Design Anatomy
Welcome to Design Anatomy, where we examine the world of interiors and design. With a shared passion for joyful, colour-filled, and lived-in spaces, Bree Banfield and Lauren Li are excited to share their insights and inspiration with you.
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Design Anatomy
Crafting Personal Sanctuaries: Creativity and Self-Expression in Home Decor
Unlock the secrets to transforming your living space into a sanctuary of self-expression and creativity with us, Lauren Li and Bree Banfield, as we share our personal adventures in decorating our homes. Ever wondered how to make a rented space truly yours without breaking the rules? Discover the liberating power of changing your mind and embracing bold design choices, even if they have to be undone later. We'll share how we navigated the constraints of rental living, from experimenting with colors and patterns to turning limitations into opportunities for personalization.
Our conversation also unravels the art of sense engagement in home decor. Learn how to create an environment that not only looks good but also feels and sounds comforting. From the tactile contrasts of timber and textiles to the role of music and scent, we reveal how to engage all your senses to craft a comforting retreat. We’ll take you through our kitchen experiences too, providing innovative tips for maximizing efficiency and personalizing these essential spaces, even when design constraints loom large.
Finally, let us guide you through the intriguing world of color and design, as we challenge the notion of neutrality in home decor. Explore the joy of investing in pieces that resonate personally rather than just aesthetically.
Want the low-down on the good stuff? Sign up for the launch of Design Edit by Bree Banfield - curated pre-selected decor collections, workshops, design tours and trends. Learn more: BREE BANFIELD
Need an expert to guide you on how to create your DREAM home? Join the Style Studies Essentials course, learn more: STYLE STUDIES ESSENTIALS
Hey designers, let's get you working on amazing projects, increase your fees and straighten out your process. Lauren Li helps interior designers at all stages of their career inside THE DESIGN SOCIETY
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Welcome to Design Anatomy, the interior design podcast hosted by friends and fellow designers. Me, lauren Lee.
Speaker 2:And me, Brie Banfield, with some amazing guest appearances along the way.
Speaker 1:We're here to break down everything from current trends to timeless style, with a shared passion for joyful, colour-filled and lived-in spaces.
Speaker 2:We're excited to share our insights and inspiration with you.
Speaker 1:And today I think it's going to be a nice episode Brie, because we're talking about our personal approach to how we decorate.
Speaker 2:Yeah, exactly the way we decorate in our homes, not for other people. Yes.
Speaker 1:Well, I think you know what I thought would be so great to talk about this, because I saw your home in Sunday Life magazine and it is just so joyful. Obviously, colour is a big part of it, but it's just amazing just to see how you've expressed yourself in your own home. So I just wanted to talk to you a little bit about that and maybe you could sort of speak on a little bit like how, with your expertise in colour forecasting, you know, for Dulux you're so known for colour, but when it comes to your own home, is it an easy choice or do you sort of get paralysed?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I was actually just talking to someone today who was going. One of my doctors was like what do you do again? I'm like I interior design. She goes oh, it must be the best job in the world. I said, oh, you look, it's pretty good. Good and bad days, yeah. But she was like, oh, I would just be terrible at it because there's just too many decisions and I get overwhelmed.
Speaker 2:I said, well, I guess that's why people come to us, right is because they don't want to be overwhelmed or they're struggling with making the decision. I said, but if it comes to my own stuff, that's exactly how I feel as well. I think probably it's because we see so much stuff, right, and so we get excited about so many different things. So it's like you kind of it's hard to settle on something because then you see something else, girl, but I love that. So it's like I could sort of I don't know flip and change, and I think I did for a long time too. I feel like it takes a little while as you get older to kind of settle into your style a bit more and maybe be a little more not brave. Just you don't care as much about what other people think. Absolutely, yeah.
Speaker 1:And I also think that you know, after a number of years working in the industry, you see different waves of change and you're like you know, after a number of years working in the industry, you see different waves of change and you're like, you know what I? I absolutely love the idea of a pink bedroom. I'm gonna go for it, like it's just what I love right now, it doesn't mean I'm gonna have to love it forever yeah, and that's liberating when you let go.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I think clients can get stuck on that and think that when they've made that decision, then that's it. They've got to kind of stick to it. I think it's totally fine to even to get it wrong, like we all get it wrong, like we get it wrong right, like I've done things, definitely oh wow, that doesn't work at all, it's not, or it's not what I thought it would be or whatever. But I think people can get really stuck in that fatigue because they do put that pressure on themselves, thinking this is this big decision, even about like a cushion or something. Should I buy this exact one? What will I do if it doesn't work in my house? What if I hate it?
Speaker 1:Take it back, yeah exactly, and I think that's the thing when it comes to our own homes. It can be a bit of a testing ground. You know you can, you know paint a room and if you don't love it and you know what you can live with it for a year and you can just change it. I mean, obviously it's inconvenient, but it's not like you've invested thousands of dollars, especially when it comes to paint colors.
Speaker 2:It's just the tint of paint and a time investment, or you get a painter out from air tasker or whatever, like it's not such a huge decision for all of that impact that you get and I remember, like when you were renting in your apartment and you did a few things like I think you might have even installed, like you did some lights and paint, yeah, and some shelving and some things, and I remember thinking to myself oh so I've been renting for a really long time I think we both have and it can be very restrictive. As designers, because of exactly what you said. We do want to use our spaces to kind of test things and express stuff and experiment with color or pattern or even furniture placement or whatever it is. And then when you're renting, you sort of feel like you've got this restriction. And then I remember when you did that, I was like why?
