Stylist Kerrie-Ann Jones on creating Real Living covers

While you may not have heard of her by name, you’ve no doubt come across the work of Sydney based interior stylist Kerrie-Ann Jones through her many fabulous covers for Real Living magazine. After a career in the music industry, Kerrie-Ann worked on interiors title Homes+ before a freelance stint that culminated in her landing her dream job in 2017, as the style editor of Real Living.

“I had just had my second child, but I didn’t want to let the opportunity go so I applied when my son was six months old. There was a new editor at the magazine, and I had to really jump through hoops to get the job! But I did and I’m so grateful to her and the team for choosing me,” says Kerrie-Ann who describes the job as a steep learning curve.

“I learnt a lot during my time there. I loved styling the cover shoots each month, the decorating features and house stories. It really propelled me forward creatively and took my styling to the next level,” says Kerrie-Ann. Producing the cover each month was arguably her biggest task and it involved directing a rather large team including a photographer, videographer, creative director, model, hair and make-up, florist and several assistants. A big production to helm, the shoots also had very tight turnarounds.

“I had one to two weeks to produce each cover, from the initial concept to the shoot day. After each shoot I started creating the next shoot the following day, so I had to learn the ropes, very quickly!” says Kerrie-Ann.

The covers, intended as a source of inspiration for people decorating their own homes, unsurprisingly required the stylist to be ahead of the trend curve. “It made me become more acutely aware and open to inspiration sources. My eyes are always switched on and inspiration can hit me at any moment. It could be a seasonal colour palette, a flower that’s in season, lines and shapes, anything!” says Kerrie-Ann who finds art and fashion a constant inspiration.

But the significant demands of the magazine world became difficult to manage with motherhood and, earlier this year, Kerrie-Ann decided to head back to the freelance world. “I love having more of a work/life balance now so I can spend more time with my children,” says Kerrie-Ann who now styles for several furniture and homewares brands as well as magazines, while running styling workshops too.

The next workshop is an Instagram photo styling session where Kerrie-Ann will impart her inside knowledge on how to create beautiful lifestyle and flatlay photos. “Writing the workshop notes has really unraveled how much I have learned about styling and I’m really looking forward to sharing all that information with people who, like me, have a genuine passion for styling,” says Kerrie-Ann. The workshop will cover basic design and photography principles, concept creation, shoot preparation and production plus post-production. There will be some practical styling stations set up too so you can style your own shots with Kerrie-Ann’s feedback.

As for the next big thing in interiors, Kerrie-Ann has ear-marked a couple of trends – coloured glass vases and objects, and cobalt blue two of them. “I’m seeing cobalt blue everywhere recently, but I think only in small doses is best! Also, furniture with interesting and chunky shapes and the ancient Greek/Roman trend too with its Greek busts, statues and column motifs,” says Kerrie-Ann.

With an eye to the future, the stylist has coffee table book aspirations and a general desire to spread the styling love. “I would love to continue being a source of interior styling inspiration with the work I produce. It’s been incredible to see photos of how people have used my styling as inspiration for decorating their homes. I’m now exploring other outlets to inspire, educate and connect with people who share my passion for styling and interiors. Watch this space!”

Kerrie-Anne’s next workshop is running in Sydney this Saturday July 20 from 10am – 12pm at La Porte Space in Rosebery. Tickets are $225 each.

For more on Kerrie-Anne and the upcoming workshop | Meet talented interior stylist Jono Fleming