Six must-have features for a Hamptons style home

There’s no denying the enduring appeal of the Hamptons aesthetic. And with more and more people falling under its fresh white spell, we caught up with Interiors Addict talking through how to get the look.

Mouldings
Skirting boards, mouldings and architraves around your doors and windows are key to the Hamptons look. Panelled detail such as wainscoting and shiplap are great feature mouldings too. These features can be overused.

I find that people will do their whole home if their budget allows but if not they’ll just insert interior mouldings in specific areas such as the entrance or main living areas.

We’ve just got back from revealing Deborah Hutton’s newly renovated home for Open Homes Australia. The mouldings and architraves are all from Intrim and they look amazing.

Cabinetry
From the kitchen to the bathroom, laundry, fireplace and built-in bookshelves, Hamptons style cabinetry is key to the look. Think Shaker-style front door details with corresponding handles. Drawer pulls should be half-moon shaped and door hardware is usually a simple knob. As for finishes, it’s generally chrome or black but we’re seeing a bit more brass and polished nickel lately for that more modern take.

Colours
When it comes to colour ways, we’re looking for very light, bright and neutral tones that allow the moulding to shine. All the moulding details (architraves, skirtings, ceiling, window trim) should be white to make them pop and bring out detail. I recommend pairing the bright white with very subtle neutral colours. The complementary paint colours shouldn’t be too dark but should just feature a tint of grey or a tint of taupe. I’m a fan of Dulux Beige Royal, Hogs Bristle and Grand Piano but all in quarter strength.

Styling
From natural linens to jute rugs and plenty of American Oak timber, layering is vital to the aesthetic. Think layer upon layer upon layer like a Sara-Lee cake. Blue and white cushions, pops of black and white, floorboards are always American Oak or stained chocolate. Then finish the look with greenery including orchids and palms. I love the styled vignette too.

Create little vignettes throughout the home – style with items you love and things you have collected on your travels.

 

Lighting
Whether hung over the kitchen island bench, dining table or even used in a formal lounge, staircase, bedroom or bathroom, pendant lights are important for in achieving the Hamptons aesthetic. I love a chandelier in a bathrooms and wall sconces in entrances and bathrooms are a great look too. The finish should complement the rest of the home. Whether you choose chrome, black or brass depends on the other colour ways throughout the house. For example, if you’ve got brass taps and handles in the kitchen then you’d go gold over your kitchen island.

Exterior trims
Obviously exterior trims are important too. From weatherboard to cladding, mouldings and architraves you should make sure that all external trims are neutral in colour with white the best choice. The navy trend popping up of late also. We’re just completing a home with navy as the main external colour and the trims are all painted white. It’s perfect for those heavily coastal themed homes.

Hampton’s Style Expert

Here to think outside the box
Natalee Bowen The West Australian
Tuesday, 28 August 2018 11:13AM

New Homes gets to know Perth-based Hamptons style expert Natalee Bowen, who will contribute a monthly column in the West Australia on all things style and Hampton’s.

I am really looking forward to sharing my passion and knowledge of interior design with everyone here in Western Australia. After living overseas and interstate, it is great to be back creating beautiful homes within my own home town. For me, Perth has the most beautiful coastline and I couldn’t wait to create my dream home along it.

About me

I grew up in Perth as a daughter of a builder, so it was my destiny to fulfil a dream of creating beautiful homes. It has been an incredible experience working and living away from home, but Perth is where my heart is and has always been.

I have now been in the industry for more than 20 years and our company, Indah Island, has been commissioned both internationally and within Australia. As a Scyon Walls ambassador, I have spent the last few years travelling around Australia presenting new and inventive ways to create the Hamptons look to builders and high-profile clients.

Our work has been featured in many magazines, social media and TV programs such as Dream Homes, Ready Set Reno, Luxury Homes Revealed, Best Houses Australia and Through the Front Gate, and viewed by more than 40 million people in America.

I am also the Interior Designer for the new TV show Open Homes Australia, on which we share designer tips and tricks, take people through products and experiences, new trends and design ideas. Our latest media viewed was the television show Ready Set Reno, where we took people through the journey of renovations from start to finish.

Having designed homes across Australia and internationally, transforming my own Perth residence has been one of my favourite projects. It was finally a chance for the designer to become the client. It was great to experience the entire renovation of our family home and see it through the client’s eyes. It can a be messy and noisy experience, and a long and tedious ride, but in the end, the results are amazing and worth every second.

