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Kym Quick has always had a knack for styling interiors. One half of Mode Property Styling, she gave us a peek inside the bedroom of her Ballarat home, and shared her secrets to styling this sacred space.
Why is your bedroom your favourite room?
Once upon a time I would never have thought that a bedroom could be my favourite space in a house. I think that years of travelling in my previous career gave me an all new appreciation of how important a space for rest and rejuvenation had become. In my previous (career) life I spent a lot of time travelling, sleeping in hotel rooms and constantly waking up somewhere new. I realised that waking up in my own bed surrounded by my own things became an important part of making sure that I took the time to take care of myself when life didn't always allow me to. My bedroom became more and more "over the top" as time went by, but I love waking up feeling like I am in an upmarket hotel room, but surrounded by my own things - particularly things that I have picked up in my travels. There are a lot of random items in my room, but each of them holds a special place in my heart and memory.
Where did you collect the items from?
I am a massive fan of British Colonial style and I think over the years, my love of that look has evolved. With every trend that has come and gone, the items that are best reflected in this genre are the ones that I have retained over time and find timeless. The style of my home is polarising - you love it or you hate it. I love it and that's how I want to live my life. My room is filled with items from my travels - I have been especially impacted by my travels to Africa and Asia and you will see a lot of things that reflect that. British Colonial is all about vintage trunks, chinoiserie décor, greenery and exotic collectables. There is a story to each of them - but probably not enough room in this magazine to articulate. What I will say is that travel to North Africa, the Middle East and Asia have been life changing - in some cases life saving!
This article is from the new edition of Your Home. Click here to read the entire magazine online.
How does styling your bedroom differ from styling the bedroom of a house that's for sale?
If I was selling the property that I live in then I would definitely re-style it! Most people decorate and design their homes to reflect the life they want to lead in them and that won't always appeal to the broader market that you need to attract to get the best result in the sale of a property. Myself and the other half of Mode, Claire Warren, always ensure that people understand that when we style their property, we are not making a judgement on the way they live in their homes, we are just ensuring that we show the property to its best potential to appeal to a broad section of the market.
What about home styling versus property (for sale) styling in general?
It is really important to make sure that your property is styled with items that are relevant to the era and highlight the features of the home. It also needs to detract from the negative features. Don't just fill the room with furniture for the sake of filling a space. Anyone can go to Kmart and buy things that will fill a gap - but is that going to appeal to the buyer that you want to get interest from? Our objective at the end of each styling project is to ask ourselves if we would be happy moving into that home. Our strategy is to always ensure that potential buyers walk into the home and can see themselves living there. Property is such an emotional investment for people and a lot of people can't visualise how to take an average home and make it amazing without extensive investment. Our job is to make sure that when purchasers - either looking for a family home or an investment - can immediately see the potential of the space.
Tips on styling your own bedroom?
If you are styling to live, there are no rules! Do what makes you happy in your space. Some people (me) love seven star luxe - others like minimalist fuss-free. Whatever you do, make sure it brings you joy when you open your eyes every morning, and make sure it relaxes and rejuvenates you when you retire there at night. Styling to sell means taking any polarising aspects of the décor out and replacing it with classic and timeless pieces that the broader target market will appreciate. Use colour that works with the palette of the space you are working with. More importantly, trust your stylist - they may create a space that is different to how you have lived with it in the past, and they may just open your eyes to a space that you never dreamed possible.