Creating events that wow people involves many of the same skills involved in creating interiors that do the same. Whether you’re planning a kids’ birthday party or your own wedding, we asked Hilary Bellew, Zoe Jackson and Stephanie Hugan of Melbourne’s company The Design Depot, to share their insider secrets. We hope you pick up some great tips!
If you’ve have ever had the pleasure of attending an event brought to life by the incredibly skilled and creative team at this event hire and styling company, you’ll know full well what it what it looks like to be the host with the most.
A labour of love for owners Bruce and Chyka Keebaugh, their eye for style and impeccable execution has warranted a cult following among the design and hospitality industries since they launched in 2007. Whether you want to take your guests to the streets of New York or the palaces of The Middle East, The Design Depot ensure a safe, comfortable flight to the most glamorous destinations.
Q: What are the five key elements to a great themed party?
Make it memorable. You want your guests to be talking about your event for weeks to come. Do this by giving your event the wow factor. Try a feature installation or fun custom signage and make sure you follow through with the theme all the way down to the finer details. It’s important not to simply think about the big things. Make sure there is detail in everything from the menus, theming your staff and even the bathroom signage. And remember to use quality suppliers.
Q: Where do you look for inspiration for new theme ideas?
We draw our inspiration from our surroundings, whether it be restaurants, blogs, websites, shopfronts or overseas trends. We try to keep our eyes and minds open to allow the inspiration to come in.
Q: Once you have chosen your theme, how then do you begin sourcing props and materialising your concept?
Along with a fabulous group of regular suppliers that we are always working with, we find new suppliers through endless hours of research (we love Google). We also create a lot of custom furniture and décor in-house. We are constantly pushing ourselves to think outside the box, like ‘how can we turn this flooring tile into a custom bar?’ etc.
Q: What do’s and don’t’s can you share with our readers?
If you are going to go for a theme, then you have to really go for it, you want your guests to walk into the room and feel like they have stepped back in time to the 1950s or travelled across the world to an African jungle. Give 100% to every aspect of the event. Our biggest don’t is cutting corners.
Q: What are your top five themes at the moment?
Each job has its own unique theme. That being said, the looks we love at the moment are boho chic, pastels and glitter, and Palm Springs.
Q: What is your best piece of advice for anyone planning his or her big night?
You need to enjoy your night. The most important thing is not being stressed on the day worrying about the flowers or the cushions. That’s where we come in to take the stress out of the day and leave you to make the most of your special night.