Telling your story through your home
With an all-inclusive approach to design, I work on new builds, renovations, interior styling and custom furniture design. Indah Island is known for its classic Hamptons style with a Caribbean twist. This aesthetic first emerged for me after I visited the United States for a holiday. The Hamptons and Cape Cod housing is so beautiful architecturally, and the furnishings are divine. After visiting I realised this was the look I had always emulated. These elements are what makes the Indah Island design aesthetic stylishly classic and timeless. However, the Hamptons can be such an overused cliche in Australia. The real look is in how you bring it all together.

There are many styles within the American classic, such as the glamorous Manhattan look, through to the traditional/classic beach vibe. A mansion appearance, to a typical home atmosphere, can be styled with this look. Although people know the term ‘Hamptons’, it doesn’t always have to be so strict, it can be used within a variety of different styles. Generally, what people are after is a classic/timeless look and a holiday feel. Your home should be your sanctuary – your place of respite. You ought to love every single nook and space, every room should tell your story; your travels, your life and your family.

 

A designer at your fingertips
As an interior designer and project consultant, I am there to think outside the box. My job is to be the advice-giver and problem-solver. As a client, you don’t want to be asked questions you don’t have the answers to, make decisions you’re unsure of or to walk through your home and realise it’s not what you wanted. A designer saves a lot of heartache and money in the long run.

These days I find the consumer to be savvier than ever. We are exposed to so many creative minds and ideas via social media, which can sometimes be overwhelming, so I am here to help you navigate the who, where and why in the interior design world. There is no limit to design, and I love to explore all avenues to create beautiful spaces. Living in WA doesn’t limit us to what is here, in fact, it allows us to be more creative and explorative, as it isn’t always at our fingertips.

On this journey, I will share my tips and tricks on how to successfully create your dream home. I want you to revel in the excitement of building, renovating and styling your own dream home, as I do with our Indah Island clients.

 

 

 

Expert Opinion: Hamptons Q&A with Natalee Bowen of Indah Island

 Original Article via Scyon Walls

We sat down with Hamptons designer, Natalee Bowen, to find out what she learned on her tour of some of the most luxurious homes in the Hamptons.

Q) HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE HAMPTONS LOOK?

Natalee: The style of housing in the Hamptons is architecturally magnificent, and the furnishings are made to match this sense of opulence.

To get the Hamptons look, it’s all about bringing the outdoors. Some tips for this include:

  • Positioning the doors and windows so they maximise light
  • Capturing the colours of the coast such as whites, blues, greens and creams
  • Using panelling that flows from the weatherboard outside to the internal detailing like skirting and cornices

Q) THE HAMPTONS LOOK IS SYNONYMOUS WITH THE COAST, BUT CAN IT WORK INLAND?

Natalee: Absolutely, the Hamptons style is not reserved exclusively for beachfront properties. The look is equally at home in the city or country. The best way to adapt the Hamptons look for a different setting is by understanding the requirements of your environment. For example, to create a country Hamptons home, I would recommend Scyon Linea™ weatherboard. Linea weatherboard allows you to achieve the classic weatherboard look without the maintenance of timber. It’s also resistant to termite and bushfire damage which is perfect for a rural setting.

Natalee recommends Scyon Linea weatherboard for the facade of your Hamptons home. It creates the look of traditional weatherboard minus the maintenance.

Q) THE LOOK IS POPULAR IN AMERICA, SO HOW HAS IT BEEN ADAPTED TO SUIT THE AUSTRALIAN STYLE?

Natalee: The Hamptons is renowned for its summer getaways over three months of the year, whereas Australia’s climate screams for open-plan living designs that are made for entertaining all-year round.

The Australian climate calls for open plan designs that blend the indoor/outdoor transition.

While Australian homes were once renowned for the colonial look with sweeping verandas and wooden mouldings, I think we now steer towards a more sophisticated and elegant style which is defined by clean weatherboard lines and a pared-back colour palette. I suggest consulting your builder or designer who will be able to suggest the right materials for adapting the classic Hamptons look to your area.

How to make the Hamptons look work in an Australian home

Catherine Nikas-Boulos, The Daily Telegraph

The Hamptons is often referred to as the playground for the rich and famous, but beyond the high society that frequent this seaside community on the east end of Long Island near New York in the US, it is an architectural wonderland that has inspired designers for generations.

Right now, Hamptons style is a predominant force in exterior and interior design in Australia. It’s on the hit list of every major retailer and builder with consumers referencing this look above any other.

The attraction to Hamptons style is the neutral colour palette, light and spacious living areas, natural textures, high ceilings and detailed touches like Shaker-style cabinets in the kitchen.

