From Heart Transplant Nurse to Colour-Obsessed Creative: Meet @trisharuizdesign

How Trisha Ruiz transformed her family home, found her creative voice and built a growing online community along the way.

 “They were building my dream home using my designs and drawings, which is absolutely crazy to me!”

Trisha Ruiz didn’t enrol in Design School because she had a perfectly mapped-out plan to change careers.

She enrolled because she wanted to learn how to bring her vision to life.

At the time, Trisha was working as a heart transplant clinical nurse consultant, parenting a toddler and preparing to take on a full renovation of her family’s 1920s Victorian weatherboard cottage in Melbourne.

She knew exactly how she wanted her home to feel: rich with colour, personality, texture and pieces collected over time. What she didn’t yet know was how to translate that instinct into a clear concept, practical drawings and confident design decisions.

“I had a vision and knew how I wanted the space to feel, but I had no idea how to get there.” 

Today, Trisha is still working in healthcare while transforming her family home and sharing the beautifully unfiltered process through @trisharuizdesign.

Her honest approach to renovating, sourcing, experimenting with colour and creating a deeply personal home has grown into an engaged online community, with more than 13,000 people following along and some of her renovation reels reaching hundreds of thousands of views.

Her story is a reminder that a creative path doesn’t always begin with a career change.

Sometimes, it begins with a renovation, a feeling you can’t ignore and the decision to finally learn how to bring your ideas to life.

Quick Facts

^{Graduating Group: 28, 2024
Trainer: Holly Miskimmin
Instagram: @trisharuizdesign}

^{♐️ Star Sign: Sagittarius
💙 Current Colour Obsession: Chartreuse and navy blue
📱 Most-Used Design Tools: Canva + CapCut
🪑 Favourite Place to Source: Facebook Marketplace, vintage markets and occasionally the side of the road
✨ Currently Coveting: Athena Calderone’s furniture range, Kelly Thompson’s Polly stools and Sarah Nedovic’s ceramic side table}

The Renovation That Planted the Seed

Before Design School, Trisha and her family had recently returned from six months travelling through Europe with their one-year-old son.

They had sold their home, moved in with her in-laws and were preparing to begin demolition on their renovation.

Trisha had always loved beautiful interiors, but she had never really considered that design could become part of her own path.

“I have always had a love for beautiful interiors and was always intrigued. However, it never really occurred to me that this could potentially be a career pathway.”

She initially engaged Design School graduate Alessandra Smith to help with the concept development for her renovation. That first consultation planted a seed.

Several months later, after ongoing renovation delays, Trisha found herself becoming more and more drawn to colour, materials and concept development.

“After months of delay in my renovations, I realised I had this passion I was never able to tap into.”

At the time, life was already full.

Trisha was working four days a week, doing weekend on-call shifts, parenting a two-year-old and project managing an entire home renovation.

Understandably, she wondered whether she had taken on too much. “I was thinking if I had bitten off more than I could chew.”

But she also knew she didn’t want to approach the renovation half-heartedly.

“If I was going to commit, I wanted to go all in. Not just renovate to have a cookie-cutter home, but to create a space I could be proud of.”

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Finding Her People

One of the things that surprised Trisha most about studying interiors was just how enjoyable it was.

“It was fun!”

She found herself surrounded by women from different walks of life who were supportive, funny and committed to helping one another through the experience.

“There was this group of women from all walks of life who were all so supportive and funny. God, our group was the friggen best!”

That sense of connection didn’t disappear at graduation.

Trisha remains connected with her “green group girls,” Romina and Gulsah, along with many of the women from Group 28.

“I really felt like I had a network of people who were in it together, and we still support each other to this day.”

When the Drawings Became Real

A defining moment for Trisha came while learning three-dimensional drawing and SketchUp.

Suddenly, the ideas she had been carrying in her head could be translated into something real.

She used those skills directly within her own renovation, designing her kitchen, bathroom and built-in bench seating.

Then she handed those drawings to the cabinetmakers and stonemasons helping bring her home to life.

“They were building my dream home using my designs and drawings, which is absolutely crazy to me!”

The experience changed the way Trisha saw herself, but also the way she observed interiors more broadly.

“I notice lines, forms, textures, colours and lighting.”

The skills she developed became so ingrained that she now naturally looks at everything with a design eye.

More than anything, Design School helped Trisha build confidence.

“Design School has given me confidence - to not listen to the inner imposter syndrome and to go out and put myself out there.”

A Home Filled With Colour and Personality

Trisha is still slowly completing her renovation and using the skills she developed to create a home that feels deeply personal to her family.

“It’s never ending!”

Her creative work now centres around her own home, the pieces she sources and the way she incorporates colour, personality and collected details into each space.

The result is bold, layered and expressive — a far cry from the white interiors she says she naturally pushes against after years spent working in hospital environments.

“I work in a hospital and always have since completing uni. As you can imagine, it is probably the reason why I repel against white interiors.”

Trisha describes the renovation as the project she is most proud of.

“It’s an evolving labour of love that I am constantly pouring my best creative outlet into.”

A Home Filled With Colour and Personality

Trisha began her Instagram platform as a place to share her design process, renovation progress and creative ideas.

“My creative work is based around my current renovation projects, how I source pieces for my home and incorporate colour and personality into my space.”

Her content reflects the same approach she takes to her home: personal, expressive and beautifully unfiltered.

She shares the progress, the process, the sourcing, the colour decisions and the very real experience of renovating a home slowly over time.

That honesty has resonated.

Today, more than 13,000 people follow along at @trisharuizdesign, with some of her renovation reels reaching hundreds of thousands of views.

Trisha is open about the fact that she doesn’t yet know exactly where the platform will lead.

“I’m not quite sure where it will take me and if a career in design is something I will end up with.”

For her, that uncertainty is part of the enjoyment.

“It’s kinda fun not knowing what the end goal is.”

Learning to Back Herself

Trisha is honest about still experiencing imposter syndrome. “Always! I’m definitely getting better at it and learning to just do me.”

Her experience has also reinforced the importance of kindness, encouragement and backing your own voice in a creative industry that can sometimes feel intimidating.

“Stay kind, always encourage and promote, and stay graceful.”

We couldn't agree more.

🤎

Throughout her studies, her husband was her biggest supporter.

He helped carry the load when Trisha needed time to complete assignments alongside work, parenting and the renovation.

“Without him picking up the slack for when I needed to hide in a room to get assignments completed, I honestly don’t think I would have finished this course.”

In Trisha’s words:

“Hands down the MVP.”

A Creative Path Still Unfolding

Trisha’s story shows that studying interiors doesn’t have to begin with a perfectly defined career plan. 

For her, it began with a renovation, a love of colour and a desire to better understand how to turn creative ideas into something real.

Design School gave her practical skills, a new way of looking at interiors and the confidence to share her work more openly.

It didn’t change who Trisha was.

It gave her the confidence to trust what had been there all along.

Where it leads next is still unfolding.

And maybe that’s the most exciting part.

Her advice to anyone considering taking the leap is simple:

“Head to the Design School website and hit ‘sign up’. Believe me, you will never look back.”

Follow Trisha’s Journey

Follow Trisha’s renovation, colourful interiors and creative process at @trisharuizdesign

Considering Your Own Creative Next Step?

Your creative path doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s.

Whether your dream is designing your own home, starting a creative business or simply exploring your creativity, every journey starts with one decision.

Applications for our August Certificate IV in Interior Decoration intake are now in their final stages. The course combines practical design skills, weekly online classes, trainer guidance and a supportive student community.

Applications close Friday 17 July.

Apply Here 🤎