When Micheala Demkew first considered a career in carpet and textile design, it was not part of a lifelong plan. It was more of a happy accident. Trained initially as a natural history illustrator, she loved the artistic side of her work but lacked the confidence to build a career around it. In 1996, when her godmother suggested a role at Axminster Carpets, Micheala was hesitant. It was different from anything she had done before, yet it still offered a chance to continue creating. She joined as a residential designer and quickly found that this new path allowed her to use her creative strengths in ways she had not anticipated.
Describing her design style in three words is not difficult for Micheala: organic, subtle and easy living. She is particularly drawn to botanical influences, with colours and forms inspired by the natural world that feel fresh yet timeless. “All the colours are right in front of you,” she says. “It’s about bringing the outside in.”
Working for a company with such a rich British heritage is something Micheala values deeply. In an industry where much of Britain’s manufacturing history has diminished, Axminster’s legacy remains a powerful and much-loved point of difference. “People love our heritage,” she says, and that legacy influences her work not just in style, but in pride and purpose.
One of the biggest shifts in Micheala’s career came when she began working on commercial projects. “It’s very different,” she explains of designing for bespoke commercial spaces such as hotels. Where residential designs may repeat across standard rolls, commercial work requires designs that are tailored to specific spaces, with special sizes and layouts. There is also a technical side, working between metric plans and imperial specifications on large-scale architectural drawings, which was a steep learning curve but one she embraced.
Seeing her designs installed never grows old. “The fact you have created something and they love it, that is a very proud feeling,” she says. The transformation from concept to finished carpet underfoot brings a deep sense of satisfaction, especially knowing that what she has designed will become part of people’s everyday lives. “Something you have created bringing other people happiness is a beautiful thing,” she reflects.
For anyone hoping to follow a similar path, Micheala has simple advice. If you have a passion for the artistic side of design, chase it wholeheartedly. Creative careers can be incredibly rewarding. “Something coming out of your head and being made never gets old,” she says. She also stresses that design is not a solitary process. The skilled teams on the factory floor play a vital role in turning vision into reality.
With a career that began almost by chance and grew into decades of creative expertise, Micheala’s journey at Axminster Carpets illustrates how artistic talent, curiosity and collaboration can combine to beautiful effect, woven into every design she creates.