It's all go for Indigo

WHEN friends and family kept asking Debbie Westgarth and Sam Mackenzie for advice on redecorating their homes, they began to think they could do it for a living. The two sisters have always been passionate about interior design; in fact it runs in their family. Another sister has an interiors shop in Northallerton and the fourth is a designer in Antigua. Sam and Debbie had been talking about going into business together, on and off, for about five years but never quite got round to doing anything about it.

"For a long time, our friends and family have asked us for ideas. They said we should do it professionally but at first we didn't know whether we could make it work. We have done courses in paint effects and upholstery but we don't have any formal training so it was a big step," explains Sam.

Sam used to be a PA but after having her children, now aged three and five, she gave up work, while Debbie is a former PR manager for Blacks, the outdoor equipment company. Both were looking for a new challenge.

"I loved my job. It was high flying, really exciting, but I was getting to the big 3-0 and I thought it was time for a change. I think it gets to a point where you want to do something for yourself, start doing what you really want to," says Debbie.

Sam and Debbie opened their business, House Indigo, at the beginning of April and one of their first projects was transforming Debbie's cottage in North Yorkshire. Over the last few months, they've completely refurbished it.

"That was good practice for us. We had to act as project managers and it got us used to working with builders and joiners - all the unglamorous bits people tend not to think about. It has been really good experience and we've proved to ourselves that we can do it," says Debbie.

House Indigo is based in Grange Road, Darlington. The showroom has soft, lavender walls and is filled with light-coloured furniture, cushions, photo frames and lamps. Dark purple glass chandeliers hang from the ceiling, giving a taste of what the sisters have to offer.

They source accessories from all over Europe - authentic French tableware, sparkling crystal, elegant lighting, sumptuous cushions and throws. They don't have a shop, although they are hoping to open one once the business is more established. If you don't have time to furnish your own home, they offer a personal shopping service, finding all those extra bits and pieces to complete your room.

The main part of their business is a complete interior design service, whether you want to revamp just one room or your entire house.

Sam says: "It's so easy to transform your house if you've got lots of time and lots of money but our clients don't always have that. What we do is about creating the look without breaking the bank. People think interior designers are really expensive. We really wanted to target people like us who are working and have children and are really busy but don't have the money to spend thousands on their home."

Television programmes like Changing Rooms have sparked interest in interior design, although the sisters think they may also have given people the wrong impression.

"Clients are sometimes scared. They think you're going to come into their house and rip everything out but it's not like that at all. We want it to be a really positive experience for the client. Having the girls round to help with the house should be fun.

"We spend a lot of time finding out what people want, what their lifestyles are like. We need to know about practical things like whether they have children or dogs," explains Sam.

"And it doesn't have to be a complete change. It's amazing what a difference it can make to a room just changing the accessories. We also encourage people to make use of what they've got. One way to transform something is to paint it, which can give it a whole new lease of life."

After visiting the clients' home and discussing the sort of look they want, the sisters create a mood board, which includes colour ideas and fabric swatches. If the client is unsure, Sam and Debbie may offer them several mood boards to choose from, and they always give them plenty of time before making their final decision.

Debbie says: "Changing the way your room looks is a big decision and one you're going to have to live with for a while. It has to be right and it has to be what the client wants. We can come up with all the ideas in the world but if they don't like it, there's no point in doing anything."

The sisters are still finding their feet with House Indigo, and, as with all new businesses, the hours are long.

"It is hard work but you get a real sense of achievement. We want people to get their houses looking the best they can. It becomes an obsession and sometimes, we can't switch off," Debbie explains.

"And I think the fact we're sisters helps. We get on very well but we can be honest with each other. If we don't like something, we're not afraid to say so but most of the time, we find we have very similar tastes. We go round buying shows separately and come back having liked exactly the same things. It's really quite spooky."

They've also found a lot of inspiration from their father, Darlington-based entrepreneur and former chairman of Indescon, Derek Waiter.

"He's always been hard on us. If he doesn't think something will work, he'll tell us. He's been a driving force really because we need someone who doesn't gloss over things. But he's also a real forward thinker and he's gutsy. We hope we're inherited that from him and that it shows in what we do."