How to Design Homes: Expert Tips from a Property Stylist
Introduction
The founder of The Property Stylist, Kyara, has worked in real estate and interior design for all of her professional career. Her business partner and Senior Stylist, Hanna, has over a decade of experience in the industry, and has many valuable insights into how property styling and interior design works.
Kyara was inspired to create TPS, working alongside her partner, Hanna, who has an extensive background in creative design. Together, they have spent the last 5 years growing TPS revolutionizing their clients' spaces and crafting them into unique, beautiful settings, all with the objective of achieving the highest property sales price for their clients.
When clients work with TPS, they are bringing the pinnacle of home design expertise, bringing together a symphony of knowledge, creativity, and furniture curation. With their team of experts behind them, Kyara and Hanna recognise how crucial interior design is, and they handle every aspect of the space, including outdoor living areas. These are a crucial extension of your homes indoor living spaces, and outdoor dining, poolside lounging, and balconies should be given as much attention as any interior space. The Property Stylist knows this all too well.
The Property Stylist says:
“Working with Remarkable Outdoor Living has been a fantastic experience. Their furniture pieces have consistently elevated the style and comfort of the properties we work on. They bring a touch of elegance that our clients love. The quality of their products is unmatched, and their team's professionalism and dedication make every project a success.”
From our interview, Kyara shared invaluable advice that we’ll explore further in this article. She offered expert insights into home design that go beyond the basics, revealing professional tips and creative strategies for transforming spaces.
A Design Triumph for The Property Stylist in Dover Heights, Sydney
Our partners at The Property Stylist (TPS) have achieved a new level of recognition with their recent project at 50A Gilbert Street, Dover Heights. Following TPS’s remarkable staging, this luxurious property has been featured by The Sydney Morning Herald and Domain as one of the “six favourite homes for sale in Sydney right now”—a true representation of their talents for designing and transforming luxury spaces.
The Dover Heights residence, described by Highland’s Daniel Baran as “one of the biggest duplexes in Dover Heights,” showcases exquisite detailing and craftsmanship “The detail, the finishes – everything is perfect here. Honestly, it just doesn’t get better”. From the hand-laid, carved stone driveway to the light-catching Taj Mahal stone and American oak floors, every corner of this home is a true representation of the quality of design The Property Stylist offers their clientele.
Beyond its spectacular panoramic views of the Harbour Bridge and Sydney skyline, the home is replete with premium features, including a gym, a plush home cinema, and a sparkling mineral pool set against a stunning natural stone wall. As the article highlights, the property has been designed with both elegance and functionality in mind, making the residence as refined as it is future-proof.
The feature in Domain and The Sydney Morning Herald highlights TPS’s ability to elevate luxury real estate, setting a new standard for real estate staging in Sydney.
The Design Process
Inspiration
The Property Stylist believes in tailoring each property to its clients’ exact needs, making sure they provide the most creative and unique service for each client.
Using this insight into styling your own homes is crucial. You may not have a decade of interior design experience, but you know what you do and don’t like, your colour and textile preferences. If you love the ultra-modern, contemporary look or steer towards a more classic and timeless design. Using your personal preferences to curate your homes internal and external spaces is crucial to creating a home that is truly tailored for you.
Documentation
The design process consists of several stages and begins with a client meeting and a house-walk through with one of the stylists. They will look for personal inspiration, discuss ideas and note down requirements from the client. This is done using a combination of old-fashioned methods like pen and paper, alongside more modern options of idea collection including Pinterest, Instagram, and TikTok.
Using this insight, you can start to gather your initial inspiration from social media platforms like Pinterest, Instagram, and TikTok. Curating your ideas from these platforms can help you create a space that reflects your personal taste while meeting your practical needs. For example, Pinterest may give you inspiration for outdoor storage solutions for your outdoor BBQ area as well as how to style your alfresco dining table for your summer dinner parties.
Development
The Property Stylists clients will be part of every step of the process, invited to contribute and make suggestions that suit their needs. Once collaborative decisions have been made, TPS will work on sourcing the furniture pieces and implementing the designs into the homes. Each design is focused on creating individuality, so that every home feels unique, and perfectly suited to the available space.
