Where you studied and what: Studied Graphic Design at Randwick TAFE and then assisted stylists.
When you started your business and how: I started styling and got an agent 22 years ago.
The best business advice you ever received: Be nice to the assistants as one day they will be giving you work.
Size of your team if you have one: I expand or shrink depending on the jobs but generally there’s me and one other.
Your proudest achievement so far: In life it’s my kids and at work it’s seeing the completion of two major interior projects.
When did you realise you’d made it? I think the day you realise you’ve made it, you quit. Work is about constantly evolving and setting new standards and levels of achievements and trying new things. You realise you’ve found recognition in an area when people ask you to fill out questionnaires like this!
Best investment you’ve ever made in your business: Self development is incredibly expansive and helps everything move forward. Therefore it’s a great business investment.
Learning Vedic meditation helped me a lot, as did doing a digital photography course. One gave me the space to think clearly and the other to understand light and how important it really is in my job.
What do you outsource? I outsource a lot. It’s so much a part of working fast. From CAD to cleaning. I outsource anything that supports me to do a better job and focus on what I do best.
Biggest challenge in running a business: A creative person needs to learn business and (accounting software) Xero. Finance is 80 percent of any business.
Favourite project of all time: A client with confidence always helps. An interiors job I did.
Whose work inspires YOU? I like artistic thinkers. People who think beyond what society finds acceptable at the time. Art Deco, Bauhaus and a lot of German architects and designers fall into that category for me – Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Le Corbusier, Wassily Kandinski. I’m also very influenced by Sonia Delaney for her use of colour.
Describe your own home: It’s not at all what I design for others. It’s mismatched but comfortable. I think you should have the best of what you can afford from sheets, glasses to cutlery. The indulgence of everyday items makes you feel better and then you don’t need a lot.
How big should your rug be? Always balanced out beyond the sofa. It really depends on the size of the room but definitely not just floating under the coffee table. It should reach as far beyond the other pieces of furniture as possible.
Your advice for would-be designers/stylists: Assist and learn from lots of people because everyone has one great secret or tip to share.
What you’re working on at the moment: I’ve got my advertising campaigns, editorial shoots and then two lovely interior design jobs that will take about two years which is enough for me.
Do you love your job now as much as ever? I know my job better and when you come up against problems you’ve usually dealt with them before. So there’s foresight and less anxiety now. This all means that I feel far less pressure, which I love.
FAVOURITES
- Colour: Green.
- Piece of furniture in your home: Fortuny lamp or Bombole sofa.
- International designer/stylist: Vincent Van Dysen or Christian Liagre and stylist would be Faith Toogood.
- White paint colour: Always Murabond Nero.
- Accessory for a wow factor: Lucite or Perspex anything.
EITHER OR
- Open plan or separate rooms? I like separate rooms with doors that give you the flexibility to close off or open spaces up.
- Luxe or casual? Casual with a few understated luxe touches.
- Neutral or colourful? Neutral but not boring.
- Linen or cotton bedding? Linen.
- Wallpaper or paint? Paint.
- Bath or shower? Bath.
- Tea or coffee? Coffee.