Outside, weatherboard cladding is the hallmark of this style.

This Hamptons home in the US captures all the signature features of the style.
The outdoor kitchen in this Hamptons home in the US might be all white but is layered with texture including cedar shingles and wall panelling.
Panelled glass doors provide a view over the manicured lawn

MAKING WAVES

The top end of the housing market has been enjoying a love affair with Hamptons style for a while but now some display home builders are embracing the trend.

Wisdom Homes managing director, Domenic Vitalone, says the Australian market is taking its best attributes then reworking them to suit our local market.

The company’s Inspiration 32 display home in Calderwood is a good example of this.

“It’s a much more contemporary house than the very traditional Hamptons home that might feature lots of dark wood and darker furnishings,” he says. “Ours is a more modern take, with white, crisp sharp lines.”

Domenic says to complete the Hamptons look, horizontal cladding is the ideal alternative to traditional timber which can splinter, fade or warp with our climate.

The Bayville by Metricon Homes has a generous all-white Shaker-style kitchen with abundant storage for entertaining friends.

“Some people may struggle with the idea of not using brick in a build,” he says. “While millennials might not have a problem with cladding, some older age groups won’t feel 100 per cent confident making the change from brick to a lightweight material.”

Overall, he says the display homebuyer is embracing the Hamptons trend.

“The Hamptons is very popular right now and most builders will try to capitalise on it,” he says. “Like other trends, we try to find a design solution that works in our market.

“Even if you don’t live on the coast, you can appreciate this style of home. It’s modern with open living areas and landscaped garden. It appeals to the Australian way of life,” he says.

“It’s about making your home feel like a holiday spot.”

GROWING DEMAND

Metricon design director Adrian Popple says their Hamptons-inspired Bayville home, on display in Brighton East, Victoria, has become one of their most in-demand designs.

“We’ve seen a huge uptake in that design, and even though the display home is in Melbourne, people in Sydney and up and down the eastern seaboard are loving it and building it,” he says.

“Something about the coast and warmer climates translates.

“I think people are attracted to the casual feel of the home, but it’s also inviting, stylish and sophisticated with a lot of white throughout.”

Adrian says the company won’t be producing a direct replica of the Hamptons home. Instead of shingles and cedar, here it is slate roof tiles and weatherboard cladding.

The Bayville by Metricon Homes picks up on key design elements including wide floorboards, large windows and detailed cornices.

TAKE THE WEATHER WITH YOU

Given Australia’s harsh climate, timber boards are not the obvious choice for a new home.

James Hardie has cornered the Hamptons market in Australia with its Scyon Linea weatherboard cladding.

Steve Pisani, national builder business manger at James Hardie, explains the product complements the Hamptons look. It’s hard-wearing, low maintenance and resistant to damage from termites, rot, moisture and fire.

Builders like to use it because it can be gun nailed to a frame, and is easy to cut.

Steve says weatherboard cladding is ideal as a modern version of the Hamptons home.

“Hamptons has many styles — historical, traditional and even castles. We are trying to create an Australian version of the Hamptons with volume builders, who take on hundreds of projects a year,” he says.

As the product can go directly on to steel or timber, theoretically, using the weatherboard cladding system will be a faster build than using other traditional methods.

“If there was a scale of one to 10 in terms of popular home trends, Hamptons style would sit at the top. In all the surveys that we are doing, builders are telling us that consumers love the Hamptons design above all else. Not everyone can afford a million-dollar home, but they can get the Hamptons look.”

A QUICK TOUR OF THE HAMPTONS

Natalee Bowen, Hamptons expert of Indah Island and ambassador for Scyon Walls, explains how to get the Hamptons look.

● Many people often get the Hamptons look wrong by adding floral prints making it too flowery and turning the interior English or French Provincial looking. Sometimes people also confuse the look with shabby chic, which is very different.

● Hamptons style is not reserved exclusively for beachfront properties. The look is equally at home in Sydney with the soft neutral tones, natural elements and laid-back atmosphere.

● The facade should withstand the test of time. It lends itself well to renovating older Australian homes as most have wraparound verandas and high ceilings — two key characteristics of Hamptons style.

Hamptons style expert Natalee Bowen of Indah Island combines crisp whites with shades of blue and natural materials to get a stylish coastal look.

● Key materials include wide oak floorboards in either an American mocha shade or stained dark oak. Panel walls and built-in cabinetry are all must haves, and the floorplan should be open to create a flow. Glass french doors are also key.

