From Scottish Textiles to Sydney Interiors: A Designer’s Story

I grew up in rural Perthshire, surrounded by rolling hills, long winters, and a creative spirit inherited from my grandparents. Those endless dark afternoons in Scotland encouraged imagination, which led me to pursue a degree in clothing design and manufacture at the Scottish College of Textiles. I was determined, even as a teenager, to build a career in fashion, and my education gave me incredible skills—everything from bespoke tailoring to painting my own fabric when I couldn’t find what I needed.

Life, of course, had other plans. I met my partner during my studies, and my dream of running off to Paris was replaced by a different kind of ambition—starting something of my own. After a stint working in fashion production, counting buttons in a broom cupboard for a Marks & Spencer supplier, I realized I craved more creativity. That was the beginning of Primrose Hill Interiors.

What started as handmade cushions and throws sold in galleries grew into a full-scale business. Over 15 years, I expanded across the UK through platforms like Not on the High Street and featured in magazines thanks to events like the Country Living Fair. One of my first stockists, a boutique interior design studio, unexpectedly asked me to run their business. I did—managing projects, clients, and curtains. That experience anchored my love for interiors.

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Red lacquer and brushstrokes:

Japan left a vivid imprint on me as a child. We moved there in 1955 when I was young—my father stationed near Hiroshima with the Australian troops. It wasn’t until much later, when a journalist asked me to reflect, that I realized how much those early years had influenced me. I looked around and saw the red lacquer, red nail polish, red keys—it had all been there for decades. Japan had quietly shaped my aesthetic without me knowing.

Growing up in Geelong, I had dreams of studying interior design, but I was turned away because I hadn’t done maths. They offered me a secretarial course instead. I took it, hated it, but to this day I can type very fast. I worked in a gallery, then someone said, “Bobby, why don’t you open a shop?” That’s how Bobby May began in 1967. I was twenty, selling Swedish glassware and Copco cookware. People predicted I’d close within months. Instead, I ran with it until it was time to move to Melbourne in 1971.

There, I found a role with Trade Action, part of Handicraft Asia. I didn’t have Myer training, but I had my own business experience, and that counted. A few months in, I was off to Russia. I had always been fascinated by Russian history. When I arrived in Moscow and opened the window to see the Kremlin and Red Square, I was awestruck. That trip was transformative, not frightening, just deeply absorbing. We took trains, shared rooms, wandered Leningrad. It made returning to Melbourne feel like coming back with new eyes.

I was lucky to work under Bob Webb, who encouraged ideas. One day, I pitched opening a special store. He said, “Where?” I said, “High Street, Armadale.” That became Myriad. We added cafés, fashion jewellery, and even plants to our stores in the ‘70s—long before it became standard retail practice.

John came into the picture in 1972. We had a few dates, I went to Greece, and he followed me. We ended up staying in Europe for over eight years. When we returned, I joined David Jones while John took on renovation and decorating work. Together, we launched Herman and Herman in 1990 in Richmond. It started as a wholesaler to the design industry. When customers began knocking on the windows, we let them in. Retail found us.

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How I Found My True Calling in Australia

I was born and raised in Brazil, where my love for communication led me to study journalism and later pursue an MBA in marketing. My early career saw me writing for newspapers, reporting on radio, and appearing on TV, primarily covering political news in Brazil’s capital. I later transitioned into corporate strategy roles, blending my media and marketing skills in a dynamic business environment.

Nearly two decades ago, I made the life-altering decision to move to Australia to learn English, driven by dreams of working in international journalism. I was drawn by the country’s familiar warmth, lifestyle, and, unexpectedly, by love. It wasn’t easy at first. Arriving with limited English, I faced the frustrations of feeling trapped by language barriers despite having so much to offer professionally. To truly integrate, I distanced myself from the Brazilian community, determined to immerse myself fully in Australian culture.

Over time, my path took an unexpected turn. I pursued a qualification in interior design, fusing my creative instincts, marketing knowledge, and business acumen into a new career. Today, I run a successful interior design business while balancing the roles of wife, mother to two boys, and active community member.

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