‘Shop Like a Stylist’ feature, commissioned by Real Living magazine, Australia.

When I worked as the Melbourne Style Editor for Real Living magazine I was asked to choose my top 10 interiors stores and be part of a feature called ‘Shop Like a Stylist’. I staged a room-set in my home and incorporated products from my favourite Melbourne stores, including Made by Tait, Southwood Home, Great Dane Furniture and Crate Expectations. As part of the story I was asked to talk about my signature style and explain how I like to work when planning an editorial shoot or designing for a client.

Mis-matched pieces work surprisingly well together if they're set against a neutral backdrop, such as this soft grey wall colour called Winnipeg Fog from Dulux. Starting with a neutral base, I have fun layering colour and texture until the balance is just right and the room feels inviting. I tend to rely on my instinct and think outside the box - if it feels right, then I go for it and trust my judgement. This striking yellow ‘Jil’ outdoor coffee table is by iconic Australian outdoor furniture brand, Made by Tait. I love how these powder coated steel pieces can work surprisingly well inside, as well as out.

At the time I created this room set for ‘Shop Like a Stylist’ we were also working on our homewares brand, Curio & Curio, so I took the opportunity to incorporate some of our hand printed cushions in to the scheme. Here I’ve also paired our Curio & Curio mint Zig Zag lampshade with one my favourite treasures, this hand painted cockatoo lamp base from Studio Australia.

Porcelain mint beaker and small yellow jug, Mud Australia; resin deer wall hanging, Venucci; pink Heart and teal Small Dot hand printed linen cushions, Curio & Curio; Triangle throw, Ferm Living.

When designing any scheme, I find a main piece that anchors the space – this could be a rug, an artwork or furniture. Here this eye-catching Zebra painting was my starting point. I took colours from the artwork and repeated them around the room to create a balanced scheme. Most pieces can work well together if they're linked by colour. I tend to be drawn to an eclectic mix of furniture and accessories that have a mid-century feel with a modern twist. To avoid a scheme looking too perfect, I throw in an extra colour, or an element of surprise, which makes the space feel more relaxed, as if it’s come together over time.

Multi coloured ‘Zebra’ painting, Marie Claire Furniture; Juno Lucina sofa in Putty fabric, Globewest; cushions from left: orange hand printed ‘London Electric Zig Zag’ cushion; teal ‘Small Dot’ cushion; just seen mint ‘Large Dot cushion, all Curio & Curio. Finnish reindeer rug (hanging over the back of the sofa), Great Dane Furniture; hanging from ceiling: Oblong white paper lamp shade and ‘Raw’ side table in yellow, both Safari Living. Power coated, zinc plated steel ‘Jil’ coffee table in lemon yellow, designed by Justin Hutchinson for Melbourne based outdoor furniture brand, Made by Tait.

Always working on a tight turnaround, I was pleased that friend and photographer, Lisa Cohen was able to squeeze this shoot in at the last minute and will always be grateful that she captured such beautiful images. I first met Australian born, Lisa in London when we both worked at leading publishing houses on various titles. She was in-house interior stylist for both House & Garden and Homes & Garden magazine, before switching to photography. When she moved to Melbourne we began working together again for Aussie magazines. Thank you also to Sarah Ellison, (Real Living’s Senior Stylist at the time), for commissioning me to be part of ‘Shop Like a Stylist.’

In this image I’m wearing one of my own designs – Petal hand printed linen top from Curio & Curio and ‘Lenotre’ Italian made, leather sandals from shoe designer Annie Abbott of Habbot Studios. One of the dreams I realised while living in Melbourne was to bring out my own capsule collection of linen dresses, tops and skirts. I drew some simple designs and enlisted the help of a local pattern cutter to grade patterns. We hand printed the linen ourselves and had them made up by the same seamstress that sewed our cushions. I was so proud when I saw the pieces looking beautiful, hanging in a shop called White Nest on the Mornington Peninsula - and they all sold!

I enjoy creating playful, whimsical interiors in fresh colours. I'm drawn to bold pattern, bright hues, sculptural shapes and animal motifs. I like to think my interiors are magical wonderlands for grown-ups, somewhere to escape and make you smile.

When I go out propping, I make notes and take photos of whatever catches my eye, then, back in my studio I’ll draw sketches of these pieces together in a room. This gives me a good idea of what will work together and what won't. The most important thing for me is to have a colour palette to start with, so everything falls into place from there. I also often create a digital mood board, putting the various elements together, so I can see how the patterns and colours play off each other. I generally gravitate towards round and curved shapes in a room scheme, because I find they are so much more harmonious and easier to live with than more angular shapes.

Armadillo ‘Triangle’ New Zealand wool rug from the Designer Collection, Southwood Home; Kennedy Occasional chair in ‘Arctic’ fabric, Globewest and Teal ‘Small Dot’ hand printed linen cushion, Curio & Curio.