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A career change to styling: it’s never too late

By Jen Bishop •

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Julia Green, stylist and owner of homewares and art retailer Greenhouse Interiors, shares why it’s never too late to follow your interiors dream. She’s now helping others do so through her styling retreats.

Behind the scenes at last month’s styling retreat

It really is never too late to make a career change. And I am living, walking proof of that! At 39, I had a chance encounter with a photographer from Vogue magazine and ended up styling and writing for magazines without ever really meaning to.

But it was my entire 20 years of working prior to this move (largely in pharmaceuticals!) that set the stage for a seamless transition. We have so many transferable skills in our older years, it’s just all about working out how to make the transition.

On my styling retreats, I not only focus on pulling likeminded creative souls together into the one room, and hosting a live photoshoot, but I also teach them the practical ‘how to’ and what is involved in making the change possible at all.

Finished work from the styling retreat

Becoming a stylist is far more than making spaces look pretty. The commercials are what most people overlook: how to price your time and your worth, how to navigate PR, managing your social media, pitching work to magazines and so much more.

Interior styling is a guarded industry of information and not an easy place to cut your teeth. So the idea of my course is to break down the barriers, explore the realities, and work out if it really is the right move for you.  

I asked my most recent group of students to reflect on their learnings, and here is what one of them, Paige Davies, had to say:

“Once we’d registered we were sent a questionnaire to understand our backgrounds, skills and career aspirations – for most of us it was an opportunity for reflection on why we were drawn to this retreat, our aspirations and, importantly, what we love most about interiors and styling. 

“And then, before we knew it, the day was upon us and eight excited and highly motivated women came together at the Greenhouse Interiors flagship store in Geelong one Sunday morning. We were met and embraced warmly by Julia and quickly got to know each other’s motivations – we had a couple of new mums with a passion for styling, a lawyer pursuing a career change, women with new homes they wanted to take to the next level, an artist, small business owners and a few corporates wondering if this was a hobby or a genuine opportunity for change.

Students hard at work at Julia Green’s styling retreat

“Julia was bursting with information and took us through styling 101 and insights into many of the campaigns she has shot. We were asked to challenge our thinking on neutrals, think about colour pairings, styling cues and consistency between symmetrical or random styling. We learnt about flats in studios, patterns on walls and block colour on floors (and vice versa) and the brief to always make things look lived in and like someone has just left the room (plants, wine glasses, doors and windows open, etc). We discussed proportionality and scale and challenging the dimensions of the space and where rugs and lighting comes into play, and we learnt about the stylist’s’ “prop library”.

“The next part of the day we were paired up and received a styling brief for a room.  Fortunately we were teamed with an incredibly talented photographer, Steph Rooney, as well as Julia’s styling collaborator Aisha, and collectively our number one learning was that what you see with the naked eye and what you see through the lens are very different things.

Finished work from the styling retreat

“You can no doubt study and build capability in interior styling and we would never want to detract from the professional attributes and credentials of many working in this field, but ultimately, as with any profession, it comes down to a talent, and in this dynamic and exciting area we understood that it comes down to an eye for detail and a raw understanding of composition, colour, texture and scale that can come together to create something uniquely beautiful, and the ability to work as a team. 

“Bravo Julia and bravo to the women who came together to embrace the idea of a creative career change. We all individually left the course motivated and armed with knowledge to make the right choices for our future.”

Contact Greenhouse Interiors for more information on their next styling retreat.

Styling (for Greenhouse Interiors):@mylifeunstyled @gardencreative @paigeedavies @nighthavenhouse @sticksandbricksdesign @studiohartcreative @jade_lee_atelier @annabelseniordesign and @interiordesignstein

Photography:@stephanierooney

Stylist Julia Green, totally addicted to her job
Looking at Julia Green’s styling work, it’s very hard to believe she’s only been doing this professionally for 3 years…
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Georgia Duncan may be a stylist but that doesn’t mean her own Melbourne home is picture perfect at all times.…

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May 11, 2022

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Pink and green should always be seen! From time t Pink and green should always be seen!

From time to time, we stray from our Australian-homes-only rule when we uncover something we really love! This project, by @2lgstudio (and also the interior design duo’s own home) is featured in Ornament Is Not a Crime, a new coffee table interiors book by Sydney-based design writer @rebeccalgross.

Head to the homepage via link in bio to read about this home and see more colourful pictures in an extract.

#2lgstudio #2lg #londoninteriordesigner #londoninteriors #londonhome #londonhomes #brighthome #brightinteriors #funinteriors #colourfulhome #interiordesignersathome #pinkandgreen #pinkandgreendecor #pinkandgreenshouldalwaysbeseen
Real reno: How's this for a luxe bathroom?! Natas Real reno: How's this for a luxe bathroom?!

Natasha from QLD recently finished a major reno of her Queenslander and this is her favourite room of all. We can see why!

She used @beaumont.tiles  Lux Calcutta slabs in gloss the wall and matt for the floor.

 "We have infused a Hamptons style whilst still remaining true to the traditions of old Queenslanders," she said. "Our bathroom is north west facing and captures such great morning light. We wrapped the cabinetry all the way along the vanity for ease of access for the bath, towels and accessories. We tiled all the way to the ceiling to create a more luxurious space. It's my favourite room in the house!"

#ichosebeaumonts #beaumonttiles #tiles #bathroomtile #bathroomtiling #hamptonsbathroom #queenslanderrenovation #queenslanderbathroom #luxurybathroom #australianbathroom #australianbathrooms #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome
Block kitchen week is always a goodie and we got 5 Block kitchen week is always a goodie and we got 5 very different looks last night which was great!

