by azulomo | 4 min read
A Journey, Gently Made
It Started with a Pause: Our Founder's Path
You could say it all began with sheep. — Not literally, of course—but somewhere between the grazing hills of the English countryside and the cobbled streets of a small German town, a girl dreamt of different skies. Of country cottages, of open fields and open minds. A little girl who grew up in Germany, forever peeking beyond the hedge, wondering what else was out there. What more could feel like home. — That girl was our founder.
Curious, imaginative, and quietly rebellious, she longed for adventure and beauty in equal measure. England called to her in the most peculiar, comforting way—its rituals, its rhythm, its weathered elegance (well, maybe not so much the weather, enough said!). The kind of place where stories live in old walls and the wind hums a tune across the hills. So off she went—first spending time and learning in Cambridge, then following the pull to London to study business and marketing. Architecture had flirted with her heart (oh, how it still does), but maths said otherwise. So, ever practical and quietly strategic, she chose a path that kept doors open and dreams within reach.
Like a basket of shells collected from a long, meandering shoreline, each chapter added something small but meaningful—tiny moments of beauty, fragments of courage, pieces of self found in unexpected places. Some were smooth, some weathered by time, but each one carried the memory of a tide, a turning point, or a truth. What she was building wasn’t just a career—it was a life layered with story, soul, and intention.
“I was never chasing more—I was chasing meaning. Not the louder or faster life, but one that felt anchored. Quietly rich. Soulfully full. I wanted to explore a different way of living—one that expanded my horizon.”
From Pixels to Plaster
But dreams have a funny way of taking the scenic route.
What followed were years in the fast lane—marketing and design roles across startups and corporates, cities and countries. A detour via Holland, countless airports, and a few too many “where-do-I-live-again?” moments. Through it all, the golden thread remained: the love of experience. Not just user experience. Human experience. Emotional, thoughtful, immersive design—from digital flows to the way light hits a stone wall at dusk.
Eventually, the time came to stop building other people’s dreams and start building her own. A digital consultancy was born, helping soulful startups find their voice, vision, and vibe. But the real shift? That happened moving from the Cotswolds to the Malvern Hills. She and her husband bought a barn just outside Great Malvern. A real one. With views across rolling fields and skies that never ended. Over time, they transformed it into a sanctuary—poured with light, layered with stories, and grounded in quiet beauty. It wasn’t just a renovation. It was a revelation.
This is where interior design met soul. Where the emotional power of spaces truly landed. Where experience design moved beyond screens and into stone, linen, and oak. Her passion deepened, and her path became clear.
Icons Who Quietly Changed Everything
She trained online under the thoughtful and ever-grounded Natalie Walton, whose approach to interiors—anchored in simplicity, intention, and soul—deeply shaped her own design philosophy. She enrolled in training with Australia’s Three Birds Renovations, whose bright and breezy coastal style had long made her heart do somersaults—and whose practical, joy-filled approach to renovation sparked a fresh wave of creative confidence.
Joanna Gaines was always on in the background—those Fixer Upper episodes became comforting companions (because, let’s be honest—who doesn’t love a good shiplap moment?), and Studio McGee brought feel-good serenity to her everyday scrolls. Well, and if interiors had spirit guides, hers would be Leanne Ford—effortless, soulful, and just the right kind of unruly. And then of course, there’s The Lifestyled Co—a constant source of grounded, earthy inspiration, all with Organic Desert Living in mind.
She absorbed the styles, the feel, and the shifting moods of these iconic designers—and over time, slowly and intuitively, shaped her own signature aesthetic. It wasn’t about copying a look; it was about capturing a feeling. What moved her wasn’t the trends, but the tone beneath them—the way Leanne Ford made a room feel undone in the best possible way, or how Natalie Walton brought stillness into space. Over time, she began to trust her own creative rhythm. One guided more by mood than rules. By natural light, by honest materials, by spaces that breathe. Read about azulomo’s signature style.
And just as everything felt ready to take flight—when the rhythm was steady, the vision clear, and momentum quietly building—life stepped in with its own timing.
When Life Hits Pause, and the Start of Something Slow(er)
A cancer diagnosis. A global pandemic. A sudden, unwelcome stillness.
It was a season no one chooses—but one that clarified everything. What mattered. What could wait. And what could never be postponed again. Out of that time came the unshakeable desire to live with even more intention. Not just to build a business—but to build this business. Not in England—but in Portugal. That, well, that is another story (you can read it here).
Before making the leap, there was one last chapter to close: saying goodbye to the barn. A space so special it was chosen to be featured on the BBC’s Escape to the Country—a quiet nod to the beauty and care poured into every nook and cladded wall. But it was also the clearest sign: it was time for a new horizon.
And so azulomo was born.
Today, she and her husband (also co-founder and errrrrm yes, fixer of many things) pour their hearts into every part of azulomo. From branding to barn doors, digital flows to the flow of a space, playlists to plaster tones. Is it easy? Absolutely not. Is it worth it? More than they can say.
One slow moment at a time.
One soulful detail at a time.
One wave at a time.
“Her path wasn’t linear—but it was deeply felt. From city lights to rolling hills, from fast-paced jobs to a slow-built barn, every step stitched together a story of experience, emotion, and quiet beauty. azulomo is the heart of that journey—designed not just to look good, but to feel like home.”
