LYNNE SHILTON
Coalville,UK
Summary
Accomplished interior designer and showroom manager with extensive experience in bathroom and kitchen design, visual merchandising, and project management. Proven track record of directing design projects from concept to completion, utilising Virtual Worlds and Fusion 2020 software to create bespoke solutions that exceed client expectations. Adept at managing multiple projects simultaneously, mentoring junior designers, and conducting market research to align designs with current trends. Skilled in various 3D modelling software. Strong analytical skills and attention to detail ensure high-quality construction documentation and seamless transitions from design to build. Career goal: To continue driving innovative design solutions that enhance client satisfaction and business growth.
Overview
30
30
years of professional experience
Work history
Head Bathroom Designer/Showroom Manager
Plug Designer Bathrooms
Leicester
2021.05 - 2026.07
- Directed design projects from concept to completion, managing all creative phases with Virtual Worlds software.
- Simultaneously managed multiple design projects, prioritizing tasks to meet strict deadlines.
- Crafted visual imagery exceeding client expectations while adhering to specifications.
- Collaborated with clients to establish project limitations for optimal outcomes.
- Presented drafts to clients and management for constructive feedback and revisions.
- Produced high-quality construction drawings to facilitate transitions from design to build.
- Mentored junior designers, promoting team growth and professional development.
- Managed all areas of the showroom, deliveries, daily upkeep, customer enquiries, etc.
- Negotiating with company representatives for showroom displays and ongoing bathroom products.
Interior Designer/Visual Merchandiser & Buying Assistant
Cooke's Furniture
Birmingham, UK
2018.04 - 2020.08
- Managed in-store interior design service, creating bespoke designs for discerning Cooke's Furniture clientele.
- Conducted personal home visits to tailor services according to individual customer specifications.
- Produced detailed floor plans, furniture selections, and lighting advice supported by mood boards and quotations.
- Designed exclusive furniture in collaboration with external suppliers for a unique customer experience.
- Redesigned overall store layout to enhance visual appeal and increase sales through effective accessory coordination.
- Styled social media content and coordinated special projects such as 'Drivers Lounge' for Chateau Impney events.
- Refocused customer engagement hotspots through research to create on-trend lifestyle displays.
- Transitioned from Bathroom Design Consultant to Interior Design Consultant with responsibilities as Visual Merchandiser and Assistant Buyer.
- Made redundant during covid
Showroom Manager/Kitchen & Bathroom Designer
Buildbase
Derby, UK
2017.04 - 2018.05
- Daily management of the kitchen & bathroom show room within Buildbase, managing diary, inventory and stock replenishment
- Meeting company representatives, showcasing new concepts & design, keeping up to date with current trends and implementing changes to showroom displays
- Organising appointments in-store & in the home, home visits taking detailed measurements & briefs to produce 3D images & scale plans
- Designing bespoke kitchens & bathrooms for the trade & retail customers using Fusion 20/20
- Detailed presentations with quotations advising on colour style and layout
- Ordering products for accepted designs and scheduling of deliveries to customers
Interior Designer
soak.com
Nuneaton, UK
2015.10 - 2017.02
- Created the design led lifestyle images/interior room set concepts/scamps using Adobe Illustrator, InDesign & Photoshop for production into CGI format for website content, Interior design of 3 successful TV ads, designed brochure room sets, new online 'Lookbook'/ Tile Mountain leaflet room interior design schemes increasing web traffic by 50% Recognised for responsibility & proactive decisions.
- Improved the overall look of all product images through effective space planning, layout, sourcing & research of additional products in line with current trends, influences on the market & translating these into new designs increasing revenue
- Detailed design specifications inclusive of flooring, tiles, paint colours, lighting, furniture & accessories, Strategic development of ideas & client accounts.
- Interpret & translate briefs to ensure product images display their best attributes to maximise sales opportunities and engage the customer to 'shop the look'.
- Interior design of all onsite offices, meeting rooms, inclusive of costings, floor plans, decorating, fit-out, buying & styling.
- Trend forecasting within bathroom design, trends wall for company internal brochure content.
- Implemented new areas of lifestyle & social media to the company promoting specific products through Pinterest & Houzz, significantly increasing click through and up-sell through this trend driven arena, adding content etc. Significantly increasing brand awareness
- Customer research/analytics, competitor shopping etc.