Speaker 2:didn't, I just ask permission to do this stuff, like you know. Yes, you're going to have to probably put it back to how it was, but I finally did that this year and painted and it has been the best thing I've ever done in a home since I I mean, I have owned a home before but since I've been renting because it's just made it feel like my space and it is going to be a pain in the ass to paint it back. But you know, we hope to be here for you know, another year, so in that year I might even change my mind and paint a different colour, but at least I know I can do that and have that freedom of expression here. I mean, I guess I've always been able to hang artwork, but even then it's like you know, using the 3M hooks is a pain in the ass because nothing ever quite hangs properly or they fall off in the middle of the night.
Speaker 2:I've had that happen, hopefully. Or they'd fall off in the middle of the night. If that happened, hopefully not a picture over your bed. But you know you hear this crash and you go, oh my God, what was that? And then you go downstairs and the whole artwork's fallen off the wall or something. But so when you paint, of course if you're going to have to paint back, you have to patch too, so you might as well use proper hooks.
Speaker 1:Well, I mean that apartment that you mentioned. We moved, moved into this beautiful new apartment. It overlooked the Yarra River, had amazing views of the city. I loved it and, yes, I wanted to make it my own. I wanted to experiment and so we painted one of the main walls in the space this actually was pretty much the whole living and kitchen area this beautiful sort of putty, warm color. By doing that, we had to patch the walls. They weren't in the best shape, but I would recommend, you know, if you're renting, don't wait before you move in, get the paint brushes out and make the most of that. You know you're getting at least a year of that longevity. You know, I loved hearing you say how much it just really changed your life and it just makes you feel so good and I still, in a way, I miss that apartment. I mean, we're in a much bigger house now, but I miss that.
Speaker 1:It was such a great space and had the most cool views and had a rooftop pool, like you know there's so many benefits to a apartment living yeah, we loved it and um, yeah, and when we left, you know all of those, uh, you know scratches and whatever the wall, they were all patched and painted right back. And you know we left the apartment in a much better condition as we came in. And you know, in this house as well, we didn't want to wait too long. I've painted my bedroom here, I've painted the kids' room and I'm just looking at this white wall behind me thinking, hmm, what am I going to do here?
Speaker 1:But you know, as you know, we're renting this house and you have a right to paint and you just need to return it back to how it was. You also have a right to hang pictures in your space. So you know we actually do. I mean, renting is a lot more common in European countries, isn't it? But you know this new mean renting is a lot more common in European countries, isn't it? But you know this new generation renting is the norm. And you know it's a whole discussion for maybe another day, brie, but I suppose my point is do it If you're renting, express yourself in your home. It's just so fulfilling. And if it means the paintbrush, if it means getting out, you know hanging up photos and, you know, artwork on your walls. Please do it. It's such a good feeling.
Speaker 2:And maybe we should do that. Let's talk about renting, and you know what you can do because we both have had this experience. But I guess, coming back to what we want to talk about with our I guess personal approach to decorating, maybe tell me about, like, I guess, do you think it's changed for you since you were in an apartment to the house, or do you think your style has just kind of followed you and it's the same approach, or did you find that different?
Speaker 1:I think the architecture definitely influences the way that I approach to decorate the space. And we're in a mid-century house now and the floor plan is so wonderful. You know, we have really big windows and lots more natural light and all those kind of things. But I suppose my approach to decorating is it's crazy because this house that we're in I don't know how we fit all of the furniture in a three-bedroom apartment and now we've filled a whole house.
Speaker 1:How does that work? You fill the space that you have, but I suppose the approach is the same. We've installed pendant lighting here. We did that in our apartment as well. We left that there as a little gift to them. We even went so far as to have some sheer curtains made for that apartment. We've been able to take them here and they've worked as well. Yeah, yeah, I mean we also. Yeah, they're the kind of investments that some people will think is crazy to do, but I need that.
Speaker 1:I need my home to feel like my sanctuary, and especially, you know, during COVID times and everything like that. I think that it was so blatantly obvious how our space affects the way we feel and if you can create a home that expresses yourself, that you can really tap into what your style is, it's good for your mental health.
Speaker 2:Yeah, a hundred percent it is. I couldn't agree more. I guess the other thing that I mean, if we're talking about like things that you realize in COVID, is there was that huge move towards tactility, and I feel like that's when I think about your style. You know, when people think about my style, we often think about color, obviously. That's kind of what I'm known for. I feel like your approach to decorating definitely includes a lot of kind of tactility, and you know material, like materiality, I suppose, suppose, and you use color, but it's in a much more subtle way and it's it's, I guess, quite connected to those things the material and the tactility of it, of something. Do you think what is it about that that you love like? Why do you think that that's sort of what you're gravitating towards, or am I wrong? You can tell me no, um it's?
Speaker 1:it's a bit yeah, you're right like I think it is the inherent colours of timber and the inherent colours of stone and brass and it's working with those materials, but it's also about engaging all of the senses. So it's having that obviously sight, you know that visual contrast, and it's about touch, isn't it? And sometimes you know you get that sense of touch by seeing something. But it's also contrasting. You know, a velvet next to a timber, next to that brass, and a wool and a linen, like. I find that tactile contrast really interesting. And I suppose in the home it's also sound. We love music, right, bree?
Speaker 2:Like I love to have music playing. That is something we definitely have in common, and we do have a lot of similar musical tastes too, but yes, we have excellent music taste. Yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, smell. I know that's probably where we are very divided, because I know that you despise scented candles.
