Acclaimed Accountant-turned-Designer Reveals Intimate Details on How To Turn Your Passion Into a Thriving Business

At 32, Amelia Fenmore seemed to have everything figured out. A stable job as an accounting assistant, a fiancé, and a four-year-old daughter, painted a picture of security and normalcy.

But beneath the surface, Amelia felt trapped, longing for something more than the monotony of numbers, spreadsheets, and daily routines.

What began as a simple spark—a casual DIY project at home—quickly ignited into a full-blown obsession, and before long, she found herself taking a leap into the unknown, chasing a dream she hadn’t even realized was there: becoming a professional interior designer.

Amelia’s journey of discovery and ambition strikes a chord with many Australians, particularly as the country’s interior design sector is set to grow by 3.2% over the next five years. This wave of creative entrepreneurship, especially in design, has inspired countless Australians to take bold strides toward pursuing their passions.

“Stop Your Nonsense and Your Design Business Or Say Goodbye To Our 7-years Relationship”

Amelia’s path to becoming an interior designer began not with a formal education or a bold leap of faith, but with a leaky faucet.

After hours of watching tutorials online, she repaired it herself. That small victory ignited something in her – a strange desire to work with her hands, to create, to transform. Similar stories are playing out across Australia, where the DIY renovation market was valued at AU$4.8 billion in 2023, driven by an increased desire for people to personalise their living spaces.

It wasn’t long before Amelia began taking on other small DIY projects in her home: repainting walls, upcycling furniture, and rearranging spaces just for the joy of seeing the transformation. These small victories mirror the experiences of countless Australians, where DIY home projects have surged in popularity, contributing to the rise of platforms such as Houzz Australia, showcasing how passionate hobbyists are transforming their homes without formal training.

The real turning point came during a casual gathering at her apartment. She had recently given her living room a makeover, and a friend remarked on how beautifully she had decorated the space.

That friend ended up asking Amelia if she would be willing to help with her own home – a request that sparked both excitement and fear. Amelia, who had no formal training in interior design, was hesitant.

“I remember telling her, ‘I’m not a professional; I have no idea where to start’ but she insisted. That was the first moment I thought, maybe, just maybe, I can actually do this”.

That little project turned out to be just the beginning. Before long, word started to get around, and soon friends and acquaintances were reaching out, asking for her expertise. What had started as a simple hobby quickly morphed into the seed of a new business venture.

“Stop Your Nonsense and Your Design Business Or Say Goodbye To Our 7-years Relationship”

Pursuing her newfound passion was not without challenges. Amelia’s fiancé at that time was less than supportive.

He viewed her design work as a distraction from their financial stability and argued that risking her steady accounting job for an uncertain future was too dangerous. Amelia said that she’s not blaming him.

“He saw it as a distraction—something that took time away from our family, from my job. He didn’t think it was serious, and to be fair, I didn’t either at first.”

The strain between them finally snapped. Faced with an ultimatum from her fiancé—choose design or the relationship—Amelia wrestled with the choice but ultimately followed her passion, even though it meant calling off their engagement.

“That was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever made,” Amelia admits.

Now a single mother, Amelia faced the daunting task of balancing her accounting job with her side projects in design. The financial risk weighed heavily on her, but she was cautious and practical.

For months, she squirreled away every dollar, taking on as much design work as she could until she’d built up a modest safety net. Finally, with a handful of loyal clients in her corner, she took the plunge and left her job.

Ironically, the accounting background she once dismissed as unrelated became a secret weapon. Amelia’s knack for managing her own business finances allowed her to offer budget-friendly designs—a talent that quickly set her apart in the world of interior design.

How To Actually “Make It” Without a Degree, Without Prior Experience and Even Without Industry Connections

As Amelia’s business began to gather steam, she couldn’t shake the persistent whispers of imposter syndrome. Without a formal background in design, she often questioned whether she was truly “qualified” to charge for her work.

But what she didn’t have in formal education, she more than made up for with sheer grit. She tore through design books, signed up for online classes, and burned the midnight oil watching tutorials, honing her skills one project at a time.

“I would stay up late after putting my daughter to bed, learning everything I could,” she says. “It was exhausting, but for the first time in years, I felt alive.”

Clients, as it turned out, cared less about her credentials and more about the results she delivered.

“Every project was a learning experience. I made mistakes, but I kept going because I knew this was what I wanted.”

