6 Months After Graduation with Alishia Misevski #GradsDoingGreatThings:

From Hairdresser to Interior Decorator

Alishia Misevski | Founder, Redrose Designs

Find out how Design School graduate Alishia Misevski launched Redrose Designs, has multiple residential and commercial projects on the go, works in publications, and is building a reputation for creating beautiful, accessible interiors that genuinely support the people who live in them.

Quick Facts

🎓 Graduated: November 2025 (Group 30)

📍 Location: Mornington Peninsula, VIC

🤎 Speciality: Colour, Accessible Commercial & Residential Design

⚖️ Starsign: Libra

🌈 Current Colour Obsession: Periwinkle Blue

📱 Most-Used Design Tool: Canva

✨ Favourite Designer: David Flack + Kelly Wearstler

🪑 Favourite Brands: Castorina + Tantri Mustika

👶🏼 Mum To: Attilio

💬 Best Advice: Trust the process. It will always get done.

^{Photography by Thomas Salomon - SpaceCraft}

Just over six months ago, Alishia Misevski graduated from the Certificate IV in Interior Decoration at Design School. 

Today, she’s the founder of Redrose Designs, has multiple residential and commercial projects in the works, has been featured on Homeworthy and The Design Files, and is building a reputation for creating beautiful, accessible interiors that genuinely support the people who live in them.

Not bad for someone who started her journey as a hairdresser, a new mum and a creative searching for her next chapter.

“As much as I loved being a mum, I knew I always wanted something for myself.”

Before she was selecting paint colours, fabrics and finishes for homes, Alishia was helping clients feel confident through colour as a hairdresser.

Years later, that same understanding of colour, mood and emotion has become one of the things that sets her apart as an interior decorator.

Like many of our learners, Alishia didn’t come from a design background.

She simply followed a creative curiosity, trusted the process and took a chance on herself.

^{Alishia during her hairdressing career — long before she discovered interior decoration.}

Before Design School

Before enrolling in Design School, Alishia was a stay-at-home mum with a six-month-old baby and a successful career in hairdressing behind her.

“I had my own small one-woman salon. As much as I loved being a mum, I knew I always wanted something for myself. At this point I was completely done with hairdressing, but my creative side was yearning for an outlet.”

Like many of our students, she found herself wondering what was next.

She knew she wanted something creative, but never imagined interior decoration could become a career path.

That all changed during a home renovation. 

Why Interiors?

After renovating her own home, Alishia became fascinated by the way colour, materials and styling could completely transform how a space felt.

^{Photography by Thomas Salomon - SpaceCraft} 

“After completing our first home renovation, I became obsessed with creating concepts and the feeling of evoking a mood with colour and materials.” 

When she discovered a friend, DS Alumni & fellow colour queen, Trisha Ruiz, was studying the Certificate IV in Interior Decoration through Design School while renovating her own home, curiosity quickly turned into action.

Much to her surprise, enrolments were open - so she signed up straight away. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Colour Was Already Her Superpower

One thing we often say at Design School is that no creative experience is ever wasted.

Alishia is a perfect example of this.

^{Photography by Thomas Salomon - SpaceCraft}

While she may not have come from an interiors background, she had already spent years understanding colour, confidence and how people emotionally respond to their environment.

As a hairdresser, colour was part of her everyday life.

She understood undertones. She understood personality. She understood how colour can make someone feel.

Through Design School’s colour and materials modules, Alishia expanded that knowledge into interiors and developed a deeper understanding of colour psychology, mood and atmosphere within a space.

Today, colour remains one of her greatest strengths as a decorator and one of the things that truly sets her apart.

Her ability to understand how colour impacts mood, confidence and emotion allows her to create homes that not only look beautiful, but feel beautiful too.

^{Photography by Thomas Salomon - SpaceCraft}

The Design School Chapter

Like many adult learners, Alishia’s studies didn’t happen in a perfect season of life. She was raising her young son, Attilio, while balancing family life and coursework.

Then, during her studies, she suddenly lost her father, Nick and the grief was overwhelming.

There were times when continuing felt impossible.

But she kept going.

“My trainer and study buddies helped me so much to get back on track after months of absence.”

Throughout her studies, Alishia leaned on the support of her fellow learners, the Design School community and her trainer, Melissa Rettore.

As her trainer Mel often reminded her: Trust the process and timing of your life. 

Not every student journey is linear. Not every assessment is completed perfectly.

But progress is still progress. One module. One assessment. One step at a time.

Mel watched her continue to show up during one of the most difficult periods of her life and it was incredibly inspiring.

"She slowly rebuilt her confidence. Her determination, resilience and willingness to keep moving forward, even when things felt heavy and hard, is something I’ll never forget."

Today, one piece of advice from her studies still stays with her:

“Trust the process. It will always get done.”

The Module That Changed Everything

Every creative has a moment when they begin to see themselves differently. For Alishia, that moment came during (Module 7) Technical Drawings.

Growing up, she watched her father spend hours at a drafting table bringing ideas to life through hand drawing. Learning those same skills herself felt deeply personal. “To be able to draw like that brought me so much joy.”

The experience changed the way she viewed design. But perhaps more importantly, it changed the way she viewed herself.

