#GradsDoingGreatThings: Lydia Richardson from MORSEHUIS STUDIO

Design School - Online - Group 27, 2024
Trainer: Melissa Bailey

Lydia Richardson- Interior Decorator & Midwife | Based in Regional Victoria 

 From delivering babies to delivering beautiful interiors, Lydia Richardson is the powerhouse behind @morsehuis_studio, an interior decoration studio she launched in late 2024, after graduating from Design School Online.

By day (and sometimes night), Lydia still works as a registered midwife. But her creative instincts and passion for design have propelled her into a second career, one built on colour, materials and meaningful spaces. Morsehuis Studio is already making its mark, offering full-service decoration with a particular flair for hard finishes in new builds and renovations. Her work blends contemporary calm with mid-century nods, all underscored by a deep respect for materials, colour and timeless appeal.

Before taking the leap into interiors, Lydia had long harboured a love for design. But it wasn’t until she stumbled across a student story from Design School, someone just like her, following their passion and getting featured on The Design Files, that she realised it was possible. Inspired by that journey, she enrolled in our Certificate IV in Interior Decoration at Design School Online and never looked back.

“I had always imagined opening a retail space one day,” Lydia shares. “But through Design School, I realised my love for full decoration, especially hard material selections and colour schemes. That shifted everything.”

Lydia’s time in the course was shaped by the mentorship and creative community she found within her online Group 27.

“Wednesdays with our trainer Mel were everything. I found so much confidence just by showing up and being encouraged to share my ideas. That communication helped me grow.”

Module 10 was a standout. It became the launchpad for starting her business and clarified her vision for what Morsehuis Studio could be. The dream of a future retail space hasn’t disappeared entirely, but as she says, “It would have to be the perfect space, in a town that truly appreciates good design.”

When asked to describe her interior style, Lydia lands on three words: Contemporary, Mid-Century, Chic. She’s currently obsessed with muddy mauves, tactile textures and vintage finds. A collector of candelabras and candle holders, she always incorporates these moody layers into her styling, alongside elements she knows will last the test of time.

Her go-to tools? Canva, her colour wheel, and of course, materials samples she can touch and move around. “Playing with materials is my favourite pastime,” she laughs. “It pushes me creatively more than anything else.”

Lydia’s life is a true balancing act, from family, midwifery shifts and a growing business.

She’s proof that you don’t have to do things the traditional way to be successful in design. Instead, she builds her days with intention. “I need a clean and organised environment to do my best work,” she explains. “It’s all about ritual and rhythm for me.”

She draws creative inspiration from architecture, nature, Pinterest, window shopping and the Design School community, especially on Instagram, where she stays connected with fellow Group 27 grads and study buddies:  @styled_byplush, @_sienne___, @studio_allround and @made._interiors. 

Lydia’s advice to anyone considering this path?

“Just do it. Make the mistakes - that’s how you learn.

Don’t worry about what anyone else is doing. You do YOU.”

It’s a mindset that’s served her well and continues to shape her journey as a creative professional.