● Traditionally, a Hamptons colour scheme is comprised mostly of variations of white, with accents of grey and blue used as complementary shades.

More James Hardie, jameshardie.com.au; scyon.com.au; Metricon Homes, metricon.com.au; Wisdom Homes, wisdomhomes.com.au; indahisland.com

The writer travelled to the Hamptons in the US as a guest of James Hardie

Light & Lovely: How to achieve the Hamptons look for your home

Top tips on how to achieve the grand, Hamptons-inspired look for your home and interior

Recently I visited The Hamptons on a media trip, as a guest of Scyon Walls. The trip was curated to show members of the Australian media and building industries just what the popular Hamptons look really is and how to achieve it.

If you’re a fan and follower of architecture and interiors, you’ll have noticed that The Hamptons look is very popular in Australia; and rightly so as we have the perfect weather and geographic locations for this seaside-inspired style. But according to Australian builder and designer, Natalee Bowen from Indah Island, who specialises in Hamptons style houses and interiors, “Hamptons can be such an over-used cliché in Australia. However, the real look is in how you bring it all together.”

The Hamptons is a coastal community on the south shore of Long Island, New York frequented by Manhattan’s elite, who, since the nineteenth century, have owned weekenders or summer houses in the area where they retreat to escape the heat of the city. The location features many grand houses, often hidden from view behind wide sand dunes and high hedges. Residents fiercely guard their privacy in this elite enclave and it’s not so easy to see the houses from the road. We were however, given access to several homes where we could experience the architecture and interiors up close. We also had the bonus of hearing from local architect, author and historian, Gary Lawrance who took us through several historic homes, explaining the origin and development of the style and the choice of materials used in their construction.

In contrast to Coastal style, which has a more casual vibe, the Hamptons has a classic and formal yet relaxed look. Its architecture is characterised by mostly white or weathered grey exteriors, horizontal timber cladding or shingles, gables and lots of details such as porches, balconies, balustrades and mouldings. But to define a single Hamptons look would be difficult as I found many examples of architectural styles including Colonial Revival, Arts and Crafts, neo Georgian to very contemporary designs.

The Hamptons style of home we know in Australia fits easily into our coastal landscape. The wide verandas provide shade from the summer sun while French doors and porches are perfect for outdoor entertaining. Interiors are light and bright with high ceilings and mostly neutral colour schemes, often set off against duck-egg blue or navy-coloured furnishings and accessories. Black Japan floors, black handrails and hardware contrast with brilliant white walls, balustrades and joinery; bleached oak or light timber floors can also be used effectively. Carpets or rugs are of natural fibres in neutral tones and kitchens feature white joinery with classic mouldings and honed white marble benchtops; splashbacks and bathrooms feature subway tiles or penny rounds in ceramic or marble finishes. Blue or grey painted cabinetry and joinery is an alternative to all white, and works well in coastal homes, reflecting the colours of the ocean.

The defining element for an Australian version of the Hamptons house seems to be the popularity of vertical cladding, traditionally made of timber. Scyon Linea cladding is a low maintenance and hard-wearing cement composite weatherboard alternative, with deep shadow lines, perfect for the Hamptons look. The material will maintain its integrity and general appearance significantly longer than timber and when used with the right insulation and in accordance with the standard installation instructions, an R-Value of up to 2.8 can be achieved for the wall with greater total R-Values achieved using cavity wall construction and reflective vapour permeable membranes. Additional benefits include resistance to damage from termites, rot and fire. It can also be gun nailed and, like timber, is easy to cut.

Whether building a new house or renovating an existing property – such as Natalee’s home – it’s easy to achieve the Hamptons look, if you consult an expert who is confident with this style and who can turn your vision of a light, bright Hamptons-inspired home from a dream to reality.

www.scyon.com.au www.indahisland.com

Sitting Down with Stylish Perth Interior Designer Natalee Bowen

For 20 years, Natalee Bowen has brought her love of design to client projects. As the director of the Indah Island design firm, she’s worked at the national and international level. Natalee’s work has been featured in the media from TV shows to magazines including Dream Homes, Luxury Homes Revealed, and Through the Front Gate. Offering full project management services, Natalee delivers an eye for details to each client project that starts with the colour planning and moves through every aspect of the project.

Describing her style as a combination of classic Hamptons with an infusion of tropical and island elements, Natalee realised how to categorise her aesthetic following a trip to the legendary Hamptons seven years ago. She is driven by a love for the Hamptons and also the Cape Cod style, including the architecture as well as the furnishings, in large part because they remain classic and timeless.