“My view on hand drawing changed immensely. Technology is great, but nothing will ever come close to human hands.”

Through the process, she found a deeper connection to her father and began to realise she truly belonged in the industry she had admired for so long.

Life Now

Fast forward to today and Alishia is the founder of Redrose Designs, helping clients create beautiful residential and commercial interiors across the Mornington Peninsula and beyond.

What’s perhaps most impressive is how much she’s achieved in such a short time.

Having graduated from Design School in November 2025 with multiple Industry-Recognition Awards, Alishia has already built a growing portfolio of residential and commercial projects, launched her own business and had her home toured by Homeworthy and her work featured on The Design Files. 

For someone only six months out from graduation, it’s been an incredible start to her decorating career.

One of the most rewarding things has been watching how quickly Alishia has embraced opportunities since graduating. Seeing her secure clients, complete projects and build momentum in such a short period of time has been incredibly exciting to watch.

When asked which projects she’s most proud of, one immediately comes to mind.

“My home, with the help of my fiancé and partner in crime. I was given complete reign to design our home into our sanctuary.” 

^{Alishia pictured with her fiancé Lenny at their Redrose Residence}

Another standout project was Rituel Pilates Studio, her first commercial project.

^{Photography by DS Alumni Kryssia Agius - Hunting Utopia}

“My dear friend Sarah Mazza trusted me to design her first Pilates studio. She gave me complete trust and allowed me to bring her vision to life with the Redrose Design touch.”

^{Photography by DS Alumni Kryssia Agius - Hunting Utopia} 

Every project represents a reminder of just how far she’s come.

From a stay-at-home mum wondering whether she could return to study.

To a business owner helping others transform the spaces where they live and work.

Creating Beautiful Spaces That Work For Everyone

What truly sets Alishia apart is the lens through which she approaches design.

Living alongside her fiancé Lenny, a wheelchair user, has given her firsthand insight into how many homes and environments unintentionally exclude the people who use them.

That lived experience has become one of the driving forces behind her work.

For Alishia, accessible design isn’t about compromise. It’s about creating homes that are beautiful, functional and supportive of the people living within them.

^{Photography by Thomas Salomon - SpaceCraft}

“I have a fierce passion for accessible design and changing the perception of what it can look like.”

Too often accessibility is associated with clinical environments.

Alishia’s work challenges that assumption.

Her projects prove that accessible spaces can be layered, warm, inviting and deeply beautiful. It’s a perspective our industry needs more of, and one that continues to shape every project she takes on.

^{Photography by Thomas Salomon - SpaceCraft featuring fiancé, Lenny Redrose}

What Nobody Tells You About Working In Design

Like many creatives, Alishia is honest about the challenges that come with building a business.

Perfectionism. Comparison. Imposter syndrome. They’re all part of the journey.

“HELL YES!” she laughs when asked if she’s ever struggled with confidence.

“Only because I want to please my clients so much. When I look at the people I admire in the industry, I want my work to live up to theirs.”

Over time, however, she’s learnt to trust her own voice and recognise that her unique experiences are exactly what make her work valuable.

Since graduating, the biggest shift has been her confidence.

“I have realised I am much more capable of doing anything I put my mind to.”

Advice For Future Design School Students

If you’re considering studying interiors but wondering whether now is the right time, Alishia’s advice is simple:

“Get out of your head and just go for it. If you’re considering it, there’s your answer.”

We couldn’t agree more. 🤎

Watching Alishia build momentum so quickly after graduating has been incredibly rewarding. She’s proof that there is no single pathway into the design industry and that sometimes the most successful creative careers begin with a simple decision to just start.

 ^{Here's a glimpse of Alishia's project work from her time at Design School.} 

Thinking About Your Own Creative Career?

Alishia’s story is one of many that have started inside a Design School classroom.

Our learners come from all walks of life — hairdressers, teachers, retail managers, business owners, stay-at-home mums and career changers.

What they all have in common is that they chose to begin before they felt completely ready.

If you’ve ever found yourself rearranging furniture, obsessing over colour palettes, saving inspiration images or dreaming about a more creative future, perhaps it’s time to trust the process too.

Are You Ready to Start Your Design School Journey?

Applications are now open

for our next mid-year intake of the MSF40122 Certificate IV in Interior Decoration.

We are currently working towards an early August start, with a 1-hour online orientation session taking place in the week or two beforehand.

Places are limited for this intake, and the level of interest we receive often exceeds the number of places available. 

Download the Course Guide to learn more about the course structure, delivery, fees and enrolment process.

✨ Download the Course Guide Here

Already read the Course Guide and ready to take the next step?

 🤎 Complete your online Enrolment Application Here

 Not quite ready to apply?

Join the Studio waitlist to receive updates about course information, upcoming enrolments, events and masterclass announcements.

🤎 Register here

 From hairdresser to interior decorator, from new mum to business owner.  Alishia’s story is a reminder that creative careers aren’t always planned — sometimes they begin with a simple decision to just trust the process.

Find Alishia

Redrose Designs
📍 Mornington Peninsula, Victoria
🤎 Servicing clients Australia-wide 
📸 Instagram: @redrose__designs
🌐 www.redrosedesigns.com.au