Speaker 2:But you know what I do. I have like my little physique oil burner and I'll often, sometimes I feel like I need that to set the mood, like for work or whatever it is, and so I have my different little oils that, you know, create different moods. So, yeah, I do that.
Speaker 1:I've got that physique.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:It's F-A-Z-E-E-K. Yeah, it's like this really cool glass oil burner. It's beautiful. I've got one of those too. They are really nice. So we've got sight, we've got touch, we've got sound. We've got smell, taste I don't know about in interiors how taste could be. Well, I suppose you know what I love about kitchens is where the activity of cooking is also expressed in what you see.
Speaker 1:I don't really believe in everything being packed away. I think it's a kitchen. It's functional, like, let's celebrate that. So maybe in some ways the taste could come across in the kitchen area.
Speaker 2:Isn't it funny, I find kitchens quite tricky, particularly for okay, we're going to go back to renting again. I think we're naturally going to talk about renting because we both do and it definitely affects the way we approach things for ourselves. Like, I don't love the kitchen that I've got in terms of, like the finishes it's yeah, I won't get into it, but I would say it's very not me. So it's quite. It's kind of gray and white and even like a couple of things I don't think work well together. But I don't like a lot of stuff out in the kitchen, except if it's beautiful.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Or if, like you're, you would probably be a bit more I don't know what the word is for it Like, yeah, those practical things out in the kitchen where I'm like I want to have a little. Or we could have the discussion of the butler's pantry, which I know you've jumped on before in the past to talk about how you know you don't think they're needed or you don't really, you don't rate it. Let's say Well.
Speaker 1:I just think they're too big.
Speaker 2:Yeah, Well, see mine's tiny here and I have, I've had one for a while. Actually Was in mine's tiny here and I have I've had one for a while. Actually, Most of the houses I've moved into have been fairly new houses and they have some kind of butler's pantry and I like it to be at least big enough. I like my fridge in there, if I can have it in there Coffee machine, microwave and maybe like one other appliance, Like I'd love the toaster and the kettle to be in there, but mine actually isn't big enough for that. It's only big enough for the coffee machine, the fridge and there's a spot for the microwave. I just made one in a shelf because, like many kitchens, there was no specific spot for the microwave. I find that baffling that people think you're just going to put it on the bench. I couldn't think of anything worse than that.
Speaker 1:Well, I mean the effect of life is, if you've got a baby and a toddler, you actually find yourself heating up pre-made meals so often. So exactly what you're saying, Brie, like there's that functionality that you need in a kitchen. But yeah, I suppose I like to have my aesthetic appliances out. Yeah, you know like a cute Japanese kettle that I've got that. Yeah, that are sort of a little bit more designed for being on display, like it's not exactly all my plastic containers and Tupperware. That's not aesthetic.
Speaker 2:I'm sorry if I made it sound like that's what I was inferring.
Speaker 1:Oh no, you didn't. Oh, I know, but I think that you know when I I was thinking more.
Speaker 2:You know beautiful timber canisters or something you know.
Speaker 1:Yeah, the stuff that gets used and not the stuff that's just there to. You know, collect dust which a lot of people are like oh my God, I couldn't handle it on my bench. I'm like but how do you make a cup of tea?
Speaker 2:Yes, there, still needs to be obviously the functionality, but I do, and I actually do have quite a bit of stuff on my benches now. But I try and like I've got a spot where on one side of the kitchen, I actually paint a little spot there, as it was just plasterboard, which has made me feel a lot better about my kitchen now and that's where I put the KitchenAid the lilac KitchenAid, which is one of my favourite things the mixer, and I've put an artwork there. So that's kind of next to where, like, we put our keys and all of that sort of stuff. So it's still that little spot is quite pretty. And then I've moved. There was some open shelves like above where the like next to the range, wood and stuff, and I actually ended up just taking out the middle shelf and making it just like one big opening and putting an artwork in there and creating a little vignette. So, yeah, I've, I've improved it, but it's not. I love that. I'd love to just like change all the cupboards, but that's not going to happen.
Speaker 2:Oh, exactly, although you know sorry, I just remembered a new product. I haven't looked at it properly yet, but there is a new product out. You might know it. So, like you know the removable wallpaper Okay, that self-adhesive one where you can put it to the wall then they've created one that you can put onto laminate cupboards. That makes it look like a vinyl wrap.
Speaker 1:Wow. So that's the thing I think you know. We've like you. We've owned our own place. We've done a really fun renovation there. We've also rented, and in one of the apartments we rented we actually installed a splashback because it was a glass splashback.
Speaker 2:Oh, yes, I remember.
Speaker 1:That was a flashback, that was a covid thing and it was, um, it was called air slate and it's actually real slate, but it's a very fine veneer of a slate. Don't ask me how it works, but it's quite cool, yeah, and um, we had that piece cut to size, and so there are things that you can do. You know, I, I think my, my advice would be just don't wait, just get onto it and make the most of your time living there. And I think another sort of general approach to decorating is to decorate your kitchen. So I love the way to bring artwork into your kitchen. I feel like it's so much part of our living area.
Speaker 2:Oh, completely. We spend so much time there really as well.
Speaker 1:That's right. Don't forget to decorate it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, it's beautiful, even just the beautiful tea towel. Mine are terrible. I need some new ones. Yes, yeah. I know Mine are functional, not pretty.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I know, I mean, sometimes it is just a touch like that it can just really just make your experience, your everyday experience of the home, just feel really nice and those little things, those little touches, I would say that's a huge factor in my approach in general too in the home, in my home is making sure that every space has a little joy. So you do get I don't know that nice feeling in a room. That's probably the main goal for me and to me that's about colour, and artwork is probably a big part of it too. And then lighting, which I know we've probably touched on before, like making sure that it's not just like downlights and there's lamps or you know, there's another lighting source that's not kind of, you know, coming from directly above.