Natalee’s Hamptons design aesthetic fits perfectly with our own Hamptons and French inspired furniture so we were excited so sit down with Natalee and chat.

1. When did you first decide to become an interior designer and stylist and how did you get started with your design?

I grew up in Perth WA with a father that was a very renowned builder and I fell in love with all elements of design. I was in mechanising for a while to make ends meet, until I realised that I really loved designing homes and styling. 

Indah Island was born a few years later, after living abroad and on the East Coast where I was finding my style and the direction I wanted to go. I went to New York and to the Hamptons around 7 years ago and realised that this was the look I had always emulated and so really emerged myself into the Hamptons classic American style and made it my own.

2. What is the most challenging part of your job?

The most challenging part of my job is being a perfectionist!! I also am very hands on with all clients so I need to make sure I don’t spread myself too thin. I love every aspect of the process from the design of the home through to the cushion making and everything in between. I get very heavily involved in every element including the selection, where fixtures and finishes are going including things like towel rails lights and then furniture. I do it all !!!

The pros of having my own design business is that I get to be creative on a daily basis, problem solving, being able to source incredible products and travel all over the world and see the most beautiful furnishings, homes and fabrics. Also trawling through magazines and online for hours on end and calling it research!!! As the saying goes “Find something you love and work out how to make a living and you will never work a day in your life”!!!

The cons!!! All the above ……. Working for yourself takes endless hours of labour intensive work and sometimes you give more hours then you are paid. I always tell clients that they get a lot of bang for their buck with Indah Island as we really go the extra mile!!! This can mean working all hours, being on site at the drop of the hat, working out figures, and business plans and not having too much time for play. It does seem glamourous from the outside in however it is a lot of hard work. Also when you are doing projects you don’t get a lot of down time, so holidays are generally going to trade shows!!!

  

3. Is there an interior design style you favour and do you have your own design aesthetic? 

My design style is very classic American Hamptons with a twist of Caribbean, Bahamas. It is very stylish, classic and layered. Hamptons can be such an over used cliché in Australia, however the real look is in how you bring it all together.

There are many styles within the American classic such as glamorous Manhattan style, the traditional Hamptons, using eclectic antique pieces or a classic beach style. This way, a glamorous mansion to a typical 4 x 2 home can be styled with this look.

  

4. Who are other interior designers you admire?

When I created Indah Island’s style it was really inspired from a lot of American designers. There isn’t one but a slice of many that has then created Indah Islands style.

5. What inspires you? 

I am inspired daily from books, TV shows and trawling through mountains on Instagram and Pinterest pics. Also travelling is a great source of inspo, travelling all over the world you see so many different things that can trigger your thought pattern and a look is created!!

  

6. What do you think is the essential piece of furniture we should all have in our bedroom?

I think a fabulous custom bedhead,  detailed side tables with divine lamps with custom shades, loads of beautiful layered bedding and cushions that you can lay and just feel calm and relaxed.

7. What key element do we all need for a chic living room? 

Seating that invites you to create conversation. Be creative with your occassional chairs, be bold with fabric and cushions.

8. Do you have a favourite project or story behind a project?

When we renovated our own home, it was fantastic to really be very creative, to make sure we got the most out of the home. It was a 20 year old run down home worst house best street …..in a fabulous location. The best part was being able to have a vision and bring it to life! It was very funny waking up with the trades on site then going on to other sites with them there. They became part of the family!!

We have done 2 renovations on this home, the first we did before we moved in, in 8 weeks!! We guttered, moved walls, re did flooring, cabinetry, painted internal and external, added bifolds to take advantage of the marina view.

Our 2nd most recent, which will be on the new channel 9 TV show in September, you will see the next transformation of the external works. We added a pool, alfresco, beautiful detailed balustrade works and re decked the levelled area. It again was great to experience what I put clients through. It is a messy, noisy experience and it can also be a long tedious ride, that being said the results are always amazing!! I always try to get clients to try to go away and then be wowed on their return!

  

Let’s Get Personal …..

1. What else are you passionate about besides your work? 

Our amazing farm!! The country has so much to offer and having land creates a sense of getting back to nature to breathe fresh air. This farm is our fifth generation homestead that we are renovating so it’s a work of passion that we love!!

2. What is your most treasured belonging? 

My darling husband and girls, nothing else matters for me. If they are happy I am happy . I treasure them more than anything else. Oh and of course my new puppy Alfie !!!!! Too cute for words I call him my therapy dog!!

