Deirdre McGettrick’s decision to start interiors website ufurnish.com was borne out of one overwhelming emotion: frustration. ‘When I bought my first ever home in 2017, I was excited about decorating and furnishing it, but I soon realised I couldn’t find any of the furniture I wanted,’ she says.

‘I could use Rightmove to find my home without knowing every single estate agent in Woolwich – I just had to search on Rightmove to see all the properties within my budget – and I wondered why there wasn’t a similar tool for interiors.’

Five years ago, ufurnish.com went live. It doesn’t sell furniture directly; instead, it directs consumers through to the furniture retailer’s website, where they can complete their purchases. Think Skyscanner for interiors.

Since then, Deirdre’s vision has remained unchanged.

‘It was all about providing ordinary people with the tools they need to be able to create their ideal home. We wanted to enable them to shop across the market, across various budgets, finding alternative products to achieve their desired look,’ she says.

Deirdre says she and her team continually strive to enhance the site – with a new feature allowing users to upload images and compare prices.

‘Consumers can now upload a photo of something they’ve seen. Using AI and image recognition, ufurnish.com will display similar items available across the market, along with information on where to buy them at the best prices.’

The launch of the ufurnish.com Home Awards last year was part of the effort to provide a comprehensive resource for consumers. Metro is backing this year’s awards as official media partner.

‘There are so many influencers and homeowners sharing their homes and interiors journey on social media,’ says Deirdre. ‘They’re providing their audience with the tools, inspiration
and courage to have a go at decorating their homes.’

Metro couldn’t resist having a peek around Deirdre’s own home, a riverside apartment in Woolwich she shares with her husband Ray and baby daughter.

Determined to create a bright and airy space, Deirdre removed the shelving cabinets and replaced kitchen tiles with a mirrored splashback.

‘This helps reflect natural light and allows me to see what’s going on behind me when I’m in the kitchen. I can look out on to the river with London City Airport in the background while washing the dishes,’ she says.

Living in a small flat, Deirdre has had to be creative when it comes to storage, using Ottoman beds in both bedrooms, fitted wardrobes and a chaise sofa bed in the living area.

‘One of my favourite spots is sitting on the chaise, gazing out through the floor-to-ceiling windows,’ she says.

‘I can watch boats on the Thames, planes landing and taking off from City Airport and, at night, all the lights at Canary Wharf’ she says.

‘My home is my sanctuary, where I can let my guard down, walk around my home in my PJs and just relax.’

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