20 best home stylists in South East Queensland revealed
A collection of the southeast’s most talented home stylists have revealed their tips to making interiors sing — ready for sale or for you to love.
Ipswich
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Adding a modern tweak here and there to your home could have you adding hundreds of thousands of dollars to your final sale price.
Having a home stylist to beautify your house ensures your property is looking its absolute best when it goes on the market.
Stylist Maryna King said bringing someone in to style your home is one of the most practical and efficient ways to boost the sale of your property.
“There is a stigma around interior styling and design and that it is an unaffordable luxury to most, but that couldn’t be further from the truth,” Ms King said.
“Making a mistake with your interior design can cost you a lot of money and then I am not even talking about home decor items like furniture, rugs, and art.
“Most people get overwhelmed by just choosing a rug and purchasing the wrong item can cost a lot of money and time.”
Ms King said designing a home interior for sale requires much more skill and research than people believe.
“I have seen so many times where people renovate a house for sale but because they don’t understand the design principals they use the wrong styles and designs and will cost them dearly,” she said.
“I have once seen a house which was predominantly renovated as a modern style home, but the cornices were large and decorative and just didn’t work in this style home.
“This happens when people look at an item as an individual piece and not how it will work together with the overall design.”
Ms King said bringing a stylist in to design the look of your home will get you the best possible outcome.
“Styling is outsourced because it brings specialised knowledge and experience in creating functional and aesthetically pleasing spaces,” she said.
“It saves clients time and effort as they don’t have to do the research and planning themselves and as a stylist we have access to a wide range of resources like materials, fabrics, furniture, art and more.
“Stylist gives fresh perspectives to a space and offer creative solutions, this especially is crucial for people arriving from overseas and need help to furnish their new home.”
Below we have curated insights from some of the best of the best, featuring stylists from all over southeast Queensland who have offered their best tips to perfecting your home.
GARY HAMER
Gary Harmer Interior Design
What makes a successful stylist?
While aesthetics and functionality are important and part of the process, it’s ultimately about creating the feel of a space which makes a client happy and comfortable in their space.
Good communication and transparency between client and designer is also important.
Why is styling required or sourced out?
Interestingly, a lot of my clients come to me when they’ve started the process but lose their confidence because they’ve made mistakes and aren’t happy with how things are turning out.
Others simply don’t feel they have the skills or the time to do it themselves.
What is your favourite project to date?
The projects that are memorable aren’t necessarily the ones with the biggest homes or budgets.
They’re the ones where it’s a positive and fun experience with the clients, and where clients will tell you that you’ve made a real difference to their lives through the spaces we’ve created together.
What is the most luxurious project you have worked on to date?
I worked on a large home of concrete and glass at Palm Beach on the Gold Coast — concrete floors, walls and ceilings — even benchtops.
It was designed to sit like a bunker in the sand and you could walk directly from the house onto the grass and then onto the beach.
We started by creating a vision for the look and feel and purchasing the major pieces to sit comfortably with the architecture.
It was an organic process — put some pieces in place, take another look at the space and move forward from there.
What exciting new project are you working on currently?
I’m furnishing a large apartment on the river that is still being built.
Selecting all of the furniture and soft furnishing before completion and without being able to see the finished product is an interesting but enjoyable challenge.
I love that we have a blank canvas to create everything from scratch, which isn’t usually the case with most projects.
What is your personal style when it comes to interior design?
I’m into simplicity to reflect people who want a simple life.
That means a fairly minimal but warm palette where the spaces and furniture are understated, comfortable and not showy.
I also prefer to create styles that have longevity but that are edgy and unique, and that reflect my clients’ lifestyles.
We rely sometimes on too many borrowed looks that don’t really reflect our culture, history, climate or lifestyle. Using the unique colours of our nature and landscape for inspiration create a real connection between the indoors and outdoors.
What are the best tips and tricks to styling your home?
Don’t start looking for pieces that you like and hoping that everything ends up working together.
Create a vision first — a look and feel.
You then have a framework within which to make your furniture and soft furnishing selections.
Not every piece has to be a feature, rather everything has to work together with only selective focal points and features so that your eye has somewhere to rest and the space feels calm and happy.
CARLY DIBBLE
Meraki Home Design
What makes a successful stylist?
Being able to understand what the client wants and needs.
Using their personal story to inspire you to create a home that reflects them and their style.
Having confidence with colour, texture, balance, light and the ability to take risks and have fun with every project.
Why is styling needed?
It is sourced out because people don’t have the confidence or the know-how and how to create a home that looks and feels like them.
I think styling and decorating is for everyone — no matter how big or small your budget is — you can always create a home that tells someone's story.
What is your favourite project to date?
My favourite project to date was a mid-century/modern townhouse that had beautiful architectural and design features.
My client was very adventurous with colour, unique furniture design and wasn’t afraid to take risks.
I completely nailed the brief, the client was over the moon and the project one first prize in the HIA awards.
What is the most luxurious project you have worked on to date?
I had a lovely couple wanted a ‘display look’ home, with a luxury, contemporary feel, that was still practical to live in.
Entertainers, they had a very large family and needed a beautiful, functional space for babysitting their grandchildren, hosting gatherings and guests.
I believe the project was lavish not only because of the high budget I had but also the colours and finishes that were introduced into the look.
It was a very modern style with burgundy, pinks, golds being the main colours with materials such as marble, velvet and leather elevating the look.
The whole project took around nine months to complete from the initial design stage, to researching, ordering and installing.
What exciting new project are you working on currently?
I am currently working with a client who loves colour and isn’t afraid of wallpaper.
The style is hard to describe because it is a true reflection of my client’s personality — bright, fun, adventurous — however there is a little mid-century modern style worked into the entire look.
I loved the challenge, the creativity and fun of this project and the confidence my client has in me to bring her home together.
What is your personal style when it comes to interior design?
My style is definitely a mix of modern and mid-century.
I love colour, unique furniture be shape, texture or design, I also love nature and bringing that indoors be foliage, natural materials like wood, marble, metals, linen etc — nature is my best inspiration for design.
What are the best tips and tricks to styling your home?
Start a Pinterest board which will help you develop your style vision for your home.
When you are ready to purchase furniture, don’t just head out the shops — plan.
Figure out what you want to achieve on your trip, where you want to go and try and stay focused on this.
