Lydia van Haasen is an Interior Decorator & Space Planner in Dubai.
What brought you to Dubai?
I came to Dubai 10 years ago when I was just 25 years old. At first, it was just a stopover on my way home to see my family in Holland from Australia, and doing the whole tourist thing that Dubai has to offer. I had always worked in retail as a creative Visual Merchandiser and when I saw the malls here, I knew there were great opportunities for me. Being young and ambitious, I started to research jobs. Within just a month, I was packing my bags to go back to Dubai for an interview and got the job. This job was the perfect chance to prove myself whilst also getting to travel to amazing countries across the Middle East, Asia, Europe and the US. I worked hard and over time, moved my way into management. There is no other place in the world where you can gain so much experience in such a short space of time.
Describe a typical day
What I love the most about my days is that they are never the same. They are so diverse! Some days I spend the entire day researching, finding inspiration and keeping up to date with current trends, or working on concepts, presentations and designing bespoke pieces for clients. Other days I will be on site hands on in full swing, networking and brainstorming with clients to identify what their design aspirations are. My absolute favourite thing to do is source furniture and decorative items and put it all together to reveal the finished product, which is always extremely satisfying. My days vary so much and that is what makes this line of work so interesting and exciting.
How did you get into this profession?
I am a Visual Merchandising Manager by profession and I started out my corporate career working for large fashion retail companies in Australia. I have always had a knack for being highly creative and an ability for organising spaces, changing layouts of stores and designing the right furniture to fit the products, whilst being aesthetically pleasing. It was a passion to ensure all products were presented perfectly and inviting for customers to buy. During this time, friends and family would always ask me to organise their wardrobes and decorate their homes on the side, which I gladly did and still do. Decorating and interiors has always been a passion, a dream and a profession I have wanted to pursue. When I was asked to refurbish a complete office space, including doing all the interiors and decoration, that was the moment I realised that I had to follow my dreams and dive into this creative business.
What are the best things about your job?
Working on the final details along with adding those extra touches that finish the space is my absolute favourite thing. However, being able to see the end result of what’s been created (the before and after) and seeing a happy client at the end of a project is extremely rewarding.
And the worst?
There is not really a worst. However, it can sometimes be a hurdle dealing with suppliers when needing to meet deadlines. This is why it is crucial for me to have good relationships with a network of professional suppliers.
What was a standout moment in your career?
Seeing my client’s wife’s face when her surprise walk-in wardrobe was revealed to her. This was the first home project that I did, working together with the client to surprise his wife by converting an empty space into a brand new custom walk-in wardrobe. I worked with the client to understand his design and practical needs prior to him taking her away for the weekend. This is when I came in and recreated the space. I sourced a beautiful chandelier, seating, a rug, had the space painted and had the wardrobes installed. Apart from this, I arranged all her clothes perfectly on new hangers, by silhouette, occasion and colour. I carefully placed all her folded items in dividers and compartments and finally organised all her shoes and accessories on shelves and hooks. It looked amazing and was so much fun!
What advice would you have for any young person wanting to get into your field?
Network! Network! The more people you meet, the more opportunities will arise. Find good suppliers and inspiration, but most importantly don’t wait! If you have the creative gift and you are passionate, do it! I have realised that the longer you wait and think about it, the more difficult it gets to take the leap later in life. I truly believe that if you are happy and passionate in your work, you will shine and be successful. There will most definitely be bumps along the way but just keep pushing and you will get there. Remember, the positives always outweigh the negatives!
Your motto?
Less is more. Keep it clean!