In that short space of time I had got an insight into the busy life of this ambitious, completely driven designer that made me feel exhausted just contemplating such a workload.
Stephanie Gayle
Stefanie explained how she embarked on the impressive Windlesham project featured here whilst being four months pregnant with her third child. In addition to which, home at the time was Newcastle upon Tyne, over 300 miles away from the site. “It was too good an opportunity to miss,” she explains in her warm, approachable Dundee accent.
Her relatively fledgling business was gaining momentum, having started during Covid. Despite having a successful career in the pharmaceutical industry, Stefanie decided to take the plunge and follow her true passion.
The Windlesham clients had seen some of her work and were prepared to put their trust in her. “Trust is so important,” she adds. “They showed enormous faith in me to turn their dreams for their five-bedroom ‘forever home’ into reality. A blank page.”
Quite a task for a distance-travelling mum with two other toddlers, at the time still under the age of five. But you can tell just from her tone that Stefanie has the personality and drive to let very little faze her. Perhaps it was growing up the daughter of a builders’ merchants’ manager that not only instilled in her a ‘just roll up your sleeves and get on with it’ work ethic, but also where she learned the ‘nuts and bolts’ or should we say ‘bricks and mortar’ that lie behind the beautiful façade of any room.
Being married to footballer Dwight Gayle has taught her to take change in her stride. “We got used to uprooting every few years as Dwight changed clubs. Hence he was at Newcastle United when I started this particular job.” But this Windlesham project, her company’s largest to date, demonstrates that distance certainly doesn’t seem to hamper the creative achievement.
“The clients gave me free rein to create interiors that were both elegant and up to date, yet traditional – to stand the test of time. It was a ‘roof-off’ project on the existing house which was ripped right back to the bricks. A 1200 sq ft extension was added and a garage was converted.”
Careful planning reassures clients
Far more than just being a designer, Stefanie became the ‘go-to’ person for both the client and the contractors. Project management is a key skill and perhaps the experience gained alongside her father those years before are now a valuable attribute in plotting through the process of such a complex project, ensuring that the build is not delayed. Joinery, extensive cabinetry, electrics and lighting all carefully designed and scheduled. And CG modelling allowed for clear working with contractors and internal architects.
“Making it a fluid process is important,” she says. Producing such a full home project also allows Stefanie to build into the design a consistency in detail. “A design that flows from room to room, with certain architectural features or accessories homogenous throughout is probably something of a trademark of Indie Interiors.”
Stefanie stresses the point that throughout the process it is so important that the client feels reassured. “I remove the stress. In fact, I want them to have fun!” It certainly seems something that her company has achieved here. It has recently been shortlisted in an incredible four categories at the Design et al Awards.
The client was elated too and ‘couldn’t wait to work with Indie Interiors again’. “Once a client, always a friend,” says Stefanie, and she tops the whole process off by presenting the client with a professionally photographed and produced coffee-table book of their project.
Another nice touch, another little detail, on top of all the other details in the busy life of this lively, hardworking, creative designer who is surely destined for great things. But really, where does she find the energy?
Email: info@indieinteriors.co.uk
Stefanie can be reached directly on 07375 681 168
This article was published in our summer edition as part of a bumper ‘Luxury Property, Gardens & Interiors’ feature. You can browse the summer edition HERE.