It can be so easy to be distracted or become overwhelmed if you don’t have a plan.
Perhaps start with one space, list all the items you want to see in the space and achieve this on your shopping trip.
Understand the importance of window treatments and how they can transform a space/room.
HEIDI FENTON-SMITH
Look Home Staging
What makes a successful stylist?
A successful stylist is creative, good at thinking outside the square, has great spatial awareness, trade connections, and is great with people.
Why is styling required?
The skills we develop over many years of seeing the styling of a property come together are not something that comes naturally to most people.
Styling your home for living is something that will benefit you on a daily basis for many years to come.
It makes sense to get that spot on with the help of a professional so that you don‘t waste time and money going it alone.
The result is a better presented home for sale (which is proven to increase sales prices) or a house styled in a way that will take your breath away every single day.
What is your favourite project to date?
Every home is different, and that is one thing I truly love about my job.
It's hard to choose favourites, but I did love styling the Lusso high end apartment complex in St Lucia.
Being an apartment complex, there are lift access requirements that need to be considered which meant it had some challenges, but the owners were very trusting and allowed us to source a look and feel that suited the property.
It was high end, glamorous and aimed at empty nesters.
We made the spaces sophisticated yet comfortable with a lot of glamorous touches thrown in.
What is the most luxurious project you have worked on to date?
We worked on a large Tarragindi home recently that needed modern styling.
It was fun to use oversized artwork in the living spaces, black accents in the styling, large furniture pieces and some gorgeous outdoor furniture to really highlight the outdoor lifestyle that we are fortunate to enjoy here in Brisbane.
There were plenty of wow moments, which is always fun to bring together.
What exciting new project are you working on currently?
We are currently working on a large family home in Annerley.
We are incorporating some of the owner’s things into the styling for a modern eclectic feel.
The building itself is very large and plain, so we are working on fabulous art selections, window treatments and wall treatments to ensure that there is visual interest and a hero in every room.
What is your personal style when it comes to interior design?
Personally I love mid-century modern style.
It reminds me of my youth and I adore the beautiful colours mixed with neutrals.
It’s definitely not everyone’s cup of tea, but it is a style that makes me happy.
What are the best tips and tricks to styling your home?
Proportions of furniture and art and rugs are the biggest things that could be improved in most peoples’ homes.
A quick tip with art would be if you have a large blank wall, either choose one large piece, a pair of artwork that equate to a large piece of art, or a gallery style wall with lots of smaller pieces put together to form one large installation.
We would also recommend using a professional art hanger — they aren’t that expensive and will ensure that your art isn’t hung too high (a common error), that it isn’t going to swing out of alignment, will safely stay on the wall, and when creating a balanced-looking gallery wall, they can really come into their own — a very wise investment.
HELEN JONES
Stage the Dream
What makes a successful stylist?
A successful stylist can adapt and meet the needs of homeowners’ budgets and time frames.
They know how to create an emotional attachment so that buyers connect with a home.
My mission as an occupied home stylist is to make money for home sellers by helping them to understand how to present the spaces within their home, by the positioning of their own furniture and how to uniquely tick all the boxes for getting an incredible look for online marketing.
I act as a secret weapon for real estate agents and home sellers to know where to spend their time, money, and energy before photos.
Why is styling required?
In most cases, styling may have been suggested as a marketing strategy by the home sellers’ real estate agent.
As education and knowledge about the advantages of property styling grows, home sellers are realising that there is a difference between how we style to live in our homes and how we present our homes for sale.
Hiring a professional property stylist as part of a marketing strategy is an exclusive assistance which empowers the home seller and increases their chances of standing out in a competitive market.
What is your favourite project to date?
My favourite project to date was working with a delightful young couple and their son in Mango Hill.
When I returned on photo day, it was amazing to see how house proud they were with the overall property presentation.
It’s wonderful to hear the stories of their fun experience working together to achieve their goal.
What is the most luxurious project you have worked on to date?
I’ve worked on a few million-dollar lavish projects and an architect-designed home in Cashmere was a career high.
It was a word-of-mouth referral from a previous million-dollar dream client and this property was no exception.
It was a tricky layout with an expansive upstairs open living, dining, and kitchen area.
The home seller and agent were very excited with the final presentation and the home sellers were extremely pleased with the sale price they achieved.
What exciting new project are you working on currently?
I am currently working on a variety of projects but one I have a large role in is in Newport, Scarborough.
I am shopping for the home sellers to tie in their current furniture and match the market demographics.
This step will put the home sellers in a position to receive top dollar for their home.
What is your personal style when it comes to interior design?
I really like the warmth of Victorian Ash timber, lots of plants, warm whites, dusty pinks, blue-blacks, and mustard.
A mixture of Industrial, Scandi and Australiana are my interior design preferences.
What are the best tips and tricks to styling your home?
My best tip for styling your home is take your time.
Work out whether you have a warm or cool preference.
Tie in everything by choosing one main colour and two or three other colours, taking into consideration, flooring, and window coverings.
NICOLA MURRAY
She Creates.co
What makes a successful stylist?
A successful stylist’s most prized possession is their natural eye for design, they tend to possess and eye and mind that sees an opportunity within a space and can conceptualise a plethora of possibilities.
Why is styling required?
Styling is one of the best ways to increase the perceived value of a property and to really maximise a space’s potential. Interior design and styling enhances both the look and feel of a space and also the lived in experience which in turn creates a more fulfilling life.
What is your favourite project to date?
One that stands out for me recently is the latest project we completed on a holiday home on Tangalooma Island.
It was a whole new experience designing and co-ordinating a house transformation on an island and was a very rewarding experience when we saw the look on our client's face on reveal day.
What is the most luxurious project you have worked on to date?
I would also say the Tangalooma Island home, we really honed in on every single detail from the finishes even down to the toilet paper we used.
No stone was left unturned as we wanted to create the most luxurious lived in feel so that our client could experience pure luxury every single day within the home.
What exciting new project are you working on currently?
We have a few exciting projects at the moment — a beautiful hair salon in Sydney which is about to be built, a waterfront home which we will see out for the next 1-2 years, building from scratch which provides ample opportunity to get it right from the beginning.
We will be working closely with an architect to create the most show stopping building design.
The house will be designed and shaped around an infinity pool and the building will have built in design solutions that will really create the dream life for our clients.
