AS a little girl, Emily Marshall was always rearranging her room and persuading her Dad, RiverStone managing director Paul Marshall, to redecorate it for her.

“Poor Dad had to paint my room about once a year because I kept wanting to change the colour,” says Emily, now RiverStone’s talented in-house interior designer.

Emily in the RiverStone selections room

“I’ve always been drawn to interior design and always thought it would be a hard job to do well in; that there would be limited opportunities. But I just decided to go for it.”

Emily’s passion and persistence paid off. Work experience with the family business during school holidays led to TAFE studies and a full-time job at RiverStone after high school, working as an assistant to respected Perth interior designer Kate Barakovska.

Now it’s Emily, with her unerring eye for detail and creative flair, who RiverStone clients turn to for advice on everything from colours and curtains, to carpets and the comfiest chair.

It’s the talented Emily whose brains they pick to nail just the look they’re after, whether it’s classic Hamptons or contemporary elegance.

“I always start by getting a guide from the client about the styles that they’re drawn to and the looks that they like,” she says.

“But then I always remind them that it’s their home and they don’t have to stick to one style. Most of our clients want a nice, timeless, classy, elegant home that’s going to last.”

Emily also has the enviable task of designing the interiors for RiverStone’s stunning displays and her most recent work can be seen in the builder’s new luxury Minim Cove showcase, the Palais.

Natural products often feature prominently in Emily’s designs, with lots of stone, timber and glass teamed with textural elements and neutral colour palettes.

Example of some of Emily's work

Emily says she is inspired by American interiors that are comfortable and homely, and by the work of her favourite English designer, Kelly Hoppen.

“Kelly merges a lot of old and modern; more classic shapes and styles but in a modern way. I think it’s the perfect mix, really,” Emily says.

While clients building a luxury RiverStone home often have a corresponding budget for interiors, Emily recognises that a budget is still a budget.

“It’s about getting quality at a good price. It’s about value for money. I’m not just here to spend!” she says.

At RiverStone, there are no cookie-cutter designs or stock-standard selections. No two homes are ever the same and no two interiors are ever the same.

The homes that Emily works on are often sizeable properties that demand a hefty specification so product selection is broken down into manageable tasks over a series of weekly meetings.

Example of some of Emily's work

“Most of our clients are time poor and the idea is that they tell me what they want or they show me a picture of what they like and I go out and find it for them,” she says. “I do the shopping and running around.”

This includes accessing products from the global market via Emily’s network of contacts in design hot spots such as Melbourne and Europe or working with local suppliers to get just the right look or finish.

“We try to make it painless, easy and stress-free for clients because it can be pretty daunting. We want them to enjoy the experience,” Emily says.

While help with selections is built into the RiverStone service, clients also have access to extra advice from Emily, from picking window treatments and carpets, to specifying and ordering custom-made furniture.

There’s even a “turn key” service where everything down to the cushions, cutlery and crockery is bought so that the house is ready to move into.

“I love the variety of my work,” Emily says. “I’ve always got new jobs and new people to work with and it’s so rewarding when you see the client in their new house and they’re just over the moon.”

Example of some of Emily's work

Emily’s top tips:

  • Always bring in magazines, photos and cuttings – even if you can’t say why you like the rooms.
  • Always keep in mind your key areas. For some, it’s the kitchen or the ensuite. For others, it’s the alfresco.
  • Always decide from the get-go whether there are any ‘must keep’ pieces, such as a favourite chair or antique bookcase, that need to be incorporated.