Speaker 2:You know all those things to are the kind of I don't know the basis of how I would approach a room. It's like those three things. It's okay, the color, obviously, practicality definitely comes into it, but color, artwork, lighting, yeah, I feel like they're the things that. And comfort, I suppose. But, um, that probably isn't my first, it's not the first thing.
Speaker 1:I'll sacrifice a little bit of comfort if something is beautiful, you know, I agree, I agree I agree, yeah, and I think you know when it comes to lighting, sure, you know that's such a big part of how you experience a space and you can plug in lamps. But also you know what we did with different places we've lived in and it's so cool to see how different spaces adapt to how you live. I've got one of those Lamp de Marseille labs Le Corbusier lab that's been over my desk, it's been over my dining, it's been as a bedside, like you can move those things around. There's another one that I've got. It's just behind me.
Speaker 1:It's called I'll have to let you guys know but it's you just plug it in, but it's actually hung from the ceiling, so it's just a small little screw that again, you patch it when you leave, but it's very, very minimal, yeah, and you're sort of getting that wall lighting sort of effect within the space. I think it's a floss light actually. It's fancy. You've got fancy lights, but it's actually really. I mean it's really affordable as well for the impact that you get. Yeah, because it's quite a simple, just a bulb and a cable that connects to the ceiling, with a weight on the bottom that hangs down.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I know the one, and I can't think of what that's called either.
Speaker 1:Yeah, parentesi, or something like that. So I think that you know, you and I would agree on the colour that has just changed the way that we live in our space and when I wanted to paint my bedroom it was quite daunting to try to choose. I think it's we know too many options and we do get I get very distracted by oh, I love this, I love that. That's why I like so many different styles. But you sort of just have to think about okay, what is the feeling I want to create here and I wanted to have like a feminine sort of space? Obviously, my husband has to sleep there too, so it's not like a Barbie pink, it's more of a dusty kind of pink. Sorry, phil, doesn't really get a huge say in it, I'm sure. Sorry, phil.
Speaker 2:You know, I think he's got good taste too, Like I think he'd go oh, I get it. I understand why you're doing that kind of thing he does. He's a bit supportive.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it does feel really good and you know, every time I'm in my room and you can feel like you're being able to express yourself, it's just a really fulfilling feeling. So I think colour is such a big one, but also, you know less, something less committal is, you know, in terms of a sofa. I know that people can well, a lot of people, a lot of clients get a little bit scared about going for a color and they want to go with something neutral, like a gray or a beige or something like that, which obviously has its place. But we went for a peach fabric and it brings me a lot of joy as well.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:So you know, that's something where you can really dive into color in upholstery. As you said before Brie, a cushion, a colorful or a patterned cushion. It's so crazy how much it can really bring joy to a space, and it's so minimal.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and that does serve a bigger purpose. I love cushions on my sofa, like I get put them all behind me and lean on one and, like you know, you can make it your own little spot. So they're not just pretty, they actually do have a bigger purpose. Yeah, I agree with the upholstery thing, particularly with sofas. I think I know people feel much more comfortable with something that they consider to be neutral because they think that it has longevity.
Speaker 2:I don't know, I kind of I push back on that a little bit and say, but how do you feel about it? Like, if you're that practical that everything has to have longevity, then your house is not ever going to connect to you, unless you're like someone who's just like's your whole personality. I don't know right, but you've got to have something that you have a feeling about, and so I would kind of push back and say, on a bigger investment piece, it's even more important to have a connection to it so that you feel good about it. You spend all this money on it and you want to love it. You don't want to go with. That was a very good investment for the future. Yes, it was a very practical home.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and a sofa can make like quite a statement in a room. I mean, I don't mean, like you know, a bright pink sofa, I just mean the shape or the fabric or whatever it is that it's kind of really important to get that right and to love it. So, yeah, I would kind of push back and say, and you know, we, I had a charcoal sofa for a very long time and it made me so unhappy.
Speaker 2:It made me so I can tell you now. It made me so unhappy and I think when it was first purchased it was for, um, what we were kind of using like a cinema kind of room or a TV room, and so it wasn't a main area and then it kind of just got carried with us for years and years and to the point where it was also quite discreet we just needed to be out on the side of the road and gotten rid of. So it was one of my big things that I did this year and I didn't get a very, very expensive sofa. But what's great about the sofa I've got? It's the Eva Everyday little pod there is. It's the Eva Everyday little plug there is.
Speaker 2:It's modular, so I can add to it. I can when I do move. I know I can change the configuration if I need to, because the other sofa that I had, it was like two-piece modular but it meant you could only go like one direction and so you'd kind of get stuck. Sometimes it didn't work in a room. It was quite big. But the Eva sofa you can change the covers. I've actually got two colors. I haven't changed it yet. Yeah, so you can buy extra, extra covers for it. So if you wanted to have like one color for half the year and another color for another half of the year, or you did just get like a bit bored with it, you can buy new ones.
Speaker 1:Sorry, wow, so the color you've got now it's like a raisin colour. Is that correct? No, it's terracotta. It's terracotta.
Speaker 2:Okay, cool, the walls are probably a bit more of a raisin colour, but yeah, I think it's actually called terracotta. The colour Beautiful and then the other colour.
