2016 Highlights

We have also had some amazing experiences ourselves. Here are some of the reasons why we’re brimming with excitement and even more grateful to do what we love:

• We styled a unique bush land property which will be featured on a new Channel 7 series in the new year
• Filmed three TV segments appearing on Hong Kong’s TVB network on Home Styling and Interior Design
• Awarded as a finalist in the local Whitehorse Business Excellence Awards, with our first entry
• Saw new trends including Tribal and Organic Matter at the Décor + Design fair
• Pleased to support Reverse Art Truck – a resourceful not-for-profit organisation that recycles all sorts of wonderful bits and pieces for schools and groups to use for creative projects
• Heartened to donate furniture to Crossway’s Baptist Church, who help people regardless of ethnicity, religious and socio-economic backgrounds
• Elated to meet Kai Kristiansen, Danish Master designer of the iconic #42 Dining Chair, designed in 1960
• Inspired to hear from colour aficionado and super stylist Julia Green
• Delighted to meet the amazingly talented local artists Antoinette Ferwerda and Christine Minter
• Thrilled that our team and talent has grown to include our amazing Katerina who helps promote the fabulous work the team does and occasionally dabbles on site, plus James who now looks after all admin and non-creative functions.

It’s such an exciting time to be working in our field. We have thoroughly enjoyed incorporating many new designs, colours, textures and products into our work and creating our showpieces.

Looking to 2017

As we look to 2017, are excited to share with you some new developments currently in the pipeline which will add a new dimension to our services. One of our projects involves developing new talent.  Another is heightening the sensory experience for homes. Stay tuned to hear more about this in the New Year!

Also a big thank you to the Estate Agents who work closely with us. We’re happy to be a part of your extended team helping achieve amazing results for our mutual customers.

Lastly, we also wanted to take this opportunity to thank all our wonderful clients who have entrusted us with styling their homes. We are thrilled that we have helped so many people achieve amazing results with their sale.

Most of all, on behalf of all of us, Merry Christmas everyone, and wishing you a fantastic 2017!

The Designs to Inspire team

The post It’s a Wrap – 2016 Highlights! appeared first on Designs to Inspire.

Home Stagers, Stylists, Interior Designers and the like flock to this annual event that showcases the latest in interior furnishings and products from leading brands nationwide.

Highlights of the show

The show’s exhibitors outdid themselves this year – from huge contemporary art pieces to lush botanical displays – I was feeling completely heady and spoilt for choice.

It was evident that the top trends of 2016/ 2017 forecasted by Victoria Redshaw of leading UK trend forecasting agency Scarlet Opus were featured throughout the show.

As Victoria terms ‘Organic Matter’, wild natural elements are incorporated into the designs.

Indoor plants/foliage and lush green botanical influences on soft furnishing create a nature-inspired space.

Another key trend that stood out was the Tribe. This trend is urbanised by bold images of women and tribes. I would personally not have considered this trend in my designs. However, a few small touches in this style can add warmth and interest to a room. It can also work well with the enduring Scandinavian trend.

Seduction of the Senses

Emerald green and sapphire blue were standout colours of the show and were splashed across the displays in inspiring fashion. I am quite excited about incorporating these rich colours in my designs, and I envisage them in stunning velvets either on the occasional chairs or soft furnishings.

Soft furnishings like cushions and throws are not as embellished nor as bright and bold. Instead, they are neutral and have intricate designs that make these pieces versatile and complimentary of their surroundings. As a nod to the 1970s, macramé wall hangings and fringing on cushions also featured in the designs lending an organic feel to the rooms.

On the other end of the spectrum, the artworks were spectacular – contemporary pieces made of interesting materials like glass, 3D foil, and huge portraits, tribal photographic art and abstract landscapes adorned the rooms. Interesting to note that equestrian artwork still features prominently as it did last year. A unique sculptural piece was actually at the Australian International Furniture Fair (AIFF) held in conjunction with the D+D show. The OFYR, a contemporary outdoor piece, makes a grand statement in a garden as both a sculptural feature and functional barbeque.

Go Forth & Decorate

As a home stager and interior designer, I have seen my fair share of homes that take a key trend and get too carried away. For me, it’s not so much the trend that you should completely replicate, but it is taking the bits and pieces that complement your lifestyle and expresses your personality.