We are talking underground wine cellar, man cave, sauna, a lift and in the most unique and beautiful style that will feel as though you are in a resort.
What is your personal style when it comes to interior design?
One thing has always stuck true for me is the timeless character of a space.
I love when a space tells a story and can incorporate original architectural features that ooze character.
I have always been drawn to living in lighter, fresh spaces that awaken the senses with the use of natural light, natural materials and fresh whites with a contrast of textures that add personality and depth to a space.
Scandinavian and biophilic design has a place in my heart, the appreciation for the finer things and incorporating the earth’s natural resources into a space I believe can benefit us in more ways than just being nice on the eyes.
What are the best tips and tricks to styling your home?
To style your own home which you will be living in, I believe the most powerful asset you can possess is the knowledge of what your true inner style is and how you can incorporate this into your environment.
I always recommend getting very clear on the style direction before getting technical and this makes choosing colours, textures, materials, furnishings etc. a breeze when you are clear on what you are looking for.
MARYNA KING
My Interior Stylist
What makes a successful stylist?
A good understanding of design and aesthetics, the ability to understand their clients’ needs and preferences, knowledge of current design trends and the ability to incorporate them into projects.
They also need a good eye for detail and an ability to create a cohesive and harmonious look, good project management and organisational skills, flexibility and understanding of each client’s specific needs and circumstances.
Why is styling required?
Styling is outsourced because it brings specialised knowledge and experience in creating functional and aesthetically pleasing spaces.
It saves clients time and effort as they don’t have to do the research and planning themselves and as a stylist we have access to a wide range of resources like materials, fabrics, furniture, art and more.
What is your favourite project to date?
One of my favourite projects was a large property in Brisbane.
My client has lived in many countries and had gathered beautiful and expensive pieces from all of these countries.
My scope of work was to style her whole house with these pieces to create a cohesive look throughout the house.
I live for design challenges like these where I must really strategise for it all to work together.
I get bored quickly and challenges like these are what I enjoy.
What is the most luxurious project you have worked on to date?
My favourite project was a bar lounge that I had to style in an up-market hotel in Singapore.
Not only was it about the aesthetics and the brand guidelines of the hotel, but it was also about a specific cocktail that this bar was known for.
The colour palette included a rich burnt orange, mixed with a moody ambience, and dimmed lighting.
These are not principals that I generally have to take into consideration when working on a project and the planning was much more in depth which was very exciting from a creative point of view.
What exciting new project are you working on currently?
I am currently working on my own home which we bought a year ago on the Sunshine Coast, Buderim.
My objective is to convert it into a photo shoot location.
It is a three-storey house with lots of windows, natural light and a beautiful view of Buderim and some of the ocean.
We don’t have a swimming pool currently and that in its own is another exciting project which will be a key focus of the property.
What is your personal style when it comes to interior design?
I love a mix of Boho and Mediterranean which means it is all about white, white, more white and some natural stone colours and raw timbers.
Textures are an important part of how I style as it creates warmth and interest.
What are the best tips and tricks to styling your home?
Start small, start with one room at a time or you will get overwhelmed and not complete the project.
Create a mood board and colour palette and stick with it.
Don’t look at items as an individual piece but rather how it will all work together.
For a tranquil and relaxed atmosphere use complimentary or monochrome colours rather than contrasting colours like black and white. Use lighting to create a warm ambience.
Mix high-end and budget friendly items if budget is challenging, everything doesn’t have to cost a fortune.
Remember to take into consideration scale and display personal items for a lived-in feel.
TAMARA BAKER
Sage Home Styling
What makes a successful stylist?
It’s important to have the confidence to back yourself, know your value and what sets you apart from the competition.
Why is styling required?
Styling is an important tool to help sellers and real estate agents achieve the best possible result for the sale of their property.
It’s not just about trying to sell a property, it’s a feeling or a lifestyle that buyers look for when searching for ‘the one’.
What is your favourite project to date?
I definitely couldn’t pick just one, each project is so individual and I love them all for different reasons.
My favourite part, of course, is seeing the end result and hearing the clients feedback.
I also enjoy the selections process and creating mood boards to bring the ideas in my head to life.
It’s always really inspiring and gets me excited for install day.
What is the most luxurious project you have worked on to date?
One of the more recent ones that comes to mind is Champagne House in Newport.
There was no expense spared in this new build and the sellers really had a vision of how they wanted it to be presented.
We got to work with some of their existing industrial luxe furnishings and it was a lot of fun bringing the vision to life.
I’m now working with the new owner who has purchased a lot of the items used for the styling and we are just personalising the spaces a little more to their own taste and lifestyle so that’s an exciting opportunity.
What exciting new project are you working on currently?
I am currently finalising selections for an install at the end of the week in Varsity Lakes as well as a couple of Style to Stay projects that are still in the early stages of sourcing and mood boarding.
What is your personal style when it comes to interior design?
I think I would describe my style as mostly rustic/vintage with a contemporary finish.
My palette is definitely very neutral (white and natural with a mix of timbers) but I do like to play around with seasonal colours in cushions and vases etc. and add subtle touches of black in frames and metals etc. to give that more contemporary feel.
What are the best tips and tricks to styling your home?
Pinterest is a great way to narrow down your style.
Once you start pinning, you will usually start to see a theme or a particular style you are drawn to.
It always seems a little less overwhelming once you have an idea what direction you are heading in.
When sourcing furniture and decor, mood boarding can be really beneficial for envisioning how a space will come together.
Finally, always check your measurements, nothing can ruin a vision like the wrong size furnishings in the wrong size room.
PHOEBE AND JAKE SHORTER
Foxy Home Staging
What makes a successful stylist?
There are a number of elements to a successful stylist, predominantly these include great communication, superior customer service and a thorough understanding of the real estate market.
But the most successful styling companies are those that focus less on making a property pretty and concentrate more on making a property marketable.
Why is styling required?
Styling helps a home be more marketable and when selling a property, a sale is obviously the required endpoint.
We can help the property become more marketable in a number of ways; by helping buyers recognise the functionality, warmth and spatial potential in a home, making a home feel in better condition and more modern.
We can help to make sense of a confusing floor plan by incorporating certain furniture that makes a property feel lighter and brighter and styling with certain furniture to make the property appeal to the lifestyle of a certain buyer demographic.
What is your favourite project to date?
In our experience, the properties that benefit the most from styling might really surprise you.