3. What’s one thing people may not know about you?

I actually wanted to be a fashion designer and was designing and selling clothes at the age of 15!! My parents had told me that they had spent way too much money on my private school eduction to justmake clothes and told me to go study!! I couldn’t see the point in studying fashion as I was already making money from this so I studied interior design and fell in love!!

4. In 10 years I’d like to be …. 

What’s next !!!! Well load of exciting things….. I am the ambassador for Scyon Walls, and we are about to take a trip of a lifetime and take the magazine editors of Home Beautiful, House and Garden, Country Homes, Inside Out, Grand Design and a few more and a handful of builders to a design trip to the Hamptons!! Lucky ducks….Here I am going to be showing them through some exquisite homes and really treating them to the Hamptons lifestyle so they really get a feel of why the Hamptons and how the Hamptons is revolutionising homes here in Australia!!!

Whilst I am there I have been asked to film a home in the Hamptons for a design show they produce called Through The Front Gate. For Australia and America. I will also be teaming up with an amazing architect to the celebritie !!! A pinch me moment I am sure. 

On my return we are also filming a new TV design show where Indah Island will feature weekly with design tips!!! We are also launching our new website soon which will include all the TV show for people to see.

My goal, as duty of care, is to help people have incrediblly beautiful homes, to help make their build or renovation process as pleasurable as possible and to create divine spaces all over Australia and share my knowledge with client to create homes they never want to leave. 10 years from now, my own design TV show a few coffee table books and maybe a B&B on our farm!!

5. What can’t you live without? 

I am old school so beautiful magazines, I still love flipping through the pages and spending hours pouring over interior porn!!!! Oh and my pup Alfie ……

Natalee continues to give her all to her design work, always going above and beyond with each project. While she says her work doesn’t leave her with much free time, her love for interior design fulfills her and inspires her. She spends endless amounts of time sourcing inspiration, whether it’s in magazines, on social media or through her travels, while balancing her work load with country living on her farm she’s working to remodel.

Interview via Lavender Hill Interiors

Now THIS is how you do Hamptons decor in Australia!

Natalee Bowen has always been creative. At the age of 15, she started designing and selling clothes, a career she would have happily pursued if it wasn’t for her parents. “They told me they had spent way too much money on my private school education for me to just make clothes,” Natalee explains. “So they told me to go study! I couldn’t see the point in studying fashion as I was already making money from it, so the next obvious choice was to go and study interior design and I fell in love.”

A few years later, Indah Island was born. With a holistic approach to design, she works on new builds and renovations, as well as interior styling and custom furniture design. Her style is classic Hamptons with a Caribbean twist, an aesthetic that emerged after Natalee visited the US holiday destination. “Visiting the Hamptons, I realised that this was the look I had always emulated… Hamptons can be such an overused cliché in Australia, however the real look is in how you bring it all together. There are many styles within the American classic such as the glamorous Manhattan look to the traditional classic beach vibe. A mansion to a typical home can be styled with this look.”

Having designed homes across Australia, transforming her own Perth residence has been one of Natalee’s favourite projects. Adding a pool, an alfresco area, detailed balustrade work and decking, it was a chance for the designer to become the client. “It was great to experience what I put others through! It is a messy, noisy experience and it can also be a long and tedious ride but the results are amazing!”

Other career highlights include a beautiful house in a prestigious area of Perth, which she was involved in from initial design to final furnish. With the dream brief “just do what you would do if this was your home,” Natalee was on site for every breakthrough and setback. “When renovating, you start to peel away years of a home and it can reveal a load of issues. But if there weren’t dramas I would be worried; these create fast-thinking creative design ideas and great teamwork.”

It’s for this reason Natalee recommends clients have an interior designer or project consultant, as while trades read what’s on a plan, designers are paid to think outside the box. “My job is to be the advice-giver and problem-solver. You don’t want a client to be asked questions they don’t have the answers to or walk into their home and realise what they got is not what they wanted. A designer saves a lot of heartache and a lot of money in the long run.”

Now with a successful business behind her, Natalee’s biggest achievements of late have been on the silver screen. Alongside cameos on a range of interior design shows, she will star in Channel 9’s upcoming program Ready, Set, Reno. “In two episodes we are going to go through the entire renovation, up until the reveal. It will allow clients to see the process and the end result in each episode, which is fantastic.”

With many other exciting television projects underway it’s fair to say we haven’t seen the last of Natalee. So stay tuned, we may have the next Shaynna Blaze in our midst!

Interview via Interiors Addict