Top qualities in a stylist for kids room design? Obviously their portfolio of children’s spaces. But when one has a personality that makes you feel like the sun is shining and openly admits to loving fairy bread, you kind of know you’re on to an especially good thing. I mean that type of person is going to really tap into what a kid is going to love!
I’ve had the pleasure of working with Jessi Eve on product styling photoshoots. She has a sense of joy and fabulous love of puns alongside an absolute dedicated eye for detail. So you have belly-laugh fun and get outstanding results which is a rare balance really!
Jessi has taken the time to answer some questions about kids room design – sharing some tips and tricks along the way.
Tell us a little bit about you / where you live
I am an interior stylist living on the Coal Coast (Northern Suburbs of Wollongong) with my partner, Adam, and our dog/daughter, Bindi.
Which was your first kids room design?
The first kids’ room I designed was for my client up on the Gold Coast for a little boy. We went all out with:
- Patterned wallpaper, pendant light, book shelves and beanbags.
- Naturally Cane rattan bedhead.
- Mark Tuckey toy storage.
- The Family Love Tree multi-coloured side table.
- Dots By Donna wall art.
- Society of Wanderers bed linen.
- And the most beautiful textured shag rug for playing on.
There are so many of the same looks out there, but you manage to keep it current but different. How?!
Oh, thank you! That’s such a lovely compliment to receive! There is a lot out there and much of the same, I agree. Keeping up with the latest products, looks and trends is important (mainly because I too get tired of the same old looks on repeat) but I guess my point of difference comes from the fact that I tap into my own creativity to create a space.
Pinterest and Instagram don’t really come into it at all when establishing ideas or pulling together a look. I usually come up with something in my mind first. Then I sketch it out or look for images that might help portray those ideas to my client, rather than the other way around. It’s not about letting other people’s existing work influence my own ideas. It’s important to have a point of difference and level of originality in this industry!
I’ve dabbled in kids’ rooms décor but it’s harder than it looks. Why do you think an interior stylist is important?
I find a lot of the time, people might have a pretty good sense of the style or colour palette they want and so, armed with their Pinterest boards, assume they are good to go on their own. However, even if someone has all the furniture and decor pieces in mind to achieve the look they admire it doesn’t necessarily work in their space or mean that the execution will pay off.
Spatial planning and layout are probably one of the most valuable aspects of the services I offer. Determining the ideal layout for optimum functionality, the correct size and shape furniture, rugs, artworks, lighting etc. are all so important to ensuring a space “works”.
Too often, I get the call up after the fact and am brought in to help resolve a space. The outcome is often that some items just don’t work, so they need to be removed. This means costly mistakes that could have been avoided had a professional been hired to help from the beginning.
The other reason an interior stylist is a great idea is because they can ensure balance in the space. You don’t want to end up with a kid’s room that is overkill in a particular theme or colour nor bland and underwhelming.
A stylist can visualise a space to ensure there is just the right amount of each element to ensure the desired result is achieved. Above all else, if you aren’t someone with a strong idea of the look/theme/colour palette you’d like, a stylist can help you through this and present or workshop ideas for your deliberation.
What are some of your favourite things to add to kids’ rooms?
Display book shelves and little reading nooks with cute seating and comfy rugs, canopies either over a bed or as a tent, fun wallpaper and patterned bed linen!
How do you tackle storage?
Oversized baskets are my saviour. You can certainly have some more structured storage in the way of a unit but I love textured wicker and rattan baskets to hide larger toys etc. that just require a quick scoop up off the floor. They also add to the room’s aesthetic, rather than take away from it with a bulky plastic tub for example.
What kids’ projects are you working on?
I’ve just finished working on a couple of kids’ rooms over in California! I can’t wait to share those as the items I’ve sourced are all local to the USA so I’ve been able to use a whole new network of suppliers for these ones!
I am also working on another kid’s space for my Kiama project, nurseries in Coogee and Randwick and have a handful more, ready to roll in the new year once I’m back from overseas!
Plans, goals, dreams…
Continue attracting amazing clients who trust my vision! I’m also entertaining the idea of going back to do some extended study and further my skills in the industry whilst simultaneously attempting to find some work/life balance amongst it all! Ha!
Fave Book As A Child
Snugglepot & Cuddlepie by May Gibbs. I was OBSESSED (still kind of am TBH).
Fave Quote Of All Time
In the spirit of children’s books… “Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.” – Dr Seuss.
CREDITS: Jessi Eve Stylist. Photographers Citizens Of Style | The Design Villa | The Palm Co. | Jaye Chaffey Photography.