Speaker 2:I can't remember the name of it, but it's like a green, like a not quite forest green, not emerald, like a softer green. Beautiful, I'll green, not emerald, like a softer green. Um, beautiful. I'll definitely post when I change that. I need to do it soon so I can show everyone what it looks like. That'll be our summer sofa, so like our pericardium can be our winter sofa, and we'll switch to the green I mean, everybody needs to have a winter and a summer sofa, right bray.
Speaker 1:We so have to switch that out. But I suppose I could. Something that is a little bit different, for for me and and maybe for you as well, is that you know our we, we need to live through our beliefs in terms of interior design. You know, if we're sort of saying to a client, go for it, go for color, and then you, sitting on your charcoal sofa, like, yeah, it's not living through your you know for, like it's just, it's not living through your.
Speaker 2:You know, it's a shocking ambition, isn't it?
Speaker 1:this viral. Well, you know what? It is interesting? Because both of us we've had our homes photographed for various things, like we were uh, yeah, we mentioned sunday life in the beginning. So yeah again, if you, if you guys want to watch this on YouTube and you'll see those kind of visuals pop up, but it is part of our career and it's part of our profession. So do you design ever for that, for Instagram or for brands or anything like that?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I guess. So I mean, I think it's a big part of our lives now to do social media content. So I think it's at the back of my mind all the time. You know, and I've done some content for the golf rehearse I had rugs made here.
Speaker 2:That's another thing I did, to add. So even in my bedroom I bought a rug loom, um, because the carpet's just a bit well, it's kind of like a murky gray brown. Just I don't love it and it, and it really changed the room to put a rug in, um. And then godfrey hearst made me some rugs. I put one under the dining table, um, and in the living room and down the hallway.
Speaker 2:So so, yeah, I do think about that and I've done it in a deliberate way where I've gone, okay, I'm going to work with a brand and actually create the content. But a big part of me was also like and I do post things like fashion as well was I don't have great, I didn't have great backdrops, I didn't love anywhere in my house to shoot or even just like create moments so that people I think you know what people like to see is your personal style on social media. I think that's kind of why they're there. I mean, they obviously want to see all the projects and the things we're doing, but I think they also want to see, well, what did you do and how do you live?
Speaker 2:And I didn't really have spaces I was happy to show and that kind of made me a bit unhappy. So, yeah, yeah, definitely. What about you? I know you've done some co-lebs and stuff too.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and you know, thank you for saying that as well, because it is just a part of our work and our life, and I don't have a mode where I switch from one to the other, like my work is so much part of my life. So, therefore, my home reflects that too. And yes, we've done collab with jewel locks. You know, in our kids room we've done, um, oh, a few of them. We did one with double, double rugs, and I mean those images I pop up every single day almost on my Instagram. So, yeah, I don't know if I I'm like, I don't know, do I think about Instagram and how that my home might be captured on Instagram? I suppose I do in a way. I don't know if it's the first thing I think about, though, but it definitely.
Speaker 2:You know, I'd be lying if I said I never thought about it, because it is part of our yeah, it's all a lie, right, it's like it's not. It's not like we're constantly going, oh, I can't do that. That won't look good on social media. We're still still doing what we love. I think that's what it was. For me is, it wasn't that I didn't think it was good enough for other people, it was that I didn't think it represented me. Now that I have spaces that I feel connected to and I feel like actually show more of who I am, then now I'm more comfortable sharing more of that, whereas before, when it wasn't, it wasn't me and it was like well, why would I even want to show some of this? Because it didn't represent me at all. So it kind of meant nothing. Yeah, true.
Speaker 1:And I mean I'm on Zoom with the Design Society every week and obviously with this podcast. So if you do think about your background and to be, honest with you. Clients think about that too. You know, I've got a client who has a very successful podcast and the backdrop it's actually a big deal. You know it's part of her brand and everything as well. So it's not uncommon.
Speaker 1:It's just a different way to you. Know, we don't work in an office where that's it and it's just a different way to you. Know you, we don't work in an office where that's it and it's. You know, one way to the other. It's part of our work, it's part of our even. You know this client. She's not even in in the interiors or design industry at all, yet it still affects her and yeah working from home as she does, which is so amazing.
Speaker 1:so, yeah, it's um, it's, it's all of the things, isn't it? It's for us, it's, uh, where we can test our style and where we can. You know, we've had a number of photo shoots here as well, and I mean, the bones of this house is just, it's a gift. So we're so grateful and I will, you will, I don't know, I don't think I could ever leave this house because my soul is connected to it, so you will see me on a current affair. I will shame myself, but you know that's sad.
Speaker 2:You'd probably end up with people like signing a petition for you saying she can't leave, she has to stay.
Speaker 1:But I think this is the thing. I just um, I just appreciate it so much more, maybe because I know that I'm not going to be here forever and I am so grateful for every single day and I want to make the most of us. Every space, you know, the entry, the living, the every little space. I want to make the most of it and I wish that I had the capacity to really spend a lot of time styling every single corner, but it is, but you've done a bit, haven't you like?
Speaker 2:I mean, um, I know you posted about your entry that you yeah some um practical yet beautiful little spot there where, with the shelving, was that job you already had?
Speaker 1:I actually won that from cult, so oh, that's right, sorry it was an instagram competition and it's just really cool. I love when that happens. Imagine like a cube. It's like a cube, a chrome wire cube.
Speaker 2:They're some of my favorite shows. I love those.