One question that kept coming up was just how important is the butler's pantry? Love to hear your thoughts. Do you have one? And which was your favourite last night? Please share in the comments.

Head to the blog via link in bio to find out who won and what the judges said. 

#theblock #theblockshop #blockshopper #theblockroomreveals #kitchenweek #kitchenpalette #kitchencabinetry #kitchenstyles
Located in Melbourne’s Elsternwick, this stylis Located in Melbourne’s Elsternwick, this stylish home was renovated recently with @keenarchitecture and @studio_esar at the helm. Brimming with fun, functionality and colour, the home is shared by ex MasterChef contestant Peter Kritikides, his wife Erica and their two children. 

Occupied by the family since 2015, the renovation brief called for a sympathetic yet modern upgrade to the heritage listed original home as well as the demolition and rebuild of the back of the residence.

Want to see the kitchen? Head to the blog via link in bio.

#elsternwick #melbournehome #melbournehomes #masterchefaustralia #masterchefcontestant #masterchefcontestants #chefskitchen #heritagearchitecture #heritagehome #heritagerenovation #monochromehome #colourfulhome #bookshelfstyling #bookcasestyling #colourfulbooks #fireplacedecor #velvetcouch #livingroomstyle #livingroomart
GET THE LOOK. All the finer details of Sunday's Bl GET THE LOOK. All the finer details of Sunday's Block master bedroom walk ins on the blog now.

Which was your fave?

Via latest posts link in bio now.

#walkincloset #walkinwardrobe #walkinrobe #wardrobes #wardrobe #wardrobe #bedroomstorage #masterbedroomdesign #mastersuite #theblockroomreveals #theblock #theblock2023 #kinsman #kinsmankitchens #kinsmanwardrobes #dressingroom #dressingtable
A home that got all its extra special details AFTE A home that got all its extra special details AFTER handover with stunning results!

When Emma Fuller built her family home five years ago, she went with the ‘basic’ package with a view to elevating the spaces in a more budget-friendly manner down the line. Knowing that she couldn’t afford her entire wish list upfront, she made allowances within the plans so that she could add all the special details later.

“Although the builder could have incorporated every detail we asked for, we knew it would have blown our budget, but that didn’t mean I was going to let the dream go,” says @hamptonsinhighfields 

Patience and hard work have definitely paid off and today on the blog we are showing you how she did it from adding a fireplace, bench seat, wallpaper, french doors, a mudroom, built in bookcases, fretwork, kitchen island trim, IKEA wardrobes and more!

Via link in bio now.

#newbuild #hamptonsaustralia #hamptonsnewbuild #fretwork #benchseat #benchseating #fireplace🔥 #fireplacedecor #ikeahacks #diymudroom #mudroom #kidsroomwallpaper #frenchdoors #frenchdoor #hallwaydoors #frenchdoorpantry #butlerspantrydesign #newbuildupgrades
Flatpack definitely doesn't have to be basic or bo Flatpack definitely doesn't have to be basic or boring!

The latest @kaboodlekitchen trends release, in collaboration with stylist @jono.fleming, are anything but. These are just 4 of 6 new colours for the brand, sold in Bunnings.

Head over to the blog via link in bio to see the others (hint: one of them might be pink! 🩷). You'll also find out how to get a free copy of the latest Kaboodle edit magazine sent to you, chock full of inspiring real projects like my navy laundry!

Which of these is your pick? Would you venture outside of a white kitchen? What colour is yours?

#kaboodlekitchen #kaboodlelaundry #kaboodle #flatpackfurniture #flatpackkitchen #bunningskitchen #flatpackcabinets #budgetkitchen #ontrendkitchens #colourfulkitchen #colouredcabinets #kitchencolourtrends2023 #colourtrends2023 #boldkitchen #jonofleming #interiorsblog #interiorsaddict #bunningsdiy #heartyourhome #realreno #realrenovations #kitchenbeforeandafter #kitchenonabudget #colourfullaundry #flatpacklaundry
Block judge @darrenpalmerofficial launched his own Block judge @darrenpalmerofficial launched his own rug range this week and they're a bit gorgeous! 😍 These are the kind of beautiful, neutral, textured, natural, ethically and sustainably produced rugs that will stand the test of time.

Pop over to the blog via link in bio to read our chat with him.

“I believe in the democratisation of good design,” says Darren, who wanted the rugs to be affordable. “It was very important to me that they were ethically made, and they are all Good Weave certified ensuring that no child labour is involved in their creation."

#darrenpalmer #darrenpalmerofficial #darrenpalmerinteriors #theblock #rugshopping #rugdesign #ruggoals #rugmaking #naturalrugs #sustainablerugs #ethicalrugs #jute #juterug #juterugs #handcarved #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #heartyourhome #goodweave
Steph and Gian's master WING won them an almost pe Steph and Gian's master WING won them an almost perfect score on the Block last night.

Even if their bedsides weren't exactly generous, they were bigger than most last night. What was going on there?!

As ever, love to know your thoughts. See more, read the judges' comments and shop the looks via link in bio now.

#theblockroomreveals
#theblock #theblock2023 #blockshopper #masterbedroomdecor #masterbedroomdesign #mastersuite #mastersuites #walkincloset #walkinwardrobe #walkinrobe #theinteriorsaddict #interiorsaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome #realreno
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About Jen Bishop

Jen Bishop is our owner and publisher and an experienced journalist and editor. Interiors Addict has been her full-time job for more than 10 years. She is mum to two young boys and lives in Sydney.

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