativity with practical expertise to make the renovation journey more accessible, collaborative, and enjoyable.

In this episode, she shares her entrepreneurial journey, her approach to design, and the lessons she's learned while building a purpose-driven brand.

Jessica Bettenay is the founder and creative force behind By R.A., an innovative interior design and renovation studio redefining the way people build and transform their homes. With a passion for creating thoughtful, highly personal spaces, Jessica combines creativity with practical expertise to make the renovation journey more accessible, collaborative, and enjoyable. In this episode, she shares her entrepreneurial journey, her approach to design, and the lessons she's learned while building a purpose-driven brand.

Visit Royal Oak Flooring at: https://royaloakfloors.com.au

LINKTREE: https://shorturl.at/TUQBX

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kerrie-Ann Jones is one of Australia's leading interior stylists and designers, based in Sydney. A former style Editor at Real Living magazine, she's since built a career styling editorial shoots, campaigns and residential projects for some of the industry's top designers.
Her signature approach blends vintage and contemporary pieces with sculptural forms, layering texture and colour, creating spaces that feel curated yet deeply personal.
We discuss Kerrie-Ann’s incredible career, as well as her recent pivot towards interior design, publishing a book and the evolution of her online gallery.
Visit Royal Oak Flooring at: https://royaloakfloors.com.au
LINKTREE: https://shorturl.at/TUQBX
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we have the pleasure of speaking with Manuela Millan, the Design Manager at Fortis and the founder of Meanwhile in Melbourne, a platform championing local design talent.
With incredible experience working across several notable design studios, Manuela has built a career turning real client needs into considered, liveable spaces.
We chat about her pathway to Australia and into design, the lessons learned along the way, and how Meanwhile in Melbourne grew from a personal project into a thriving creative community.
Visit Royal Oak Flooring at: https://royaloakfloors.com.au
LINKTREE: https://shorturl.at/TUQBX
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.