Amelia’s talent for transforming spaces on a budget quickly became her calling card, and word-of-mouth referrals began to fuel her business.

As her confidence grew, so did her client base. Amelia was no longer just taking on projects for friends—she was working with paying clients who trusted her vision. Each successful project brought more opportunities and solidified her place in the industry.

How Amelia Turned Single Parenthood Into Her Unfair Advantage

One of the biggest hurdles Amelia had to overcome was juggling the demands of motherhood while trying to build a business from scratch. As a single mom, every choice she made wasn’t solely about her ambitions—it was about shaping a future for her daughter as well. Each decision carried the weight of both their lives, adding pressure but also purpose to her journey.

Rather than seeing motherhood as an obstacle, Amelia embraced it as part of her journey. “It wasn’t easy, but being my own boss gave me the flexibility to be there for my daughter. And she’s always been my biggest supporter.”

Her business gave her the flexibility to stay present in her daughter’s life while steadily expanding her client base. The lines between work and home often blurred, with her daughter beaming as she told friends about her mom’s work. Amelia’s path demonstrated to her clients—many of them parents too—that a home could be stylish yet practical, and that a rewarding career didn’t have to come at the expense of family.

“You are not a real entrepreneur if you didn’t feel this”

Before long, Amelia’s side hustle evolved into a thriving business. Her knack for delivering chic, budget-conscious designs drew in a specific crowd—young families and first-time homeowners looking to create beautiful spaces without breaking the bank. But the journey was far from easy. Like many entrepreneurs, Amelia encountered her fair share of hurdles: undervaluing her services, handling demanding clients, and grappling with the everyday challenges of running a business.

Through each project, she learned valuable lessons about pricing, client management, and the importance of standing by her vision.

“There were nights when I wondered if I had made the right choice. But every time a client loved their space and lightened up, I knew I was on the right path.”

Eventually, Amelia built a thriving interior design studio, earning a steady flow of clients and a reputation for crafting spaces that balanced luxury with livability. But her journey didn’t stop at personal success. She felt a pull to help others—those who, like her, felt stuck in uninspiring jobs yet were too afraid to chase their passions due to the absence of formal training or the looming fear of financial instability.

How People With No Degree, No Experience & No Connection are Now Breaking Into the Interior Design Industry With Great Success

Seeing the disconnect many aspiring designers struggled with—between their creative vision and the practical side of the business—Amelia founded The Interior Academy. This online platform was built to show budding designers how to turn their passion into a real career, bypassing the need for a traditional degree. Her unconventional approach has gained global traction, especially among Australia’s self-taught design community, a country where innovation in interior styling thrives.

The academy offers practical, hands-on lessons in design, alongside courses in business management and client acquisition—knowledge Amelia wished she’d had when she started out.

“The goal was to create something that I wish existed when I was starting. People need practical skills and confidence—not just theory.”  The Academy’s success lies in its ability to demystify the process of becoming a designer.

Amelia’s message cuts through the noise: a fancy degree isn’t the golden ticket to making it in interior design. Her students dive into the nuts and bolts of building portfolios, getting their name out there, and mustering the nerve to tackle real-world projects. This no-nonsense approach has struck a particular chord with folks in places like Melbourne and Sydney, where skyrocketing housing costs have triggered a hunger for chic yet affordable design solutions.

Through The Interior Academy, Amelia’s influence has expanded far beyond her own business. She’s now helping hundreds of others make the leap she made years ago, empowering them to chase their dreams, no matter their background or experience.

The Simple Analogy That Changes Everything

Amelia Fenmore’s leap from accounting assistant to flourishing interior designer and mentor speaks volumes about the strength of chasing what lights you up. Her journey wasn’t just a career pivot—it was a full-blown personal metamorphosis. What started as an escape from the monotony of office life spiraled into a bustling business and a beacon for others ready to shake up their own paths.

Now, Amelia’s world looks nothing like it did a few years back. She’s carved out a career around her creative flair, showing that a traditional education isn’t the only route to success. Most importantly, she’s crafted a life where she can be there for her daughter while fully diving into work that fires her up.

Amelia’s story is a reminder that it’s never too late to make a change. As she often tells her students …

“Pursuing your passion is like renovating a house. It’s messy, takes longer than you expect, and there will be days when you question every decision. But if you persist, you’ll end up with a space—or a life—that truly feels like home.”