A simple and affordable way to update a room is to replace cushions or soft furnishings with pieces in the current colour trend. A small investment in a decorative piece, wall art or an occasional chair, ottoman or rug can give your home an ‘a la mode’ look without having to break the bank completely. Perchance you have a bigger budget and are able to purchase larger items like sofas, I would recommend investing in versatile pieces in neutral tones versus items that are on trend. This will allow you to evolve continuously with the trends against a neutral backdrop.

I hope you have enjoyed this review of the Décor + Design show and key trends as much as I have enjoyed writing about it.

Until next time,

x Georgia K.

The post Latest Design Trends – An Insider’s View from Décor + Design 2016 (Melbourne) appeared first on Designs to Inspire.

Being an interior designer and a property stylist has always been my dream. It’s actually in my DNA. As far as I can remember playing house has always been a passion. From as young as 9, being with friends often involved rearranging their bedrooms and creating neat and orderly spaces.

To this day, I strive to have my home free of clutter, while arrangements of fresh greenery from my garden surround my living room uplifting my spirit daily. Beds are made with layers upon layers of cushions that quite possibly drive my husband and daughters mad, but let’s not digress!

My Saturday morning ritual of lattes, home design magazines, and the newspapers’ property sections set me up for a weekend full of inspiration and ideas on local and international trends and colours. This is when I find the time to sketch and plan for the week ahead.

My team and I often venture to home interior shopping precincts around Melbourne absorbing new ideas, styles, and products to use on our next home styling project. When I am on the road, my eyes always drift to the houses along the way. It’s a habit I’ve always had, admiring stunning homes and gazing upon those with the need of attention – wishing I had the opportunity to help reveal their full potential.

If there is one thing I have learnt as an interior designer and property stylist, it is to have an appreciation for all styles of homes and interiors. Blending new and old and working with what you already have with a touch of imagination can create beautiful spaces in your home without having to break the bank.

Oprah once said she always had fresh flowers in her home even before she became the most influential woman in the world. It uplifted her spirits and brought her a sense of joy when all else seemed bleak. It is my personal belief that everyone deserves to have a beautiful home, a sanctuary, no matter your budget. In the words of celebrity stylist Martyn Lawrence Bullard: “Live, Love and Decorate”.

Over the next few months, I will bring you highlights from the Design and Décor Show in Melbourne and share with you a series of tutorials and design tips that will hopefully inspire you to create rooms you will love. I hope you will join me as I share this exciting home staging and interior design journey with you.

X Georgia K

The post I Am Georgia K. appeared first on Designs to Inspire.

Have you ever wondered just how much return on investment home staging has when you place your property on the market? The NAR (National Association of Realtors) released results to their survey on home staging, and there were some significant findings. Statistics show:

• Professionally styled homes spend an average of 50% less time on the market compared to non-staged homes
• Styled homes sell on average for between 10% and 20% more than self-presented homes
• 81% of buyers find it easier to visualise the property as their future home when it is staged.

I was recently asked by one of my regular and well-respected agents to view and quote a 5-bedroom property in Kew, Victoria.  This property had been for sale for almost 2 months with another agent with no offers coming close to the reserve price.

Meeting with the lovely vendor, I empathised with her situation – the presentation wasn’t bad, but I felt it lacked style and required some edge. I studied the floor plan; working out the best solution for furniture placement – as admittedly the orientation of living zones was tricky. Finding the balance between functionality and sophisticated style was a challenging experience, and I knew the pressure was on to transform this home to reap the maximum desired return for the vendor.

My first aim was to visually expand the living zones by creating a sense of depth and space. Secondly, it was imperative the style of furniture and colour of furnishings appeal to the right target market, in this case, young professional families. As this was a fairly new home with modern features, I designed an aesthetically pleasing interior that offered a mix of classic yet contemporary sophistication that young families could aspire.

The new sales campaign together with Designs to Inspire was off to a great start gaining lots of interest in the first weeks, so much so that 2 weeks before auction day there was an offer for $50,000 above the reserve price and the property was sold.

This gave me a satisfaction beyond belief and was far more rewarding than any monetary amount.  This is the driving force behind every project and illustrates the power of home staging.

Until next time, G x

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