Behind Ionaida - Rebecca Fawcett

I’m Rebecca, a soft furnishings interior specialist helping customers with their curtains, blinds, upholstery and fabric projects across Bristol and North Somerset.

After finishing my degree in Housing and Development at the University of the West of England in the early nineties, I joined the Clifton branch of Maples Furniture Store as their Interior Design Consultant. When the chain was desolved, I became the manager for a well known curtain company based in Debenhams in Bristol and then also in Gloucester for two years. Following this I became the department manager for the soft furnishing section of Bentalls when the company occupied the old John Lewis site in Bristol City Centre.

When Bentalls vacated Bristol, I joined Monkwell Fabrics as their Area Sales Manager and covered the South West of England. Although I had great experience by now in the furnishing industry, it was by visiting other designers, upholsterers, curtain makers and furniture manufacturers that I gained a huge amount of knowledge by speaking to others with the same enthusiasm for fabric and design. I was able to gain valuable experience from very gifted people in the industry and by working for such a wonderful company as Monkwell, was able to travel to exhibitions abroad and meet interior designers from countries from all over the world. Whilst working I bought my first sewing machine and taught myself how to make curtains and soft furnishings, picking up tips from the many makers I visited on my travels. I also attended curtain making courses and learnt different ways of creating fantastic and unusual looking windows.

As my knowledge grew so did my passion for fabrics, colour and design and all that goes with it. Now let me share this with you to help you uncover your perfect room, whether its simply some new curtains or a completely fresh look. I would love to hear from you.