TPS has a whole team of stylists, warehouse teams, designers and administrators dedicated to bringing client visions to life, seamlessly. These stylists are imaginative, passionate, and most importantly, highly skilled in their areas of expertise. Their focus will lie in finding designs that complement the architecture of the home, helping clients achieve the best possible price when they come to sell.
This insight highlights several key tips that you can apply to your own home design.
- Involve everyone who will be living in the space in the design process to ensure that the final design meets everyone’s needs and practical requirements while feeling personal and unique.
- Take the time to carefully select furniture pieces that reflect your style and fit well within your space, looking for items that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing and fit your design inspiration or mood board.
- Focus on creating a design that highlights your individuality by incorporating unique pieces, a statement piece of furniture to structure the space around, personal mementos, and elements that reflect your personality.
- Finally, ensure that the design is perfectly suited to the available space by considering the layout, flow, and functionality of each room and outdoor area to make the most of the space you have.
By applying these tips, you can create a home that is not only beautiful but also uniquely yours.
How Should I Select Colour Palettes and Materials?
Colour is one of the most important aspects when designing a space, whether you’re utilising bold hues or soft, muted tones. You can apply much of this expertise yourself if you want to create beautiful spaces, especially in the outdoor areas.
To do this, start by being present in the space you’re designing and inspect the area. Think about what mood you want to set. Are you looking for cosiness and warmth, or regal, majestic tones? Trying to emulate and complement nature, or create a splash of colour that stands out?
Choose your colours, materials, and pieces accordingly, and you will immediately find that a theme begins to emerge. If you’re working outdoors, remember to account for the durability of your chosen pieces.
Like the experts at TPS, you can use physical mood boards and Pinterest to bring together designs and try out colours before you purchase anything. Social media can be another wonderful place to find ideas, whether that’s through pictures from artists you love, or videos on TikTok that capture that perfect vibe you want to create.
Think about your different spaces, and how they will work in terms of the bigger picture, as well as individual rooms. Spend some time considering what materials and textures will meet the character of your home – whether you’re going for a modern look, something classic and timeless, or something else entirely. Finally, when you’ve taken all these steps, you can start sourcing items, like comfortable outdoor chairs and strong elegant tables.
How Should I Style an Outdoor Area?
| Define the Purpose | Start by figuring out how you want to use your outdoor space. Are you relaxing in it, dining, or entertaining? This will affect what furnishings you choose. |
| Create a Cohesive Look | Think about the current design of the space, and choose furnishings that will work in harmony with these designs. Don’t forget the harmony between indoor and outdoor spaces and blending them together so they are cohesive an offer and elegant flow between them. |
| Invest in Quality Furniture | This is particularly pertinent for outdoor decorating; make sure you choose durable, comfortable outdoor furniture that will last. Think about how materials will age with weather elements and how you want your space to look and feel now and in a decades time. |
| Accessories | Adding cushions, throws, and side tables makes spaces both comfortable and functional. You might choose an aluminium round coffee table to have a practical, durable place to put glasses and side dishes. |
| Consider the Ambience | Lighting makes a huge difference to a space. Consider string lights or lanterns to make a welcoming and warm atmosphere or consider a few Bobby lamps. If you want to extend the welcoming atmosphere, you could consider an Eco Smart firepit to create a warm and welcoming area to your outdoors. If you’re going to be outdoors in the later parts of the day, lighting and warmth is crucial! |
| Incorporate Greenery | No outdoor space feels complete without plants. Choose some that will blend nicely with the natural surroundings, some that are native to your region as well as the amount of light and water there plants will need. |
| Plan for Entertainment | Make sure your space can accommodate enough people, with stackable chairs and extendable tables for particularly large gatherings, such as Christmas and dinner parties. |
| Use Versatile Pieces | Choose pieces that can be used in multiple ways or moved around to suit your current needs. Sunlounges with wheels are easy to arrange and move, like our COUTURE Jardin Colwood Rope Sunlounger. |
| Personalise Your Space | Don’t forget, the space is yours! Some personal touches show your interests and tastes, and make it feel unique. |
| Create Zones | If your space is large, make sure you’ve got defined areas for cooking, dining, and lounging. You can create special divides by using plants and trellises. |
Which Materials and Textures Should I Use?
