What did you do before setting up Blue Ticking?

I worked in the charity sector as a fundraiser. My first job post university was with the brilliant charity Raleigh International. I owe a lot to my time there because it's where I met John!!! I then moved to The Parkinson's Disease Society which was incredibly interesting and rewarding. From there I went to the international development charity UNICEF which I absolutely loved. I got to travel and raise money for a charity I felt very strongly about. Post having Edith and before Maggie, I then worked for Malaria No More. All brilliant jobs, but they were based in London and after having Edith we moved out to Surrey and I wasn't keen on doing the commute forever! It felt like the right time for a change.

What's it like working with John?

Wonderful, most of the time! We are actually quite separate at work because John is usually in the workshop and I'm mostly at my desk. It's great to have someone else to discuss ideas with (John has loads) and share any worries. John is incredibly patient and hardworking, nothing is too much trouble so I feel very lucky to have him involved.

The only downside is we bring work home with us which doesn't help when you want to switch off! Oh and the fact he listens to Radio 2 which I can't stand and is happy eating a can of baked beans for lunch which again I don't like!!! He has to be a certain distance away from me if beans are on the menu!!!

What are you most proud of?

That we're still going strong after a very challenging few years and the fact that people come back to us again and again and fill their home with goods we have lovingly restored. There is no better feeling! I also feel super proud that our two daughters can see what we do and are part of what we're trying to achieve.

Who's your favourite interior designer?

I follow lots of house accounts as opposed to interior designers. However, I do love Sophie Robinson, who like me raves about colour. She's bold and not afraid to go for it! I also appreciate the more subtle interiors which use calmer, more neutral colours and have more of a 'scheme' throughout. I just don't think I would be able to avoid sneaking in a real splash of colour or an eclectic mix of furniture/paraphernalia. The accounts on Instagram I love that manage to get this balance right are @townley_terrace, @goodboneslondon and @ouroldrectory. To me, they are the perfect combination of mixing the old and new with pops of brilliant colour.

Can you come and view your goods before you buy?

Absolutely! We are very lucky to have a wonderful studio/workshop in West Sussex and we love it when people come and say hello! Just make sure you let us know when you're coming so we can make sure we're here and not gallivanting finding new stock!

What's the best part of your job?

That's a really tricky one to answer because I love most of it, apart from the expenditure spreadsheets! There are so many different elements to my role that no day is really the same and that keeps it super interesting. I particularly love the sourcing side, there's nothing better than finding something which I think you will all love.

I will also never tire of the feeling I get when I hear your goods have arrived and you love them.

It's also lovely getting to know our customers and when people come back time and time again I feel super proud.

Best/funniest graffiti you have found on a desk?

Looking at the desk graffiti is just brilliant! I love reading all the funny messages, declarations of love and seeing the naughty pictures! I can't really repeat any of them as too rude, but it's all incredibly nostalgic and memory inducing. When I read the various scribbles it takes me right back to my school days, which luckily for me I enjoyed!

Any fun, vintage markets you recommend to visit with kids?

The bigger outdoor ones work well for kids because there is more room for them to run around and less chance of them breaking something! The IACF fairs are good and in different locations around the UK. We take our two when we can and they love having a mooch around and always try and persuade us to get something for their rooms! (We don't need much persuading though!) When they were younger they loved nothing better than riding in a wagon and eating all the snacks and cheese toasties!

What's the hardest part of running your own business?

I love running my own business but there are definitely challenges. Regardless of whether it's a good year or not business wise there are some harder elements that are always present. For example, because it's just John and I it can often feel quite isolating and daunting when harder decisions have to be made. However, talking to other small business owners does help. If I'm feeling it, I know others out there will be too.

I also wear many hats and that can often feel overwhelming when there is so much to do. Being able to switch off can also be difficult. If I'm honest I don't think I ever really down tools even when we're on holiday. With social media being integral to running a business now, it's not always easy to walk away from it. I do think having social media breaks is incredibly important though so it's something I'm working on!

If you could keep just one piece of furniture in your home what would it be?

Oooh now that is tricky because there are lots that mean a great deal to me. If I had to choose though it would be the beach shelf in our family bathroom. Not only do I love the look of it but it's full of finds from our holidays so every time I look at it amazing memories comes flooding back.

What's your favourite Farrow and Ball colour?

I have lots, but probably our most used colour and one that looks great on most things is Arsenic. It always makes me smile and thats got to be a good thing! We have transformed desks, storage solutions and loads more with Arsenic.

What made you restore/up-cycle furniture?

I've always had a real passion for interiors and older pieces of furniture so I wanted to come up with something that combined the two. It was also fortuitous that it was at a time when we were looking for unique pieces for our two daughters and were struggling to find things that we loved and wanted in our home. With John being so skilled and my obsession with interiors it felt like the perfect fit!

Thank you for all your questions and feel free to ask me anything else that springs to mind! Just drop me an email if you have any questions or queries!