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TELL most teenagers that you are about to renovate a property and the likelihood is that their only concern will be whether the noise will interrupt their lie-ins and access to the fridge or television.
But these thoughts were far from Anna Robertson’s mind when she and her mother took on such a project. Indeed, as the former Jersey College for Girls student explains, that project not only captivated her but also helped to inspire her career choice.
“As I watched the architect work, I was fascinated by what they were doing – and even came up with some ideas that they hadn’t considered and which were incorporated into the project,” recalled the owner and founder of BMD Architects.
“Although I had always loved beautiful spaces and had always paid a lot of attention to my surroundings, I didn’t quite understand until that we undertook that renovation that I could turn that interest into a job.”
But as architecture was not on the school curriculum, it wasn’t until she went to university that Anna was able to pursue her new-found enthusiasm for the discipline.
“Because you can’t study it at school, it’s a subject that you don’t know you will love until you start working in it, but it is definitely a passion career,” she said with a smile. “Design is a lifestyle and you have to love what you’re doing to be able to do it well.”
Also fuelling that love, she adds, is the experience she has gained working on a range of projects around the world.
“I’ve worked in the UK, where the focus was predominantly on schools and medical environments, I’ve been involved in a wide range of commercial and domestic projects in Jersey, including the recently completed The Pantry by Kismet Cabana, and I also spent a year in Australia because I was keen to gain different experiences and see how people do things in other places,” she said.
But while styles may vary, there is one thing, she says, which sits at the heart of every project.
“I love the relationships I forge with my clients,” she said. “Whether you are working on a commercial project or designing someone’s home, the relationship you create with your client is so important. I love getting to know them, understanding their needs and anticipating what they will want. When you design a home, in particular, there is a huge emotional attachment to the work, and it is magical seeing something you’ve drawn becoming real.”
That is a sentiment shared by BMD Interiors owner Mona Schoonbee, whose passion for interiors also started with a love of “beautiful spaces”.
“I’ve always been fascinated with buildings and interiors,” reflected the South-African-born designer, who moved to Jersey with her husband seven and a half years ago.
“I remember that when I was a teenager, my mum gave me a book which listed a range of careers and when I got to architecture, I stopped looking any further.”
Having initially graduated in architecture, Mona then specialised in interior architecture, undertaking her master’s degree in the subject, before launching her own company in South Africa and then spending seven years at Axis Mason after moving to the Island.
And it was while working at Axis Mason that Mona and Anna met.
“We were both working on a residential project, and really enjoyed working together,” said Anna. “Therefore, when we both independently decided that we wanted to set up our own businesses, the opportunity to work together again was very exciting.”
While the two sister companies operate separately from one another, with both women also working with a range of other architects and designers, they are both affiliated to bmd Architects in London, a company which was first established in 1958 and which Anna says has the “same ethos” as BMD Architects and BMD Interiors.
“While we are both independent, it is great to have access to the team and resources offered by the London business,” she said. “We have weekly team meetings, where we talk about the projects we are involved with, and we are able to use the London office’s facilities, including a fabrication lab complete with 3D printers and laser cutters, which we can use to create models for clients.”
Indeed, that focus on collaboration is one which Anna and Mona say underpins both their businesses.
“From the first day that Anna and I worked together, I saw how supportive and collaborative she was,” said Mona. “Whenever I’m running round like a crazy maniac, she will ask what she can do to help.”
“It’s all about collaborating and seeing how we can get the best out of one another, lightening each other’s loads instead of creating more stress,” said Anna. “We are both working mothers, who understand the challenges involved with trying to balance work pressures and family demands.”
And as two women in an industry which is still male-dominated, that supportive approach, adds Anna, is more important than ever.
“While the number of women working in construction is growing, I don’t think the industry as a whole is quite as supportive as it could be, particularly when it comes to women who want to work part-time, so that they can spend time with their children,” she reflected.
“That’s why, when I set up BMD Architects, it was really important to me to create an environment which recognised women’s ability to multitask and appreciated that hybrid working and flexibility were important. Through my practice, I want to celebrate the fact that women can have a career and be a mum and that we can all work together to do a good job for our clients.”
As well as supporting each other, both Anna and Mona are passionate about supporting others within the industry and encouraging students – and young women in particular – to consider a career in construction.
“We are among a number of small businesses including architects, designers and landscapers who have joined forces to create a group which prioritises collaboration to give clients the best possible outcome,” explained Anna.
“Design doesn’t happen in isolation,” agreed Mona. “By collaborating and fostering connections within the artisan industry, we can both promote local craftsmanship and deliver high-quality projects for our clients.”
This, adds Mona, is helping to drive change within an industry which has experienced a number of challenges in the past few years.
“It has been a difficult time for many of those working in construction, but I think those conditions have almost forced change,” she reflected. “From speaking to many suppliers and contractors, and from our own experiences, it feels that there is now a positive movement within the industry, and we are lucky to have several clients coming to us with a wide range of projects.”
It is that positive message which Anna is also keen to share with young people considering their career steps.
“I’ve always enjoyed mentoring and worked as a visiting lecturer at Highlands College for many years, as well as supporting the Design Engineer Construct! programme at JCG,” she said. “It is really lovely to help to inspire, encourage and guide juniors within the industry, as well as showing young women, in particular, about the opportunities available within construction.
“When I went to university just over 20 years ago, I was the only one in my year group to pursue a career in that area, and only 20 of the 100 students on my degree course were women. That split is now changing, and it would be great to see even more females working as architects, engineers or site managers.”
With both Anna and Mona excited about the projects they are working on – with Mona focused on the conversion of a town shop into a restaurant and Anna working on some home renovation schemes – they say that adding further diversity to their portfolio is something to which they are particularly looking forward in 2026.
“I am really excited to take on more clients and work on a wide variety of projects, and also to grow and develop as a person, while further increasing my knowledge and skills,” said Mona.
“I am also looking forward to growing the company,” said Anna. “I don’t want it to be huge, as I really want to maintain the ethos that differentiates us now, but it would be lovely to extend the team in a way which increases the support available both for ourselves and for our clients.”