Senior Interior Designer
Signature Luxury Interiors
Belbroughton, UK
2013.11 - 2015.10
- Show home interior design from design brief to origination of ideas through to implementation
- Creative design & production of detailed design boards for presentation to clients
- Specification of all furniture, flooring, paint/wallpaper, lighting, soft furnishings, accessories, pictures & mirrors
- Sourced & researched all products, negotiated supplier discounts, obtained quotations, space planning, floor plans to scale
- Detailed design drawings & costing of bespoke furniture, upholstery & soft furnishings
- Worked with & oversaw ongoing projects with on-site builders, contractors & sub-contractors, on-site styling of showhomes
- Consistently met targets, working within budgetary constraints & to tight deadlines with good project management skills
Field Visual Merchandiser
Lassingtons/Touchstone Retail/Pixiedust Merchandising
Midlands, UK
2009.01 - 2013.11
- Freelance Field Jewellery Merchandiser & Visual Merchandiser - Jan 2009 to Nov 2013
- All part-time roles undertaken over 3 years, supported all stores in a visual merchandising capacity in fashion, jewellery & home ware
- Window display/design covering Lacoste, Levi's, Clarks, Next, Adidas, Tog24, Superdry, Gap, Marks & Spencer
- Presentation & visual merchandising of all regional jewellery stands, counters, displays in all area host stores - Tesco, Superdrug, New Look on a weekly basis, detailed reports, stocktaking etc.
- New Season product implementation/POS placement, promotions & sale/clearance events
Freelance Interior Designer
Devana Designs, Leicestershire & Intu Interiors
Kidderminster, UK
2008.04 - 2013.11
- Designing, budgeting, project management, space planning all interior schemes to client guidelines/briefs
- Creation of presentation boards, quotations, visuals & floor layouts
- Presentation of designs to clients in their own homes, sourcing, buying & styling, Advised on current lifestyle & trends in Interior Design
- Negotiating supplier discounts, specification of all products, advising on all additional interior products; lighting, flooring, tiles, accessories & furniture etc.
Visual Merchandise & Design Manager
Allied Carpets Group
Orpington, UK
1996.05 - 2008.08
- Project managed all store interior refurbishments & the development of new store concepts, after only 1 year I was promoted to Design Manager from Display Coordinator
- Ensured the strategic planning & design of all visual merchandising throughout the business, buying, sourcing, negotiating all additional display props, soft furnishings, lighting & accessories
- Designed & project managed all Allied Carpets show homes at the Ideal Home Exhibitions at Earls Court London & the SECC Glasgow in conjunction with external partners exceeding predicted footfall & sales
- Developed & styled all interior & exterior concepts working with architects, builders & sub-contractors
- Recruited & led 10 regional visual associates across the UK, training initiatives, standards & guidelines
- Training & development workshops to promote consistency & visual excellence across the brand
Education
Diploma of Higher Education - Three Dimensional Design
Bournville Art College
Birmingham, BirminghamSkills
- Bathroom and kitchen design
- Virtual Worlds
- Fusion 2020
- Adobe Photoshop/InDesign/Illustrator
- Three-dimensional design
- Window display and styling
- Visual merchandising
- Interior Design
- Project Management
- Microsoft Office, Excel, Outlook
- Sales
- Product placement
- Written communication
- Training
- Client databases
- Trend forecasting
- Client relationship management
- Space planning
- 3D modelling
- Construction documentation
- Bespoke design
- Market research
- Time management
- Creative problem solving
- Presentation skills
- Multi-tasking abilities
- 2D and 3D design
- Motivated self-learner
- 3D AutoCAD
- Site surveying
Additional information
Full driving licence
Websites, Portfolios and Profiles
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynne-shilton-13846566/
Timeline
Head Bathroom Designer/Showroom Manager
Plug Designer Bathrooms
2021.05 - 2026.07
Interior Designer/Visual Merchandiser & Buying Assistant
Cooke's Furniture
2018.04 - 2020.08
Showroom Manager/Kitchen & Bathroom Designer
Buildbase
2017.04 - 2018.05
Interior Designer
soak.com
2015.10 - 2017.02
Senior Interior Designer
Signature Luxury Interiors
2013.11 - 2015.10
Field Visual Merchandiser
Lassingtons/Touchstone Retail/Pixiedust Merchandising
2009.01 - 2013.11
Freelance Interior Designer
Devana Designs, Leicestershire & Intu Interiors
2008.04 - 2013.11
Visual Merchandise & Design Manager
Allied Carpets Group
1996.05 - 2008.08
Diploma of Higher Education - Three Dimensional Design
Bournville Art College