We spend 5 mins with successful and design savvy real estate styling and interior design firm founder/director Kim Hallis from Create Expectations.
Describe your style in three words?
Contemporary with a bit of luxury and a touch of eclectic!
What do you find people struggle with the most when it comes to decorating their home?
Firstly acknowledging the balance between comfort and looks and secondly chosing items that actually work with each other, they tend to just buy things they like but not always in consideration of existing furniture.
What do you love most about designing/styling?
Always discovering new products, healthy budgets (!!) and delighted clients ?
What does a typical work day look like for you?
When you run a styling/interior decorating/refurb project management company there is no typical day!!!
Any key pieces/trends you are loving at the moment?
I have always had a love affair with velvet and it is so hot right now, however, I will probably still be using it when it’s not!
I am also loving the use of darker, murky colours such as olive, ochre, dark teal and French navy as I have never really been a fan of the ‘colour pop’!
The one piece of advice you would tell you younger self?
Listen to your gut more and not other people and when you have a really cool idea bust your gut to make it a reality.
You’ve been in business an impressive 22 years, what would be your best business advice for designer starting out on their own?
Do not think the domestic design industry is all about picking fabric and furniture. You need to be a psychologist, friend, driver, cleaner, bookkeeper, you need patience and the ability to see another persons perspective. Hone your skills of listening and compromise. Do the small jobs even if they do not seem worthwhile to improve your skills and do not underestimate potential clients – they can often surprise you.
If you do this well, your jobs will get bigger and bigger as so much comes through the recommendation chain. Good luck!!
What’s your “go-to” rug?
You know what that is right now? It’s The Rug Collection Santa Monica in Beige and Silver! Not my usual style but now I am using it I can’t stop. It is beautiful, luxe and an individual - my clients are loving it!
Three people in the world (dead or alive), who would you have lunch with…
Oh God, this is always a difficult one and I will probably sound not very academic as I am not going to name any philosophers or uber cool designers.
George Michael – I have loved him since Wham
Jane Fonda – I think she is utterly fabulous
Ricky Gervais – he is just hilarious and totally my humour.
Who do you Instagram stalk for style inspiration?
Mostly overseas magazines and designers.
Kims expertise and charm is captured in a recent Sky News interview - worth a look (click play on image below).
WATCH KIM on Sky New Interview.
How can we keep up-to-date with your creative spaces?
Drop by our website or join the conversation on social to see our latest projects on instagram or facebook.