It is those properties with smaller sized living spaces that benefit most including units, townhouses and villas, as well as homes with small living areas.
Homes within this price bracket don‘t come with the expectation of being styled, unlike the more lavish homes, so styling has a bigger impact.
What is the most luxurious project you have worked on to date?
We have been asked to style some amazing homes including the Japanese Consult in Fig Tree Pocket, Old Monastery in Auchenflower and a Mediterranean Castle in Sovereign Island.
Each of these properties required a particular, custom approach but our focus is on styling properties that sit under the $2.5 million price bracket.
What exciting new project are you working on currently?
Most weeks we style approximately 35 homes.
These properties range from units to acreage, in the Brisbane CBD down to the Gold Coast Hinterland.
Some have the owners living in them, others are empty investment properties.
We style renovated properties, loved family homes, new builds and older style properties.
Our stylists love to incorporate their favourite styles into these properties.
Whether it be coastal, Hamptons, contemporary, Scandi, Australian native or a modern traditional style, we love to present a property in its best light.
What is your personal style when it comes to interior design?
I love a minimalist, Scandinavian style with sage greens, oak timbers and black accents.
What are the best tips and tricks to styling your home?
If you need to position your entertainment unit in front of a window, the rest of your furniture is too big.
ALICE HAGEN AND DEBBIE CHILD
The Styled House
What makes a successful stylist?
We believe communication is critical in any environment and particularly for property styling.
We ensure we listen carefully and have clear communication lines with all involved to achieve the best possible outcome.
No property or objective is the same and as such a stylist needs to be able to tailor the process to individual needs achieving the desired outcomes and delivering beyond expectation.
Each property we style targets the likes and needs to the best suit and attract buyers, which in turn will optimise the turnaround time and maximise the sale price of the property.
Why is styling required?
Property styling helps to maximise the clients‘ sale profit by dramatically enhancing the home’s space.
Being visually appealing and standing out when viewed online, will encourage more people through the door and helps potential buyers imagine living in the property.
We have data showing an increase in buyer inquiries to reduced days on market compared to suburb averages on those that we have styled, indicating a more positive result for the seller in a shorter period of time.
What is your favourite project to date?
Our two favourite properties are located at Coorparoo and Alderley.
The Coorparoo home is a newly completed luxury, architecturally designed home, embodying all of what prestigious family living has to offer, we knew this home required certain statement pieces to highlight the architectural interiors.
The home drew elements of black, white, oak and brass.
The property sold 33 days after the marketing campaign commenced.
Our Alderley home is a modern coastal Queenslander, a newly built home, spread over multiple split levels, with expansive oversized living areas flowing from the front of the home, right through the dining and kitchen areas.
This incredible home featured soft cool whites and greys tones alongside blackbutt hardwood flooring, wool carpet in the bedrooms and travertine tiles through the bathrooms.
The interior styling colour theme we paired with this home was muted tones of white, greys and navy along with oak pieces sourced from Globewest among other high quality brands.
What is the most luxurious project you have worked on to date?
The most Lavish property to date is 79 Montpelier St, Grange.
It is a simply irreplaceable estate set on 2,239 sqm including a tennis court, it is a stunning home inside and out.
To style the property we chose high end furniture featuring Globewest throughout the home.
As it is a five-bedroom resort style residence we chose to go with a modern contemporary style highlighting the multiple living spaces and classic Queenslander design.
What exciting new project are you working on currently?
We are really enjoying styling a brand new Mosaic four-bedroom apartment at Burleigh Heads at the moment.
Generally our scope of works focus on pre sales styling, however this project is for a client to enjoy for years to come.
What is your personal style when it comes to interior design?
We currently have two different personal styles.
Alice’s personal interior style lends itself to a modern contemporary look – featuring black, white, green and timber tones throughout the house.
Debbie’s style leans towards a Modern Coastal look with cool soft whites and oak timber tones throughout the house.
What are the best tips and tricks to styling your home?
Leonardo da Vinci said “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”
Our best styling tip would be to create a mood board on Canva or even Word for each space and an overall home mood board, choose the colours and textures you would like to include, once you have accomplished this, remove everything from a space to start with a blank canvas, clean and then start putting a rug and larger pieces in.
Then carefully add the smaller items, reflecting back on your mood board.
When choosing larger pieces such as a new lounge suite for instance, try and keep these neutral.
LISA GILL
Staging up
What makes a successful stylist?
A successful stylist is someone who is passionate about creating beautiful spaces, has an understanding of enhancing the property’s attributes, and engages the eye with styles that appeal to the broadest market.
Unfortunately not everyone has this creative flair, and can therefore benefit from a professional stylist/stager.
Why is styling required?
Staging Up creates a contemporary aesthetic to appeal to buyers, and highlights each individual property.
We compliment the home’s individual features and colours, to engage an emotional response with those who enter the property.
This enhances the buyers attraction to the home, encouraging them to make a high offer in order to secure the property.
What is your favourite project to date?
We have staged properties for sale in Ascot, Ashgrove, South Bank among others, but prefer to stage locally in the Ipswich district.
What exciting new project are you working on currently?
We are currently staging a four-bedroom 1950s property in Newtown, a five-bedroom renovated property in Churchill, and a lovely old Queenslander in North Ipswich.
I feel that every era of architecture has qualities which offer something special.
From the front porch to the back door, buyers are transformed into a stylish, contemporary home where they can envisage their family living.
What is your personal style when it comes to interior design?
We are loving the current trend of sage green and appreciate how wonderful this looks in most properties.
Our other go-to staple is white for the larger furniture pieces with blue contrasts, either in the stunning Hamptons look, or a calming coastal vibe.
We work with the house, the owner and the agent to create a beautiful feel for each individual property.
DAVID MANCIAMELI
Brisbane Makeover CO
What makes a successful stylist?
To be successful as a stylist you need to understand that your professional work has nothing to do with your personal taste and everything to do with the buyer of the home you are working on.
We must dress and prepare the home so that the marketing images will encourage potential buyers to visit the home.
Understanding who will buy the home and how the photos will be taken requires experience.
We also need to encourage the flow and functionality of the space we are working with. .
Why is styling required?
Simply put, it is our job to transform a home from ‘living condition’ to ‘showing condition’.
The way we live is very different to the way we sell a home.
