Retired army officer turned interior designer Verity Coleman from How Caple is one of 10 talented designers taking part in a new BBC2 series, Interior Design Masters, which starts on Wednesday, August 14.

The eight-part series throws the 10 designers into the fast-paced world of commercial interior design where they will compete to win a life-changing contract for one of London’s top hotels.

Presented by Fearne Cotton with design expert and former editor of Elle Decoration, Michelle Ogundehin as the series judge, the designers will be set a new commercial interior design challenge each week, ranging from shops to show homes, and restaurants to hair salons.

The winning designer will win a life-changing contract for one of London’s top hotels.

Verity, who describes her style as 'contemporary country' was most recently involved in the refurbishment and design of How Caple Grange Hotel as it metamorphosed into Wilmot House, the new boarding house for students at Hereford Cathedral School.

It was, she says, a job that was not without its challenges: "The school wanted it to look as good as it could and I was given quite a free rein with what would work in the spaces.

"We wanted to make it a home, which called for some thinking outside the box to incorporate all the restrictions of a commercial site and the boarding guidance regulations."

It's a job that may well have stood her in good stead for the programme, where, she reveals, she faced more challenges.

"By far the biggest was being unable to undertake site surveys prior to the design and installation of each project. However, the very tight budgets came a close second!"

Then there are the eliminations: "They were very tense ... no one wanted to go home and no one wanted to see anyone else go home either."

Interior Design Masters on BBC 2 on Wednesday, August 14 at 8pm.