| Material | Maintenance |
|---|---|
| Concrete | Concrete has low maintenance needs; our concrete tables all come with a factory standard sealant which protects it from the elements. We recommend resealing your tables every 6-12 to ensure they withstand Australia’s climate. |
| Teak | Teak is a natural material which means it has a natural resistance to extreme weather as well as good stability, meaning that it will last through many years of use. All of our Teak is FSA approved. |
| Aluminium | Our aluminium has a resistance to corrosion and a tough exterior, meaning that it is very low maintenance. The spontaneous formation of a protective oxide layer upon exposure to oxygen, gives aluminium longevity and integrity. |
| Rope | Rope’s durability depends on its formation, but rope can be long-lasting and weather-resistant, especially if it is made of synthetic materials. |
| Resin | Resin is an extremely durable material which makes it perfect for outdoor furniture. With the added features of being brightly colored, giving you the ability to add pops of colour and personality to your outdoor spaces. |
Choosing durable furniture is key when you’re designing an outdoor area. Of course, comfort is also crucial; your outdoor space should be as comfortable as your indoor options, so opt for plush, lasting furniture, such as our Iowa Lounge.
Mixing and matching textures can be a great way to add more depth to your outdoor design, but make sure the pieces work in harmony.
Inspiration
TPS don’t always follow the trends, they do the opposite and crate them, pathing the way for home designers who want to use The Property Stylists creativity as inspiration. TPS recognises the importance of timeless, classic pieces that will last - which is why they have partnered with Remarkable Outdoor Living, to bring you the insights to make your house a home with furniture that lasts. TPS do use social media like Pinterest, Instagram and TikTok for inspiration, but ensure that they blend this approach with the homeowner’s unique style, so that the finished piece is like a perfect mixture of creative input and client requirements.
You can adopt this approach too. Start by searching for inspiration tailored to your specific home design needs. For instance, if you’re focusing on outdoor entertainment areas, explore social media platforms to find pieces that not only reflect your personality but are also built to last. Utilise Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok to discover designs that resonate with you. Additionally, these platforms can guide you on where to source these pieces, ensuring your space is both stylish and enduring.
Key Takeaways
So, you now know that you should start by defining what you want for your space, just as TPS does. Once you’ve got a clear vision, you can create mood boards either physically or digitally, and then you can begin reshaping your space. Just as TPS creates unique designs with their creativity, you can inject your personality into your approach too. Remember to put materials and longevity at the forefront of your design objective, and to build durability into your designs. We recommend aluminium pieces, like those from our Albury range, or concrete options, such as the Zen Outdoor Dining Setting.
Remember too that you can mix and match textures and periods to create a totally unique aesthetic, bringing together modern and vintage, or rustic and elegant. Don’t forget functionality and comfort in your beautiful spaces, and make sure you can accommodate guests if you need to.
Outdoor spaces should have comfortable outdoor furniture and accessories, such as the extendable Mykonos dining table, which means you’ve always got space for last-minute guests! Finally, ask friends, family and the people you share your home with for input and feedback.
Conclusion
A property stylist can offer some amazing insights into creating functional and beautiful property design, where your space will feel both creative and unique. If you’ve got a knack for home design, we want to see your creative flair! Tag us in your creations of social media!
Reference Sources
- https://www.thepropertystylist.com.au/
- https://www.thepropertystylist.com.au/about-us
- https://www.remarkablefurniture.com.au/blogs/product-stories?page=2
- https://www.remarkablefurniture.com.au/blogs/product-stories
- https://www.remarkablefurniture.com.au/blogs/product-stories/why-choose-aluminium-outdoor-furniture-benefits-and-care-guide
- https://www.remarkablefurniture.com.au/blogs/product-stories/the-benefits-and-care-guide-for-concrete-outdoor-furniture
- https://www.remarkablefurniture.com.au/blogs/product-stories/why-is-teak-used-for-outdoor-furniture-the-history-types-and-benefits
- https://ledgeloungers.com/blogs/ask/resin-vs-plastic-patio-furniture-8-key-differences
- https://www.outdoorfurnitureideas.com.au/blog/post/the-remarkable-durability-of-rope-outdoor-furniture-a-perfect-blend-of-style-and-resilience
- https://www.remarkablefurniture.com.au/products/zen-outdoor-dining-setting
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