Speaker 1:I love them, so they gifted me those from the competition. So yeah, creating a little moment as soon as you walk in, I mean that just makes me so happy. And you know, on the other side of that, we've got another. I mean that just makes me so happy, and you know, on the other side of that, we've got another. I mean I've never had such a big entry before. The storage is just.
Speaker 1:you fill every nook and cranny, which is ridiculous because, we've gone from apartment living with zero, but anyway, it's what you do, isn't it?
Speaker 2:And if you're going to move you'll need, like, another truck or something.
Speaker 1:I't know how that worked, but we managed to fill it, don't we? But yeah, I suppose you know my main point would be just dive in, don't spend too long thinking about it, just do, do it and enjoy it for the maximum, maximum amount of time that you can, and nothing's forever, is it?
Speaker 2:so and also not like remembering that, um, I know a lot of people feel and I guess it happens when we work with clients as well but I never really feel like a space is never really finished. You'll get it to a point like where you're happy, but then you've got to allow for evolution. Right, you've got to allow for the change of I don't love these cushions as much as I did, even if you're just putting them away in a cupboard or changing the covers to something else, and you might come back to those covers at another time or give them to a friend or whatever you want to do, or change an artwork or eventually maybe it's a rug or add a chair. I feel like you've got to let yourself realize that it doesn't have to be finished.
Speaker 2:I think a lot of people forget that and they're kind of like I need to finish this room and it's like got a deadline but then it's done. I don't think that's how life works. I think you've got to allow for a bit of you know, yes, you can renovate and finish something, but then allow yourself to want to just adapt and change and evolve. Like you know, you don't have to change everything, but you're going to change. We all change, so you've kind of got to let your space do that too, I think.
Speaker 1:I love that and it's not stagnant. We don't. You know, I'm at a stage of life where I have a three-year-old, a 10-year-old and a 12-year-old and we are I mean, I did not the baby coming like anyway, that was a bit of a surprise, but anyway. So we're back, we're back in potty training, we're back in all of that again. So you know, it's such a joy to be back in that phase of life again and, yeah, lean into it and you just know it's not forever and I think, just be in the moment, feel in the moment.
Speaker 1:It's a decision that you make and I mean I don't want to sound too frivolous with making a $20,000 sofa purchase, but yeah, nothing is forever but also hold onto those things that are sentimental. I think that there are things that we have in our home that a camera won't. I'll never show because I might not want to show my family photos.
Speaker 1:So, just because you, you know if you're listening and you think, oh God, I really love these family photos. But is that, is it daggy, is it tacky? Is it? Don't worry about it. It brings me joy to see my family photos in my home and I don't care if it's something that I like design for you. I guess is what I'm trying to say as well. You know, I try to do it in an aesthetic way. They're black and fine black frame so it looks cool like yeah you know, but don't get too carried away with.
Speaker 1:I suppose you know the instagram and everything like that. If it feels good for you, like, that is the most important thing yeah, that's what I guess.
Speaker 2:That's what I was trying to get at before when I was talking about that was we're not, yeah, not doing it because it looks good. Just you're doing it because it means something to you, and then that's why you're happy to share it. So, yeah, don't get caught up in going, I need it just to look good. I guess. Get caught up in what makes you feel good, I think that's yeah, and then it looks good anyway, because it might, you know, like it's gonna give you that impression right?
Speaker 1:yeah, I think so. Like you know, we've got things from Phil's parents like this big Buddha, and I love that Buddha. You know it doesn't mean I'm gonna put it sentimental yeah yeah, it's this, this huge, big fat Buddha with all these babies um on it. So it's actually. It works. If you rub its stomach, don't rub its stomach if you don't want to get pregnant, just saying I did that. That's what happened. I've also rubbed that tummy on behalf of other friends, and they're pregnant too, so anyway, I'm now, you're gonna have you can go.
Speaker 1:Lauren, can you please rub the tummy for me? I will do it for you um somebody that we know too. Brie, I'll tell you later who it is.
Speaker 1:I'll let her tell you but anyway, um, so that has so much sentimental value for me. I don't care if it's not Vogue, living worthy, it's just part of our family and it makes me feel good. So I guess it's striking that balance, isn't it? You know, I've got this artwork which is like the most scary painting of an old lady. It's just scary when I was little because she's got long nails. Anyway, I love it now, though.
Speaker 2:Do you know that Friends episode, where Phoebe makes the artwork?
Speaker 1:I don't know if you're a Friends person.
Speaker 2:I was more of a Seinfeld. I was both. Well, for the people that know Friends, they'll know the episode I'm talking about, where Phoebe makes this really scary artwork and wants to give it to one of the girls and they pretend like, oh, I can't, such and such can have it because it's so horrible and scary. Anyway.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I've got something like that. But um, again, the sentimentality. I am a sentimental person and I think you know, creating a home which is a backdrop to memories is really important. You know, you're growing up and you're taking in your environment as a kid and um you know, who knows what that scary painting's done to me.
Speaker 2:But it's funny that you said remember in you know the episode I think it was the was it Anatomy of a Room perhaps where you were talking about that huge impression that was left on you by someone else's home, one of your friends' homes.
Speaker 2:And I think about that here, even just the change that I've made in this space, because I used to think about that all the time when I was renting and the kids were younger, I was like they're not going to have this lovely memory because for me, I think aesthetics really affect how I think about things and I would always maybe put too much importance on oh, but they don't have this connection to their room or have this like feeling about it when they're older in their memories and I do think even just the things we've done here in the last, you know, six months or so I feel like they'll remember this more, these spaces more, because they're actually, there's character to it and because it represents me. That'll kind of I don't know. I think they'll carry that in their memory, whereas before it was never. They were our homes, but they weren't really. I don't know if that makes sense.
