Kelsie Birmingham charged with receiving stolen furniture worth $250,000

Police investigating a break and enter allegedly found stolen furniture and homewares worth almost $250,000 in a glamorous property stylist’s “warehouse full of magic” in Sydney’s south. Four people have been charged over the alleged theft.

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A glamorous property stylist who says she is “all about the cute life” is facing some deeply unfashionable charges after she allegedly used $250,000 of stolen furniture and homewares to launch a new company.

Police allegedly found tables, lounges, coffee tables, rugs and picture frames worth $246,431.74 at Kelsie Jane Birmingham’s Caringbah factory on April 2 just days after being allegedly stolen in a break and enter at Lounge Lovers’ Revesby factory.

Birmingham, 28, has pleaded not guilty to dealing with property proceeds of crime worth more than $100,000 and participating in a criminal group.

Caringbah property stylist Kelsie Jane Birmingham. Picture: Facebook

However, police will allege she knew the furniture was stolen when she received it at her self-described “warehouse full of magic”, where she was establishing her new business, Salt Property Styling.

Her co-accused Caringbah man Daniel Willoughby, 31, Engadine man Luke Gowan, 31, and Wattle Grove woman Leica Bartrim, 50, have been charged with aggravated break and enter in company and participating in a criminal group after they allegedly broke into the Revesby factory on March 28, stole the furniture and delivered it to Birmingham’s Caringbah premises.

Bartrim has also been charged with stealing property as a clerk or servant in relation to the alleged incident.

Birmingham has also been charged with resisting police.

Birmingham, Willoughby and Gowan have also been charged with resisting police after a scuffle allegedly broke out on April 2 when police arrived at Birmingham’s factory.

Police executed a crime scene warrant at 9.30am and found the large amount of allegedly stolen furniture inside Birmingham’s factory.

Birmingham had established her own business.

Birmingham’s business styles properties on the market.

Earlier in 2019 Birmingham had established Salt Property Styling, a business that styles properties on the market for sale and promotional purposes.

The experienced property stylist of six years described herself on her website as “insanely passionate, a little wild and altogether weird”.

“In real estate, the visual appeal of a property is its number one selling point,” Birmingham wrote.

“We don’t just throw some cushions down and hope for the best — styling a property is a mix between art and science.”

Birmingham said she was “all about the cute life”.

Birmingham also said a well-styled home would cut through the online competition.

“We truly believe it’s about emotion and connection,” Birmingham wrote.

“The goal is to help them experience all the potential your home has to offer as well as visualise and create that emotional connection to the life they have always wanted right here in your home.”

Birmingham will return to court on August 8.

Birmingham’s website states styling services start at $2000 per home.

“Salt is not a one size fits all company and we pride ourselves on being adaptable and ever-changing,” Birmingham wrote.

“We endeavour to keep your home right on the cusp of what is contemporary, on-trend Australian design.”

All four members of the alleged syndicate are on bail.

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