A good property stylist can do three things, they can provide the what-to-do, they can supply the how-to-do and thirdly they can get the desired results.
What is your favourite project to date?
My personal favourite would have to be the successful sale of a $12 million riverfront home that we had styled to sell in Indooroopilly, Brisbane.
We had five working days to prepare for it (one of which was a public holiday) but with the correct use of styling and marketing the agent was able to sell it in about 10 days.
The gratification we get from jobs like these with great results is why we love this industry.
What is the most luxurious project you have worked on to date?
In December we styled one of our biggest projects to date which was a 4050 sqm luxury resort style property in Maudsland.
It featured six bedrooms, six bathrooms, a cinema, a wraparound pool and much more – from spatial planning to concept development to hand selecting sophisticated furnishings and decor to align with the aesthetics of this prestige property – it took an all-hands-on deck approach and a span of three days to bring our vision to reality.
What exciting new project are you working on currently?
We are currently working on styling a stunning contemporary property in Bardon, Brisbane.
This home was conceptualised by the Brisbane architectural force, Ryall and Smyth Architects, it features lots of curved corners and 9.3m ceilings.
We are enjoying the process of incorporating numerous pieces of custom hand painted artwork, selecting exclusive designer furniture and exquisite accessories with a contemporary flair to echo the architecture of the home.
What is your personal style when it comes to interior design?
My personal interior style is continuously evolving but currently I would say it is a harmonious blend of eclectic and contemporary — bright colours with funky accents and a cluster of design styles to add flair to any space.
What are the best tips and tricks to styling your home?
Selling your home can be daunting, but by making the master bedroom a priority, you can help show potential buyers the true potential of your space.
Depersonalise and step into their shoes to create an inviting, welcoming bedroom that will appeal to buyers.
ALEXA NICE
Alexa Nice Design
What makes a successful stylist?
An inherent need to be a creative with flair in all facets of life, a high attention to detail and the ability to create something impeccable and tasteful – no matter what the design style or brief is.
Why is styling required?
A stylist is able to encapsulate and transfer a persona into a space or design which is crucial in any interior, particularly in these days of constantly evolving and nuanced influences. It can be extremely overwhelming to try and DIY, not to mention costly and stressful.
What is your favourite project to date?
I would definitely say our recent project in North Bondi is in our top five favourite projects.
This particular project is a favourite because the client entrusted us to completely redesign and curate 6 incredible art deco apartments, breathing a fresh new energy into the building.
The artwork features ’70s and ’80s prints from the iconic Slim Aaron’s and Patrick Russell which speaks to the contemporary, retro chic inspired interior.
What is the most luxurious project you have worked on to date?
A recently completed and very lavish project is our Hamptons Luxe Residence at Southport, QLD.
We were engaged to do the full interior design and styling, so it really enabled us to seamlessly create the ultimate dream home for our client.
We wanted to elevate the traditional Hampton‘s aesthetic and did so successfully through custom joinery design, elegant textures, wainscoting and marble- lots of marble.
The custom-made marble inlay flooring adds another dimension to the intricately detailed and boldly coloured joinery in the kitchen, while the bespoke coffered ceiling offsets the crystal chandelier.
What exciting new project are you working on currently?
We are currently working on a beautiful home in Windsor, Brisbane which is a beautiful representation of what we like to call Moditerranean (modern Mediterranean).
It features sinuous curves, and a pop of brass which complements the pared back natural materials and finishes throughout.
What is your personal interior style?
My personal interior style is Curated Contemporary with a pop of Retro Chic Glam.
I love natural stone and materials, textural details, metals, and artisanal pieces.
What are the best tips and tricks to styling your home?
Start with selecting one item from your home or wardrobe that you absolutely love and consider what it is you love about that item.
Is it the colour, perhaps the texture?
Try placing this object into a room and then draw inspiration into the soft furnishings and accessories from that.
Pinterest and Instagram are also great ways to start visually creating mood boards.
KELLY JOHNSON
Hello@insta-styled
What makes a successful stylist?
Knowing what the right pieces that are required for the individual property (the right size, vibe and aesthetic).
Why is styling required?
Furniture is expense, and trends constantly change. It takes a skilled eye to pull it altogether to present a showstopping, “stand out from the crowd” visual feast on the eye.
What is your favourite project to date?
Montrose on Massey at Ascot.
Jaw dropping design and stunning architectural elements in their build that we needed to blend perfectly with bespoke furniture, art and bedding.
What is the most luxurious project you have worked on to date?
Again, Montrose on Massey at Ascot.
Each piece was carefully curated to be congruent with each element and space of the home.
What exciting new project are you working on currently?
I’m working on many different projects at the moment.
The passion is always the same, crafting the design to be a match made in heaven, this maximises our clients profit potential.
What is your personal style when it comes to interior design?
Earthy organic materials, neutral palette with plenty of diverse and different textures.
What are the best tips and tricks to styling your home?
Hire an expert!
Most people’s homes are their biggest asset.
Don’t leave money on the table by thinking you “might get it right”
TRACEY OLIVER
Affordable Interiors
What makes a successful stylist?
The key is not only getting many buyers through the door, but evoking an emotional connection with them while they are in the property.
Our interior styling will not only make your property more attractive to buyers, it can make your property look and feel larger, lighter and more expensive.
That takes skill and experience to achieve successfully.
Why is styling required?
There is a lot more to styling a property than putting nice new furniture in.
Often homeowners, especially if they have been living in a property for a while, can’t approach their property with fresh eyes, as a buyer would.
A good stylist will be educated on spatial planning and interior design principles.
They will understand the psychology of buying and how presentation plays an important role.
What is your favourite project to date?
My very first project 13 years ago will always be my favourite.
It was a gorgeous big house in Seven Hills and it had just been a little neglected.
The owners were very busy.
They moved out and basically left everything to us.
They still had dishes in the dishwasher, clothes in the dryer.
It was worthwhile with this property to have all of the maintenance issues addressed.
This included, a lot of painting, replacing designer light fittings, installation of blinds, garden maintenance, cleaning, roof repairs … and of course furnishing the property.
The agent estimated the price increase to be over $100,000, which was amazing for the market back then.
What is the most luxurious project you have worked on to date?
We work in properties ranging in value from $250,000 to $3.5 million.
The most expensive properties are in the most expensive suburbs, and they are usually very spacious with high quality fixtures and fittings and a good layout.