Speaker 1:Oh, it does, and it's important, and I think that's why it's great that at least in Victoria the laws are that you can paint as long as you return it to the original condition. So yeah, check what your rental laws are in your state. Sometimes they are a bit hard to find, but it is important. You know, I painted, as I said, coco and Benji, so the middle child and the little guy sharing a room together. It's the sweetest thing and she loves her room. She's got a canopy over the bed and just to have that sense that that's her special space. And then Indy's got her own room, which has got a bunk. She's up high and she's got this beautiful, you know. She's got a bright yellow chair in there where she reads her books, which she's probably doing right now.
Speaker 2:A bit of a bookworm, but how?
Speaker 1:special to have. Yeah, that spot just for her and little brother doesn't go in. You know, I think they're really important parts of growing up. But I feel like you can create that when you're renting and I don't think that we pay enough in rent. God, don't we breathe that we, that, we um, that we can um. You know, let our kids have those good memories too. Yes, so good. So I suppose, yeah, when it comes to you know our personal style. I think we both agree on a lot of things where we lean into color, we lean into artwork, we want to express ourselves, we want to layer texture, we love lamps and and rugs and all of the things. I don't think you would describe us as a minimalist.
Speaker 2:No, definitely not yes, that'd probably be the opposite. Well, maximalist is probably what people would say about my style.
Speaker 1:I think all the things yeah, I love all the things too. Um, but yeah, you know vintage pieces as well, pieces that carry yeah a history. I think they just give a soul to a space. You know they've they've lived a life and they show that patina like it's a lovely thing books, plants, I mean all of those fabulous things we fill our home with.
Speaker 2:So I think probably the other. The other thing I'd add, um, if I'm thinking about personal style, like decorating for me at home, is I'm pretty good at like working a bargain into things. I'm like I mean I've got a few couple of side of the road things which are fantastic, but I mean like just really looking at things that are could be. Ikea, for instance, is probably one of my favorite brands for affordable stuff, because I feel like most of the things are fairly original. Um, they're reasonably well made, depending on what you're looking at, like some better than others, but they often just have like some unique things or they're doing a lot of really great collabs. So you know, I love just like finding a little cool. I can't literally the chair I'm sitting in it's the same color as your top.
Speaker 2:Yeah, gorgeous green in um, it is an ikea chair. It was actually, I think, a revival of an 80s design that they did you know how they're like relaunching some of their old designs and I I was lucky to snap it up because it kept being out of stock for ages and, like you know how you put the alerts on. Yes, and then one day it came up and like I just got in in time and got it.
Speaker 2:Oh, I love that, yeah, so like things like that, like this isn't an expensive chair, but I know I'll probably have it forever because it's just one of those things that I'm like that was like a cool thing to pick up at a reasonable price, that it's super comfy too Well.
Speaker 1:I have a controversial opinion about Ikea is that it is designer furniture. So what I mean is that every single thing you buy at Ikea every light, every furniture it has a designer's name on it, which you can't say about other big box kind of retailers and the designers that they work with are world-class designers. Because if you think that and as you said, you know it's not all created equal I find the lighting to be generally pretty good. I've got these lamps that were a collaboration with Hay and the dimmable feature. It's fantastic.
Speaker 2:I remember the Hay ones. I just doubt on that.
Speaker 1:They're great. It's a beautiful, the glow that it gives is beautiful. So I think you know we sometimes we don't have the budget that our clients have, so we have to be creative and I think that if you've got that eye and you know your own style. You can go to Ikea and you can sift through the billions of different pieces on offer and find that gem that speaks to your style.
Speaker 2:So I think that's really clever yeah, and even just like that side of the road thing is a thing for me as well. But, um, I've had, I've got a couple of chairs now which I love and I haven't reupholstered because the fabric's actually quite cool, but I probably will in time. But I remember the first side of the road. Yeah, I remember the first side of the road. I think it was the first. I was in college and my friend and I I was on the train and every time I went past this particular spot on the line I'd see this old chair just sitting there and I don't know how long it had been there. It was probably disgusting. I was probably like it'd been in the rain and it was like a proper old chair. It had like the old um, what is it Like? The hair upholstery inside, horse hair. Yeah, yeah, it was like proper old. But I really want. Every time I saw it I'm like I want that chair, I'm going to get that chair.
Speaker 2:So one day my friend and I went in her little car and this was like a big high back kind of wing sort of chair and we sort of put it into her boot and, like you know, tied it down. So I was like literally hanging out the things we do, and my friend who is now actually actually she was studying, I think, at the time and ended up being a police officer. I can't remember if she was at the academy then. So it was very illegal what we were doing, a just picking up stuff from I don't know. It was like a railway property, like we didn't have to jump fences or anything. It was just sort of this abandoned spot and then we drove all the back streets back to.
Speaker 2:We had like a little flat in Malvern East, like all the little back streets back, and Malvernice like all the little back streets back, and honestly, we often get stupid things. We just laughed the whole time with this bloody thing in the back and it was so wet. We put it in our little flat in front of the heater and it probably took like two weeks to dry out and I still I think my mum has it. Now I don't have it anymore but I had a beautiful cover made for it, like a hot pink sort of fuchsia corduroy fabric. Oh wow, and it was just a great little and so that was sort of free. I mean, I had to pay for the cover to be made. But I kind of like that stuff, like that's. I don't know they're the fun things that happen.
