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Stacey Kouros: From Greg Natale’s protégé to respected interior designer in her own right

By Jen Bishop •

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Stacey Kouros says it’s a huge compliment to be described as Greg Natale’s protégé. But despite this great start and exposure on reality TV show homeMADE, this young designer has really gone on to carve out her own style and prove her talent, running her own design practice.

“I worked for Greg for more than five years and it was such an incredible experience,” she says. “I started working with him when his business was fairly fresh, so I really got to grow with him. Seeing him go from an emerging designer to one of Australia’s best and being a part of that was invaluable. When I started with Greg I was in my last few months of uni (she studied Interior Architecture at UNSW) so I was pretty green. Having him as a mentor and friend really shaped who I am as a designer and just as importantly, taught me key lessons in running a small business.”

That early work with Greg nurtured her love for quirkiness, colour, pattern and interesting shapes and gave Stacey the confidence to trust her design instincts. “It made me brave enough to push my clients out of their comfort zone,” she says.

In 2009, she set up Stacey Kouros Design. Having never imagined she would have her own practice, after appearing on Channel Nine’s homeMADE, she saw a great opportunity to leverage off the exposure and took the plunge. “Although I would never change it, small business is not what people think. I always used to admire business owners but I now have a completely different respect for them. It’s amazing what goes into keeping a small business running… you can’t just throw your hands up in the air and say “I’m just good at the creative and design part of the business,” and expect the rest to just fall into place, you have to be all over every aspect.”

After a tough first two years, Stacey feels like her business has now gained momentum. “My work is being published, I’m working on some great projects and I have a wide range of clients. And my existing clients are referring me to new clients which is the best type of customer feedback,” she says.

When the opportunity to appear on television came up, Stacey was ready for a new challenge. “An email was circulating through the industry and one of my friends forwarded it to me and told me he thought I should apply… so I did. And then everything changed. My life has never been the same since homeMADE. Although I was only on the show for a few weeks, it was such a pivotal point in my career. I gained so much exposure, built a profile, established key relationships and friendships, and then started my own business.”

Although the exposure gave her a head start, Stacey says it has taken a lot of work to keep the ball rolling. “Although the majority of my work at the moment is residential, I love working on a mixture of projects. It’s nice to have a balance of residential, retail, hospitality and commercial projects, but I do really love working with residential clients. I love people so residential projects tend to be much more personal and emotional. The most important thing is that I’m really happy with the progress I’ve made and I’m loving the place that I’m at!” Editorial exposure in magazines like belle has helped keep her name out there too.

Stacey, who enjoys pottery as a different kind of creative outlet in her spare time, describes her style as modern, eclectic, and a bit quirky. “I love colour and pattern, but it depends on each project and client.”

She’s currently working on two blocks of apartments in Sydney’s Mosman. “We are refurbishing the common areas so that they feel like residential spaces and less like office hallways. There are 90 apartments across two buildings, so it’s an interesting mix of people. Presenting the design scheme at the Annual General Meeting in front of 60 people was a bit overwhelming, but everyone loved it!”

Who does she admire in the industry? Greg Natale of course, fellow homeMADE contestant Darren Palmer “for his masculine and moody interiors” and Stewart Horton of Horton & Co whose style “is totally chic”. She also loves Paul Hecker’s work. “He is super talented and I love seeing his new projects… he is really inspiring.”

She thinks it’s an exciting time for interior design. “Designers are really coming into their own and creating their own look. Design is becoming so much more unique, exciting and inspiring. I love it!”

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June 11, 2012

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Me and @fantasticfurniture go WAY back! When I fir Me and @fantasticfurniture go WAY back! When I first came to Australia in my 20s, it's where I headed to buy everything I needed for my first apartment at an incredible price! And I've loved watching the range get more and more impressive over the years as my knowledge of furniture has increased. I had no idea how extensive their Aussie Made sofa range was though. I'd love you to check out the options via link in bio as I think you'll be impressed! I think we have a renewed appreciation for Aussie Made and supporting local manufacturing and jobs and this is a great success story. We love a bit of high low decorating, and turns out Fantastic Furniture is a great place to find your family lounge, a special accent chair, an extra ottoman for occasional seating and so much more. 

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Please don't show my boys this room or they'll wan Please don't show my boys this room or they'll want one like it!

How gorgeous is this Brisbane kids' bedroom?! 

@brittwhitestudio worked closely with the boys (aged 7 and 9) to understand their needs with a bespoke bunk bed solution crafted by BRC Cabinets, featuring ample storage as well as an under-stair hidey-hole, a useful reading nook for books and a built-in charger for electronics. Local craftsmen Emmett’s Ropes designed and hand-tied the ropework on the top bunk and the supporting pillar beneath.

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Comment your fave: 1, 2 or 3? Just 3 of the kitch Comment your fave: 1, 2 or 3?

Just 3 of the kitchens in the @duluxaus Colour Awards 2023 shortlist which will give you some serious inspiration!

Loads more gorgeous residential rooms to see on the blog this morning via link in bio.

Projects by @studio__bright @kaiko_design and Georgie Shepherd Interior Design. Pix by @arorygardiner @fiona_susanto and @christophermorrisphoto 

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We're a bit obsessed with Cara Standen's balcony m We're a bit obsessed with Cara Standen's balcony makeover using @kmartaus stone tiles!

Nineties townhouse in Lennox Head or villa in Greece? You decide! All up it cost $2000 including all materials and she did the work herself.

Read all about it via link in bio now.

Love your work @twin_palms_lennox

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Wallpaper in every single room! What do you recko Wallpaper in every single room!

What do you reckon? You'd think it would be overkill but it isn't because so many of the designs are subtle yet still impactful.

Head over to the blog to see how @grafico_walls transformed this blank canvas Melbourne townhouse with their products, which you've probably seen on The Block over the years. And read how Damian Corney has grown this Melbourne business with wife Adele and a growing team. There's also a look inside the very cool Motley Hotel which has used a whopping 4km of their wallpaper throughout!

You can also watch a video tour with Bec Douros as the house featured on Open Homes Australia over the weekend.

Via link in bio now.

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Kids and fluffy chickens. Does it get any cuter?! Kids and fluffy chickens. Does it get any cuter?! 

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Feeling relaxed 🥰
Did you see this cracking little transformation on Did you see this cracking little transformation on @sellinghousesaus last night?

We have all the finer details on the blog today via link in bio. Particularly love the kitchen refresh using the existing blue cupboards which really weren't doing anything for me before 😂

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How's this for a compact back yard TRANSFORMATION? How's this for a compact back yard TRANSFORMATION?!

Our friends at @mintdesignau have done it again!

Homeowner Briony Marsh says: It’s totally changed our home lifestyle now we can sit outside on the lounge in the sun or shade, be in the pool, spa, sauna or cooking pizzas and hanging out with friends. It sounds cliched but it really feels like we are on holiday at home!”

Head over to the blog to see the finer details, including a sauna and a seriously good looking copper pizza oven. There's a lot packed into this space!

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Swipe for before & afters of today's real reno. L Swipe for before & afters of today's real reno.

Located inside a 1912 sandstone villa in Adelaide’s Kensington, this bathroom makeover combines classic and contemporary elements that complement the home’s original, period features. 

Designed by the home’s owner @designby_Tahirih, who is a property stylist too, the renovation came sooner than expected after water ingress made the makeover of their only bathroom an urgent necessity!

The whole project cost an impressive $20k, project managed herself.

Read all about it via link in bio now.

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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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Comments

  1. AvatarMike says

    June 13, 2012 at 10:31 pm

    Interesting write up. I like her style and feel she will do well in future years.

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