Meet a fresh new talent in interiors

Here's inspiration from Erica Deam, the third interiors expert from our Lenor Fresh Talent panel...

bedroom with floor lamp

(Image credit: TBC)

We're thrilled to discover talented young interior designer, 34 year old Erica Deam. An all-rounder, Erica's route to interiors has not been a typical one. She grew up in Colorado Springs, USA, and is inspired by her rural upbringing.

Although Erica enjoyed art at school, she went on to study Environmental Biology at the University of Colorado, followed by working at the Hawaii Volcano National Park. 'I was a park ranger and lived in Volcano Village - on the top of the active peak!'

'I loved the outdoors but after a while, I decided to do something different.' Renovating various houses and an evening class in Interior Design and 'Home Staging' (styling) showed her a different path. 'I realised I loved interiors,' explains Erica. 'I started to design homes for clients in the evenings and loved it. My husband's company offered him a job in the UK in 2009, so I came with him and studied Interior Design at the American Intercontinental University in London.'

In March 2012, Erica won the prestigious Janine Stone Young Interior Designer Award, which led to a covetable six-month internship with Janine Stone's design studio and a prolonged stay in the UK. 'It's an amazing opportunity,' she says excitedly.

'My taste has broadened recently. I used to favour traditional interiors, but now I'm going through an industrial phase. I've been soaking up some stunning urban interiors in London.'

Erica shares her design inspiration on her blog: http://designworkroom.blogspot.com as well as in our Breath of Fresh Air Gallery.

For more bedrooms, see our Bedroom Channel.

Thea Babington-Stitt
Assistant Editor

Thea Babington-Stitt is the Assistant Editor for Ideal Home. Thea has been working across some of the UK’s leading interiors titles for nearly 10 years. 

She started working on these magazines and websites after graduating from City University London with a Masters in Magazine Journalism. Before moving to Ideal Home, Thea was News and Features Editor at Homes & Gardens, LivingEtc and Country Homes & Interiors.