| In Conversation with Dee McBain... |
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 What do you do as a Property Stylist? |
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I decorate and enhance the way a property looks and feels.
…..in doing so I create attraction…. fascination…. presence…. the result when mixed together…...a delightfully wonderful, liveable property.
Someone one, once said to me “you create the surrounds and the atmosphere to sink in and enjoy” I must say I was very happy with that ……because that is exactly what I always wish to achieve. |
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| How do you best describe your Property Styling? |
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There are so many aspects I could describe…perhaps a few….and perhaps what I love….
I love to create stories…
I love mixing colours…
I love flowers to startle…
I love simplicity to create fascination…
I love attention to detail…
I love creating a flow of atmosphere...
I love creating a presence and a vision…
I love creating dreams… |
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| How did you get started as a Property Stylist? |
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I have always loved creating a difference.
My background is couture design and within that mixing colours, textures and fabrics and creating that unique difference.
I commenced Property Styling almost by accident…
Simply…. I was asked by a real estate agent friend who had seen my “interior creations” , to present and decorate a property, proposed for sale, that really did need re-creation.
That property achieved a sale price significantly above expectations….. that led me on to re-create further properties which achieved like results and so…. now here I am…..a Property Stylist .
I guess you could say that really means I am actually called the accidental Property Stylist.
I do love what I do….it’s not a job…. because I do what I love. |
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| What would you regard as the three most important 'things' regarding a property? |
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Everyone talks about…location, location, location.
Well…….yes ……but really……..presentation, presentation, presentation.
If you would allow me to add a few extra words I would add…. vision….fascination ……presence and…. liveability. |
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| What’s your favorite room? |
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Shock….horror…definitely the bedroom.
Why? .... a bedroom best allows the mix of surrounds..textures… and colours……all reflecting a miscellany of presence and tranquillity |
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| If you arranged to have flowers to be delivered to your home, what would you choose? |
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| Japonica…..why…..the beauty of Japonica is in the detail of the twists and turns of the long branches and every now and then a small and delicate flower will emerge…..one of my favourites are also violets….why….just because….. |
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| What are some of the most common trouble spots that you see? |
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It is not so much that there are specific trouble spots…
It is more that many and perhaps most people do not have the eye or imagination to be able to visualise what a room could really look like.
The freedom of creativity is visualisation.
I find that any house or room I enter, my creativity instinctively….. mentally….. rearranges and re-creates before my eyes.
Everyone has a gift and is good at something, my gift is visualisation and creativity.
And to answer your question….trouble spots….there is never only one….. there are always many…..but that is where I come in.…. |
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| "Do you shop at IKEA? |
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This is perhaps…... where I say …..I was born to shop…..as to IKEA….let me answer this way…
It is most important in my role as a property stylist that I am up-to-date with all different styles, decors, colours and fabrics whether that be IKEA or Versace….so yes ….I do also shop at IKEA. |
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| Do you read home and decorating magazines to add to your ideas? |
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I must say I one of my favourite pastimes is reading all types of magazines, fashion, health and home and décor.
I can’t say that the magazines necessarily ….add to my ideas …..because I do find myself looking at a “home beautiful page” and re-creating the picture within….visualising and thinking….why did they not do……this…..that….colour change….a throw over the chair…..a story in the room to create interest….furniture not quite positioned to best effect …….can’t help myself….always re-creating…
What is important to me and what I do gain from magazines….. apart from the enjoyment of a quiet read….. is keeping abreast and assessing the styles presented. |
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| You talk about stories, what are they? |
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First I must say I love creating stories…and I do create a story or stories in all homes and in most rooms that I style.
What is a story….it can be anything from the way I arrange and present flowers ….through to the way I arrange a blend of accessories, artefacts and interesting pieces on say a consol table, kitchen bench, cabinet, dresser etc.
People often ask why … ..and ….what made you put those together……its amazing….. It will be a story I have created…..with that said…. I know I have created feeling, interest and dreams.
…and that is why I create stories…. |
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