Speaker 1:Well, I think that you know, because you've got an eye for design, you are looking beyond the wetness, You're looking at the shape.
Speaker 2:You know you can appreciate when you, I had, literally I slept on a phone, like actually, and my shelves in my room were, you know, those crates. You could get the timber crates. I didn't know where I got them from, but I got them for free from somewhere and I, you know, stacked those and made my shelving in my room.
Speaker 1:It's called industrial chic.
Speaker 2:Yes, it was Very rustic.
Speaker 1:Well, you know, again, it's looking beyond the you know, the big retailers, isn't it? And it's looking at auction houses, it's looking at Ikea, it's looking at the side of the road and slamming on the brakes and making it happen. So fun. So I think that, yeah, you know, don't be afraid, don't be afraid to look a bit at something unconventional. And you know, with your cool IKEA chair that you're sitting on, don't turn your nose up at IKEA, because I think that it's you know, as I like to call it, it's imported Scandinavian furniture. So, you know, I love that. Yeah, okay.
Speaker 2:Well, I think that was really fun, brie any other points you wanted to make.
Speaker 1:Oh, I'm sure I'll think of some later. Yeah, exactly that's how it goes, isn't it okay? Well, let's wrap this up then. And, um, I suppose, before we go, I wanted to let you guys know that in the design society, we are starting a group mentor program for 2025. So if you want to learn about interior design, this is more for interior designers, in a really small group. I just want everyone to be able to be seen and heard, just to you know, build your profitability, learn how to market your business and really how to onboard clients and how to even vet your clients All of those things to run your business. A really nice small group. That's opening up. And then, yeah, we've got our style studies course too. That looks really cool. Yeah, it's so fun.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I'd say you've started that too, haven't you? You've launched that already the style studies.
Speaker 1:Style studies essential. So it's like basically four different modules. We're talking about, you know, being able to name your style and we're going through each of the different styles and you know, the feedback that I've got was oh, I've been walking around my house and I'm realizing why those spaces don't work, and just being able to identify that it's been really cool. We talk about color because I mean, that's a big module. We actually send out a little paint kit to everyone and I really want to encourage people to understand color and I don't, I think you just really remember it when you do it yeah, that's so we're mixing the tints, the tones, the shades, and then you understand when somebody says, oh, that's a white, but it has a bit of black in it.
Speaker 1:They're like what do you mean? Yeah yeah, that's with black.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, that's so true.
Speaker 1:It's really cool. And then you add yellow.
Speaker 2:They could just watch those tint videos on. You know when that became really popular, to watch the tint go into the paint and then try and guess what the color was.
Speaker 1:Oh, I love that. So fun. Oh my God, Is that a thing? Have you not seen it? Oh my God, Send them to me.
Speaker 2:Yeah, all right, you can probably just I'm sure they're on YouTube as well, but they used to come up a bit on socials so you'd have someone you know like basically commentate and watch it and try and guess what the color's going to be. And you know, they do the shaking and then they open it up and they're like what? That's purple.
Speaker 1:Like they're really like here. Here's youtube. We talk about, yeah, color in depth and what, uh, you know how to. Well, how to, how the color wheel works and, um, yeah, all that stuff, when you're looking at a space and identifying why that works and you know what, why some spaces maybe don't work. And then we talk about layouts popular layouts, uh, that we see in kitchens. You talking about butler's pantries, for instance. You know the kitchen triangle versus the zones. You know all of these things. Anyway, it's really really great, I hope. I think feedback has been good so far. So if you're not a designer but you want to learn from a designer, I guess like that's kind of what that's about, so you can just implement that for your own home.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and I am very close to launching our pre-selected design packages, which are basically there could be five different styles and the idea is that you get to have, I guess, my point of view and a bespoke looking design at a fraction of the cost that it would be to actually hire me to do a whole full design for you.
Speaker 2:So you kind of get a snippet of you know, you can select a room, select a style, and I basically hand over everything for you. That's all ready to go and tell you how to do it and how to put it together lists, all the things that would go into the room, options, different palettes, how to put the palette together. So it just sort of spells it all out for you, but then you can go off and do that in your own time. So, um, yeah, we're very. We'll probably launch those in january. We were going to try and launch them this year, but I feel like I totally forgot about the old um black friday sales that go on forever and make a lot of noise, so I'm just going to give it a little space.
Speaker 1:That's smart and so I think that's so exciting because I guess when I see your projects, I'm like where's that from, where's that from? Oh my gosh, like how she put those together. So it's like your little secret, you know sources and everything, which is really nice.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and just to make you know it's great to try and make you know good design affordable, not just from a product point of view, but being able to, like, pull together a space that you feel great in, like what we've talked about, um. So you know, I'm hoping that those five styles that we create, there's one that you can be drawn to, um, that you'll love and be able to, you know, do that in your own home, which is, yeah, fantastic, so they can do your course and they can come and buy my thing and they've got the whole thing together living a fabulous life.
Speaker 1:I love that, I. I love that. So good Brie, all right, yeah, lovely to chat Azel. Yeah, lovely to chat. And yeah, you guys, we have got some really special guests lined up for you, so we're super excited to be sharing them every week Very exciting.
Speaker 1:So thanks for listening, ciao, bye. We've got the utmost respect for the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. They're the OG custodians of this unceded land and its waters, where we set up shop, create and call home and come to you. From this podcast today, a big shout out to all of the amazing elders who have walked before us, those leading the way in the present and the emerging leaders who will carry the torch into the future. We're just lucky to be on this journey together.