I find that lavish homes are easier to style in many ways.
What exciting new project are you working on currently?
We are currently working on many projects.
My favourite part of any project is probably seeing the transformation.
Whether it’s styling for sale, styling an Airbnb or styling for the homeowners’ enjoyment, it’s very rewarding.
What is your personal style when it comes to interior design?
I am usually drawn to more contemporary styling for my own home, but that’s also because I live in a modern contemporary home.
I like to use a lot of light neutral colours, pieces with texture, and a pop of colour or a darker tone for the interchangeable pieces (cushions and accessories).
We have travelled a lot so I do like to incorporate a little global design into our home.
I do particularly love styling old Queenslanders, or Queensland cottages.
I just love the details, they provide so much inspiration.
I also love Spanish Mission design, which has seen somewhat of a renaissance lately.
What are the best tips and tricks to styling your home?
I would say de clutter is my best advice.
If you don’t use it, lose it.
Give it away, or pop it online for sale.
Living in a cluttered environment has a negative effect on your mental health.
So get stuck into those cupboards and drawers and make room for the things you need but don’t need to constantly see.
ANNE-MAREE RUSSELL
Cape Cod Residential
What makes a successful stylist?
A successful stylist is one who understands that property styling is so much more than just ‘being creative’.
Successful stylists have a deep understanding of precisely what attracts buyers to a home and exactly what motivates buyers to compete and pay an above-market price.
Successful stylists do not just ‘fill up empty spaces’, and they don’t just sell ‘the dream’.
They inspire, they solve functionality and aesthetic problems, and most importantly, they enhance the agent’s ability to control the outcome of the sales process
Why is styling required?
Less than 10 per cent of the general population have the ability or vision to imagine how beautiful an un-styled space could look.
Not showing potential buyers ‘the life they could be living’ places any sales campaign behind the Eight ball.
In addition, the use of styling makes the process of buying a home so much easier for buyers, and so much easier for agents to find and secure the most emotional buyer.
What is your favourite project to date?
70 Joseph Street, Camp Hill.
This was a project we built, styled and sold in 2020.
Having full control of every design and style element made this home an incredibly intimate and highly rewarding project.
The home was the product of more than a decade of creative ideas and was inspired by the timeless detail imbued in both the Scandinavian and North American interior and exterior design styles.
What is the most luxurious project you have worked on to date?
70 Joseph Street, Camp Hill was an incredibly lavish project as the magnitude, internal detail and style of the home itself required the same consistency from the interior decorating used to sell the home.
Use of designer cushions, furniture, rugs and accessories were used to complement the navy and duck egg blue colour scheme that was chosen to tie in with the soft grey walls and crisp white wainscoting/wall panelling.
Layers of various blues were highlighted in areas such as the Great Room, with a navy velvet sofa anchoring the space complemented with soft blue armchairs, a unique large, multi-rug, layered configuration (a series of blues) – something not seen in standard home staging projects-and a number of designer cushions featuring various blues.
What exciting new project are you working on currently?
We are currently in Europe absorbing inspiration and design ideas from the Paris Maison D’Objet trade fair (as well as a range of new, but timeless, Swiss interior Decorating ideas) in preparation for a number of new styling projects/listings at the beginning of this year.
We have a number of large and small family homes such as a traditional Queenslander in New Farm, a contemporary coastal home in Burleigh Heads, apartments in Highgate Hill, Kangaroo Point and Tenerife, and homes in Tarragindi and Shailer Park.
What is your personal style when it comes to interior design?
Cape Cod Residential creates timeless, classic, custom-designed interiors from a lovingly curated and versatile designer furniture and accessories inventory.
We cater for all homes styles and styling themes including contemporary, traditional, coastal, plantation, and Queenslander homes.
We strongly believe that “Every home deserves its wedding day!” where the detail required for every project is carefully considered to complement the aesthetic and vintage of every home.
What are the best tips and tricks to styling your home?
The first tip for styling a home is to understand that the state of the home itself needs to complement the state of the styling applied to the home.
There is no point placing high-end items in a derelict home.
It just doesn’t work. Secondly, declutter everything and then consider your target market.
Property styling needs to appeal to the broadest number of buyers, not the narrowest number of buyers.
Removing all personal effects (buyers want to imagine themselves in your home, they are not interested in how you lived in your home or your limoges porcelain collection, no matter how beautiful it is) is also critical.
EMMA TOBIN
The Urbane Property Stylist
What makes a successful stylist?
A successful stylist is fastidious in their attention to detail.
They will not rest unless the presentation is flawless.
They know how to create neutral appeal, whilst still playing to the homes features, character and adding a ‘wow factor’.
They don’t push the same trending design into every home and they know how to adapt their selections to best present the home to the target market.
Ultimately, a successful stylist has to present a home to sell faster and for the best possible price.
Why is styling required?
Professional styling dramatically improves the appearance of the average home.
Beautifully styled photos ensure a property stands out against other online listings.
This is the first step to getting feet through the door.
Once buyers are inside, styling creates a unique and memorable experience, driving perceived value and buyer interest.
What is your favourite project to date?
A recently styled five-bedroom luxury home in Bardon. Designed by Twohill And James, the build and interior selections were carried out by InForm Building Group.
The property is split over five levels and every room, thoroughfare and corner has been beautifully designed, offering moments and points of interest everywhere you look.
It’s a favourite of ours because of the mixed finishes; Brick, micro concrete, oak and rosewood timber, to mention a few, were a dream to work with.
What is the most luxurious project you have worked on to date?
Over the course of a year we worked with a client to fully furnish her dream new build in Brookwater.
The five-bedroom property has all the luxury finishes; Chevron oak flooring, stacked stone feature wall, soaring ceilings, cinema room and an incredible entertaining space overlooking the Brookwater golf course.
Our client wanted to start from a clean slate, bringing only personal belongings from their old home.
The end product was stunning.
The project budget allowed the inclusion of lavish pieces including a Jardan curved sofa for the cinema in Luna Sugo, a vibrant blush shade. A Huxley dining table, also from Jardan, was paired perfectly with Sketch Puddle chairs from Globewest. Marble, travertine and luxe fabrics, bouclé for example, were used throughout creating an elegant and rich aesthetic.
What exciting new project are you working on currently?
We are currently working on a project for Sherpa Property Group.
