WHILE it’s true that interior designers enjoy more than their fair share of retail therapy, RiverStone’s Emily LeCras will tell you it’s not just about cushions and fancy candlesticks.
From testing ebony wood stains for a Hamptons-style staircase, to designing kitchen cabinets or a bespoke bookcase, it’s Emily who RiverStone clients turn to for help nailing the luxury look they’re after.
The Palais living space - interiors can beautiful as well as comfortable
And if they’re in search of inspiration or hoping to discover a few tricks of the trade, then where better to start than a RiverStone display home packed with Emily’s ideas for interiors that are both beautiful and comfortable.
As the custom home builder’s in-house interior designer in Perth, Emily is part of the display home design and construction process from day one.
In fact, the vision for the luxury builder’s latest showcase started taking shape more than two years ago when the RiverStone directors met with their design, sales, scheduling and interiors experts to brainstorm ideas for the Palais in Minim Cove.
Once the layout of the multi-million dollar ‘upside down’ house was agreed, Emily made all the construction selections, deciding on fittings and finishes such as taps and tiles, basins and bathroom cabinets.
“I definitely had a clear idea once the floor plan was confirmed as to how I wanted to style the home,” she says.
Emily also designed the wow-factor kitchen where commercial-style stainless steel rubs shoulders with timber veneer, stone and white glass for a look that is dramatic yet timeless.
“I was told ‘We don’t want the typical stone top and glass splashback’,” she says.
With function also high on the agenda in this all-important workspace, Emily built in super-practical ideas such as the storage well for oils and spices behind the cooktop and the numerous pull-out baskets in the scullery.
Style can still be functional - the super practical kitchen scullery in The Palais
Conscious that people planning a luxury custom-designed home are usually still building to a budget, Emily says it’s also about knowing where to splurge and where to save.
“The laundry, for example, can still be clean and classy but you don’t need to spend a fortune.”
About 12 months after the first team meeting, Emily started finalising what she calls the “finishing and furnishing” for the new riverside showcase, highlighting wow factor on every floor.
“If I know a display home is on its way then I’ll especially be on the look out for ideas,” she says.
“I’ll start think about ordering and sourcing pieces, such as the furniture, artwork and even some of the light fixtures.
“I like to have consistency through a home but don’t like it being too matchy-matchy where you’ve just done the exact same thing right the way through.”
Style tip - don't make things too "matchy matchy"!
Effortlessly weaving together a hybrid look that crosses modern, classical and natural, Emily liaised with suppliers for custom-designed pieces, including furniture and artwork, and statement décor items.
Paint colours were finalised about six months prior to the home opening and anyone who has wrestled with a million shades of white will appreciate Emily’s knack for finding just the right shade.
Just days before the home threw open its doors to the public, Emily was dressing the rooms, unpacking furniture, making beds, supervising the hanging of artworks and making sure the presentation was tip-top.
“I like to allow a week for my set up,” she says.
She worked with a team of removalists to get everything picked up on the one day, rather than trying to juggle several different deliveries from several different suppliers.
“It’s a bit chaotic but it means it’s all here in one day and I’ve got the rest of the week to put everything in place and buy anything else that I need,” she says.
“It is stressful but that final week is just the best. And yes, I do move things around 20 times until it all looks just right.”
