Only work with the best
In a week or so our 30 Mandalay Street new, custom-designed and built home will be available for purchase and Imogen Brown, Owner and Head Stylist of Home Staging Brisbane, will have played a key role in having it look spectacular. We work with Imogen to highlight the unique functionality of our prestige homes, so that buyers can see how to optimise each area for aesthetics and liveability. Put simply, Imogen makes our opulent homes pop even more.
We sat down with Imogen to speak of trends, tips, and what she has planned for the remainder of this very unprecedented year…
How did you get in to home staging, and what do you love about it?
I’ve always loved both real estate and interiors but worked instead in both advertising then business coaching. A move from England to Australia, a square peg, round hole job in the training department of a large energy company and the sudden death of my Mum led me to reassess what was important to me. I knew I wanted to use my creativity and run my own business and Home Staging seemed the perfect fit. I love my job. It’s a perfect blend of creativity, organisation, people and service. I feel very privileged to do what I do for a living.
What trends do you see emerging for this year?
Architecturally, I’m seeing the influence of the Calile Hotel and its urban tropical style – all archways, dusty pastels, light stone and marble, warm brass and hot summer days. This is being reflected in interiors. I’m seeing lighter, more natural materials and a softer palette.
What are some common home staging errors and styling mistakes?
For a seller, it’s not being able to see their house with objective eyes and believing that buyers will be able to see beyond the dated furniture or cluttered interior. They won’t, and will value the property less in the process.
For stylists, it’s not matching the style of the furniture to the architecture of the house. Kelly Wearstler, a leading interior designer calls this “designing into the architecture”. Put simply, if the furniture doesn’t match the style of the house the property doesn’t feel right to prospective buyers. The aim always is for the staging to feel so seamless that buyers don’t even realise the property has been staged.
What’s your number one home interiors tip?
When styling a house I aim for as perfect as possible but that’s not real life. I’d prefer to live in a loving and comfortable house rather than a magazine shoot any day. Aim for a feeling not just a look.
We loved this luxurious ‘feeling’ Imogen put together at Ulmarra.
Where do you live, and what’s your personal style at home?
I live on an acre block in Pullenvale. Before we even moved to Australia from London my husband had decided he wanted to live here; I think a ride-on mower was a big motivator! We live in a relocated Queenslander. The interiors have taken a slight back seat to family life and making other people’s houses beautiful for a living. I’m about to get a new kitchen after a wait of 12 years. I’d describe my style as English country meets industrial eclectic. It evolves over time and it doesn’t follow trends (no Calile Hotel for me!) All the pieces I love in my home have a story or were bought second-hand.
You work with a lot of real estate agents, and high profile Brisbane builders, what do you feel is the Tabrizi Home Builders difference?
Tabrizi build such beautiful and unique homes that I love to style, the finishes are always amazing too. I find Kevin fantastic to work with – he’s a good person first and great builder, second.
We really didn’t want to leave our River Park Place’s living room – soft yet glamorous.
With COVID-19 everyone’s had a bit of a ‘false’ start this year – what do you hope to achieve in the remainder of it?
I’m feeling really optimistic. I want to consolidate the relationships I have with my current high profile agents and builders whilst aligning with others that share my values so that my business continues to grow. I’ve been working on my business so that I’m in a great position to serve my agents and clients for the remainder of this year and for years to come.
Imogen stages 30 Mandalay Street, Fig Tree Pocket this week. Watch this space for photos. Enquiries through Alex Jordan, McGrath Paddington.