We are providing display styling within their Perspective Broadwater development, seven full floor waterside luxury residences.
It’s interesting due to the demographic targeted by this development.
What is your personal style when it comes to interior design?
I have three, Queenslander, Contemporary, Resort-inspired.
Can you be a Queenslander and not love the distinctive, charming character of a Queenslander home? I love the timber floors, detailed fretwork, breezeways and VJ panelling.
What are the best tips and tricks to styling your home?
Invest in your large furniture; sofa, dining setting, entertainment unit. Select high quality, safe design
choices that you know you’ll love for years to come.
More “exciting” design choices can be made with accessories.
In a living room for example, spend your money on a quality sofa, coffee table and artwork that you
love.
Items like rugs, cushions and accessories are items that you can change or swap between
rooms for little to no cost, whilst creating fresh looks.
CRISTINA
Refresh Property Styling
What makes a successful stylist?
A successful stylist is one who has the adaptability to work in a variety of styles and spaces.
They have the ability to customise their style to the property as well as adjust dynamically to the ever changing trends and specific client needs.
In Brisbane we have a vast array of styles to work with from character Queensland homes to post-war homes to modern new build properties, so adaptability is key here.
Why is styling required?
Hiring a property stylist allows you to use their expert knowledge to make your property more attractive to a greater number of buyers as well as stand out in a highly competitive market.
Apart from reducing the amount of time a property spends on the market, leading to a higher sale price, it can also create an emotionally appealing environment that resonates with potential buyers.
It also helps them imagine themselves living in the space.
What is your favourite project to date?
Our favourite project was a recent one where we styled two large new build homes side-by-side.
One had a more modern aesthetic and the other a more classic Hampton’s style.
We loved styling in the two different styles as it demonstrated how to successfully use staging to compliment the style of the property and enhance its features.
What is the most luxurious project you have worked on to date?
We styled a Plantation display home that was massive with four living rooms, two outdoor spaces, study, multiple bathrooms and 5 bedrooms.
Our aim was to select furniture in the right scale for the large spaces and also to show the function of each room effectively so that buyers can visualise how to use each space.
We used high end furniture and accessories in gold tones, lots of texture and careful use of colour.
What exciting new project are you working on currently?
Apart from property styling, we also project manage renovations for our own personal projects and for pre sale clients.
We are currently renovating our own investment property for the rental market.
I love the creative freedom of selecting my own colours and fixtures however with the high demand on trades at the moment it has been a more challenging and slower process than in previous years.
What is your personal style when it comes to interior design?
Being a child of the 70s, I absolutely love the Mid Century Modern/Palm Springs vibe and anything retro from the 60s, 70s and 80s.
I love white rendered homes, bold use of colour and in love with furniture and architecture embracing the use of curves.
I love using furniture such as a curved sofa, oval dining table, round coffee table or oval mirror to create a more inviting and soft space.
What are the best tips and tricks to styling your home?
One tip for styling your home is to start with a colour palette that you love and that complements your furnishings.
This can be applied by anyone, regardless of experience, by simply selecting colours that they are drawn to and that work well together.
From there, adding artwork, texture, layers, and personal items can help to bring the space to life and make it feel more like home.
SAMANTHA LEIGH
Samantha Leigh Interior Design
What makes a successful stylist?
My role is to inject the client's' personality into a home whilst keeping the space cohesive.
A well-styled space should be balanced, appealing and curated without feeling contrived.
Why is styling required?
Successful styling fulfils the potential of a space.
I think of it like jewellery and a handbag completing an outfit, styling can make or break a space.
As a full-service interior design studio, we are responsible for our projects from initial concept through to final styling.
You wouldn’t believe the difference that that last layer of styling makes to a space.
What is your favourite project to date?
Our hospitality project for Stanley at Howard Smith Wharves was a joy to work on.
Amazing clients and a wonderful brief.
Working within a heritage building to create a moody Cantonese restaurant wasn’t without it's challenges, but we were thrilled with the end result.
In terms of private residences, we have a very special project we recently completed and can’t wait to share in the near future.
What is the most luxurious project you have worked on to date?
Without imposing on a client’s privacy, I can say we have travelled internationally to source styling items from antique markets and boutique ateliers for a client.
The unique pieces we were able to procure allowed the styling to tell a story that transports you to another place and time.
What exciting new project are you working on currently?
We like to have a mix of residential and hospitality projects to stay grounded in both arenas.
One of our current hospitality projects is pushing the boundary for both the client and us.
We love it when our clients are brave and not afraid of doing something different.
Trends will come and go; we always aim to create a space that will not just survive but prosper with time.
What is your personal style when it comes to interior design?
I have always had a love for mixing the old and new.
We always make sure that even with more contemporary projects we have a few antique/ vintage items in the mix.
I find myself constantly drawn to natural materials, textural finishes and detailed craftsmanship.
What are the best tips and tricks to styling your home?
Without giving away all my secrets, the key is creating balance within the space.
The worst thing you can do is purchase a bunch of items which are beautiful individually, but clash when combined within the space.
I always suggest bringing material samples along with you when sourcing.
If you are unsure, you could place images of each item onto one page to see how they sit next to each other.
Lastly, consider scale, you need to make sure the dimensions and shapes of items contrast against each other in a satisfying way.
REBECCA OSBOURNE
Osborne & Co.
What makes a successful stylist?
As professional interior stylists in the high-end property market, we elevate homes for sale by showcasing their unique features and benefits through expertly curated interiors.
Our creativity and attention to detail, combined with our technical skills and market knowledge, allows us to present properties in a way that appeals to potential buyers and maximises their perceived value.
We use our expertise in design and space planning to create warm, inviting, and well-presented spaces that highlight the property's potential and evoke a positive emotional response.
Our goal is to provide a seamless and successful sales experience for our clients, by showcasing their property in the best possible light and delivering a profitable outcome.
Why is styling required?
For clients, the process of preparing a property for sale can be challenging, especially if they don‘t have the knowledge or experience of putting things together to achieve a desired result.
They may want to get it right, but may not know how to effectively present their property to potential buyers.
Professional styling can alleviate these pain points by providing the expertise and resources needed to present the property in the best possible light.
What is your favourite project to date?
Our favourite project to date is the Bardon 5 house development, where we were challenged and privileged to style five properties within the same development, each with its own unique design tailored to appeal to a broad range of potential buyers.
