Emilie Smith inside one of two display apartments she decorated at the East Brunswick Village (EBV) project by Banco Group. Photo: Armelle Habib
You might think pulling together a beautiful home requires a big budget.
But interior designer Emilie Smith says having limited cash to spend on decor can be a bonus.
“A smaller budget can actually result in an outcome that is more interesting, unique and satisfying than if you’d walked into a store and bought everything in one go,” she said.
“It just takes a bit more time, resourcefulness, and maybe even learning some new skills to create a gorgeous interior without a hefty price tag.”
Ms Smith recently furnished two display apartments at Banco Group’s new East Brunswick Village (EBV).
Here are some of the clever ideas she used.
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Saffron Newey’s cloud mural drifting above dreams. Photo: Armelle Habib
1. Cloud mural
Ms Smith commissioned Melbourne artist Saffron Newey to paint a striking mural on a bedroom wall.
“At EBV, there’s a lot of art in the communal spaces, including a large mural by Saffron,” Ms Smith explained.
“I knew she’d painted clouds in the past. So I asked her to paint a cloud above one of the beds, which she did in a gorgeous teal, inspired by a lamp I’d also put in the room.”
She said the mural added a “dreamy and ethereal” quality to the space, which she didn’t think would be achieved with a framed artwork.
Banquette seating by the dining table. Photo: Armelle Habib
2. Banquette-style seating
If space is tight around a dining table, a practical solution is to use banquette-style seating that can also double as storage.
Ms Smith asked local furniture designer Nick Pearce to make a banquette seat for one of the apartments.
“There’s a perception bespoke is super expensive, but that’s not always the case,” she said.
“And I love the idea of using local makers to design a piece of furniture that fits perfectly into a space.
“The banquette would also work well in an entrance way, as a place to put on and store your shoes.”
An antique table surrounded by modern chairs. Photo: Armelle Habib
3. Antique table
Ms Smith is a fan of buying second-hand furniture to add texture and character to an interior — and because it can be cheaper than buying new.
She sourced a Victorian cedar dining table, which, as it’s on porcelain castors, also has the space-saving ability to be pushed into a corner when not in use.
She teamed the antique piece with minimalist steel-framed dining chairs to provide contrast.
“I don’t feel there are any rules about mixing different styles,” Ms Smith said. “Trust your gut and just have fun.”
Pendant lighting in a bedroom. Photo: Armelle Habib
4. Pendant lighting
When it came to lighting, Ms Smith turned to pendants to create ambience in the apartments.
“Newly built properties (usually) come illuminated with downlights, which are functional yet lacking in atmosphere,” she said.
“To avoid expensive hardwiring, I created pendant lights by combining beautiful electrical cords from Creative Cables with pendants from the likes of Mr Kitly and Rodwell and Astor.”
Ms Smith had an electrician rewire the pendants. She then plugged the extended cables into wall sockets and hung the pendants in the desired spots with the help of ceiling hooks.
Clever use of a small space. Photo: Armelle Habib
5. Framed scarf
Getting creative with art can help you avoid having blank walls, according to Ms Smith.
She created a beautiful pop of colour by framing a pink and red Edith Rewa silk scarf and hanging it above a bookcase.
“(Framing is one way) of displaying treasures and mementos you’ve collected over the years, and can now have pride of place in an interior scheme,” she said.
Visiting art fairs was a cost-effective way of sourcing pieces, she said, as you could often purchase directly from up-and-coming artists at reasonable prices.
But she recommended also saving up for a special piece you would treasure forever — such as the striking black-and-white artwork, 100 Years (After Guo Jian) by Melbourne artist Robert Hague, which creates a focal point in one of the apartments.
Greenery, always. Photo: Armelle Habib
6. Greenery
Pot plants add visual and health benefits to a space. Ms Smith accordingly considers them a key part of her interior-decorating toolkit.
“In interiors, you want to play with things being at varying heights so the eye can move to different places,” she explained. “One way to do that is with plants.
“If a plant is still on the small side, I like to pop them up on to a stool or side table to help vary the heights.”
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