The creative process of tailoring a distinct look for each property was exciting, showcasing our versatility and range as a team, resulting in beautiful and well-presented homes that attracted a lot of interest and helped our client achieve a successful and profitable outcome.
What is the most luxurious project you have worked on to date?
Our most luxurious project to date was a mansion in Sanctuary Cove, Australia, which sold for $17.7 million.
We treated this project just like an interior design project, collaborating closely with the client to achieve the best possible and desired look.
The property was styled in a high-end French Provincial style, and our role as a leading property styling company was to elevate its aesthetic and showcase its true potential to prospective buyers.
This involved selecting all of the furniture and decor, specifying the window dressings, and arranging the hire of potted living plants.
The end result was a stunning and well-presented property that resonated with the target market, and our clients even chose to purchase the complete furniture package.
What exciting new project are you working on currently?
We are currently working on a few projects for clients, outfitting their luxury residences with all the necessary
furniture, decor, and home comforts.
These properties serve as investments, some being rented out in the high-end accommodation industry, and others serving as a home for when the client is travelling here for business and work assignments.
Our team loves the design challenge in putting together the perfect design to accommodate our clients‘ needs and ensure their comfort while they are in Australia.
We are dedicated to creating comfortable, elegant, and functional living spaces, and we are enjoying the process of bringing these properties to life.
What is your personal style when it comes to interior design?
In our personal project, such as our recently acquired 1908 old house in Fortitude Valley, we are drawn to a unique blend of traditional and contemporary styles, which we call “Contemporary Cottage”.
Our plan is to bring this historic house back to life with an updated and modern take on the classic cottage aesthetic.
We aim to incorporate authentic materials and create a beautiful blend of the old-world charm with sleek and contemporary finishes, giving it a fresh and updated look while still retaining its original character and charm.
What are the best tips and tricks to styling your home?
Our top tip for styling your home is to start by creating a functional layout for each room.
Consider how you use each space and arrange furniture accordingly. From there, use colour, texture, and accessories to create a cohesive and inviting look.
We also recommend investing in quality pieces that will stand the test of time, rather than constantly replacing cheap or trendy items.
This way, you can create a comfortable and stylish home that will only get better with age.
TINEELE MCKENDRY
Uptown Property Styling
What makes a successful stylist?
First and foremost you need to be a good listener and good communicator.
Secondly, problem solving and negotiating skills are a must-have.
The fun part is putting your creative skills to the test, you need to be innovative and really understand space, balance and colour. Last but certainly not least, you absolutely must love what you do, It is far from chopping cushions, it can be physically and mentally hard work.
Why is styling required?
If you are selling your property, quality furnishings and styling absolutely adds value to the property.
Styling gives life to the property, buyers will pay more for the lifestyle presented.
Interior styling (when living in the property) can be very helpful for those who need assistance with how to live and feel in their space.
They may not know what they are really looking for or the options that are available to them.
It is up to the stylist to fill in the blanks, show them the possibilities and most importantly improve their liveability.
What is your favourite project to date?
People sell their homes for many different reasons, sometimes it is a very difficult time in their life and they are putting a lot of trust in you.
At times there are tears all round when their expectations have been exceeded.
These are special moments I value immensely.
What is the most luxurious project you have worked on to date?
I have worked on many stunning high end homes, it is difficult to select one however, the process is always the same- many hours are spent planning and putting together a concept design.
Once this is set the furniture, accessories, artwork, cushions and linen are selected, then install day.
There is always an component of elegance to my work, I want the end result to be beautiful and sophisticated.
There does need to be an element of perfection to make a property look and feel expensive, this can be in the form of symmetry and balance or a more composed look.
What exciting new project are you working on currently?
I have a property in Kedron coming up, it is an old Queenslander with a more contemporary granny flat attached.
I love styling Queenslanders, they require a delicate combination of old and new styles.
This particular home required careful consideration when selecting the furnishing so that the transition from the main house to the granny flat is slightly different however, seamless.
What is your personal style when it comes to interior design?
This is ever evolving.
I love so many aspects of design and I am drawn to different colours at different times.
Character is a must with some contemporary elements to balance it out.
It needs to be inviting and comfortable, I am from the country so a sprinkle of charm is essential.
What are the best tips and tricks to styling your home?
Styling for sale and styling to stay are two very different things.
If you are styling to sell, I recommend decluttering and minimising the amount of accumulated furniture you may have.
Clean, clean, clean- open windows make sure there is plenty of light & fresh air.
If you are styling for yourself and possibly your family, it needs to function well as well as bringing a sense of calm and happiness.
I suggest buying quality items that you love, even if it is only a few cushions or a striking piece of art.
Save up and buy over time, it is much better than buying a whole heap of cheap, uncomfortable and poor quality items.
Also, fitting your whole house out with the current trend is not wise, one trends change very quickly and two it’s not integral to you.
Your home is your space, fill it with pieces you love and mean something to you.
GEORGIA JOHNSTON
Styling Concepts by G
What makes a successful stylist?
A successful stylist is a good listener who tailors their style to fit the clients need.
Our point of difference is that we work with their existing furniture and we bring in our designer decor for them to keep.
Why is styling required?
Everyone loves their own home and has their own unique style but when selling their biggest investment you need to appeal to the broader market so people can envision themselves living there by enhance all the properties best features.
What is your favourite project to date?
My favourite project was working with a man who was moving down to Melbourne to be with his girlfriend and needed his Bachelor pad to become market ready.
His appreciation and amazement of how his house looked was so gratifying.
He said he wished he had me style his house when he was living there so he could enjoy how beautiful it looked and was going to employ a stylist down in Melbourne right from the word go.
What is the most luxurious project you have worked on to date?
A five bedroom canal home that was the owners pride and joy.
We had a lot of fun shopping together and bringing it altogether, it was a great team effort as our visions were effortless.
What exciting new project are you working on currently?
I am currently consulting on new builds and updating an existing property, bringing a new style to an old home.
I love anything to do with helping people bring their ideas to life.
What is your personal style when it comes to interior design?
My style is more contemporary and my house we built years ago but the design is still very current and that’s what is all about, longevity.
What are the best tips and tricks to styling your home?
When designing or styling think of the long game.
Trends come and go and neutrals are something you can dress up and change with different colours.
Sometimes less is more.
Flexibility and Adaptability is so important.
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