Soothing and serene, step inside the home of Bed Threads’ interior stylist.
Interior Stylist Audrey Won’s Rental Apartment in Sydney Is Peaceful Perfection
Soothing and serene, step inside the home of Bed Threads’ interior stylist.
Welcome to The Makers. Each week, we celebrate innovators, artisans, and crafters of all types by taking you on a private tour of their creative spaces. For this instalment, we tour multifaceted stylist Audrey Won’s rental apartment in Maroubra, Sydney.
Some could say Audrey Won was destined for working in a creative field. From as little as five she’s been using any opportunity as a means to make art. From drawing masterpieces on paths with chalk, to turning cardboard boxes into mini homes for her dolls, Audrey’s path to being creative has been naturally ingrained in her ever since she was little.
Now a stylist of spaces, sets, products, and still life, Audrey is able to showcase her natural skill of turning anything into something elegant and beautiful. However, Audrey’s sights weren’t always set on styling. “My first career-focused role came when I returned to Sydney, exploring the digital design space of graphic design for a wonderful furniture company, which then opened the door to the world of styling,” she shares with Bed Threads Journal.
The progression into styling spaces felt natural for Audrey. It was there she was able to showcase her attention to detail, and understanding of space and light, which has put her in a tier above the rest when it comes to transforming interiors. Bed Threads have been lucky enough to have worked with her for the past two years, bringing new products to life, styling shoots for this very home tour series, The Makers, and beautifying all things that go in front of the camera.
Audrey moved into her light-filled rental just over a year ago, and wasted no time making the space her own. It came with amber-toned wood floors, which are the perfect base for all of her coveted pieces of furniture. She knew she wanted to keep the space fairly minimal, to allow for her creative mind to flourish: “neutral and earthy tones are my go-to to help achieve both calm and inspiration at home.”
The shared living and dining space is flooded with a sea of natural light that perfectly illuminates her curated collection of furniture and homewares. The entire living space emanates peace and tranquillity and, by sticking to a neutral palette accented by muted shades of blue, Audrey has made texture and variation the hallmark of her home.
Being Audrey’s favourite room of the house, the shared living and dining space wears many hats. “It’s a yoga/stretching spot, games night space, and rumble zone with our clown-dog.”
Unlike most living areas, Audrey has opted for no coffee table in her space, allowing her more room to relax and be inspired. What stands in place instead is the Wavy Side Table, which is the perfect pedestal for flower arrangements, cups of tea, and art books.
The bedroom continues to exude feelings of peace and relaxation, with the soothing combination of Mineral & Pistachio covering the bed. The Curvy Rattan Bedhead stands tall at the top of Audrey’s bed base, adding dimension and texture to her sleep sanctuary. Beside her bed is the Rattan Bedside Table, and Rattan Sideboard, which are the perfect surfaces for her bedside table essentials to sit on.
Audrey’s home is a stunning example of how you can make a rental your own without having to make big changes to a space. We took a tour of Audrey’s light-filled tranquil home, and spoke to her about her career journey to date and her plans for the future.
Hi Audrey! This series is called The Makers. What is it that you make?
I’m a stylist of spaces, sets, products and still life. Within that, sometimes I also get to make floral arrangements, art, props, the list goes on.
How does the act of “making” relate to your personality and who you are?
Dexterity has been one of the greatest gifts in my life. Ever since I knew I had hands I’ve been making – be it drawings, dandelion crowns or turning empty shoe boxes into miniature houses. My family used to say I inherited this from my grandfather who was a fisherman and would spend hours in his tackle room/studio making fishing rods from scratch. Styling allows me to build a story using colour, texture and shapes that come in so many different forms.
Tell us about your career journey to date. Did you always know you wanted to pursue styling?
I’ve always known I wanted to be a type of artist. When I was 5, I must have covered any and every surface with those old-school chalky pastels. When I finished my fashion degree I decided to travel around Indonesia, and spent my days in cafes painting with watercolours, which then turned into painting a mural on a blank wall in a cafe. My first career-focused role came when I returned to Sydney, exploring the digital design space of graphic design for a wonderful furniture company, which then opened the door to the world of styling. Being a freelancer is so important to my creativity as every project is so different and I get to meet people from all walks of life.
Talk us through your creative process. Where do you start?
The story or meaning behind any project is so crucial to the process and result. Getting a solid grasp on what I think makes the difference between cookie cutter and unique. From this, compiling visual inspiration is usually my next step and this will cover all the fundamentals like colours, textures and mood. The internet is a truly phenomenal place, but seeing and sourcing things in person is unmatched! Plus, so many beautiful pieces often don’t have a presence on the world wide web.
What’s been the single most crucial tool or strategy you’ve used to further your career?
Though not a physical tool as such, the most valuable skill I have cultivated is being able to genuinely connect with people. As a freelancer, your name is your brand. I truly believe that your energy and your work ethic act like marketing and a legacy that you start to build from day dot.
What’s been the best thing that’s happened to you since you started your career?
Our industry is an amazing place filled with some truly talented people. I have to say, the greatest highlight are the individuals whose paths I get to cross, and not only create but laugh with.
Do you have a single piece of advice you’d give to your younger self or someone looking to pursue a similar line of work?
Honing your gut feeling and intuition is so important. I think we have this built into us for a reason. Whether it’s a piece of furniture, personal relationship or opportunity, to know deep down if it feels right is a game-changer. The earlier you can tune into this, the better.
The most valuable skill I have cultivated is being able to genuinely connect with people.
- Audrey Won
Now, the home stuff. How long have you lived in your home?
Just over a year.
How did you initially know this was the space for you?
We actually used to live next door and when our previous owners decided to sell, this place simultaneously became available and so we took it as a sign and hauled our belongings across.
Did you do any renovations or make any big changes after moving in?
The list of things I’d like to do with the place is lengthy but as we are renting, I have to hold back! Every door/window was covered with Roman blinds which we replaced with curtains and the place is so much brighter and feels less cluttered.
Recreate Audrey's look with the Mineral Bedding Set, Pistachio Sheet Set, Curvy Rattan Bedhead, and Rattan Sideboard.
What was the thought process behind the way you’ve styled the interior?
Deep down I’m a real homebody. It’s where we rejuvenate and so I wanted our place to feel serene, bright and uncluttered. I’ve learnt that colours and textures impact my mood quite considerably so neutral and earthy tones are my go-to to help achieve both calm and inspiration at home. I’m a big lover of wabi-sabi too, and I think imperfections have so much character and tell a story. My goal is to weave this more into our space.
What are your favourite pieces in the home?
I love my bamboo plant. My husband told me the parable of the bamboo tree: from planting a seed, it takes four years to grow a foundation beneath the earth, with no signs of growth above. In the fifth year, it will shoot up to 30 metres tall in as little as six weeks. So every time I look at it, it’s like nature giving me a pep talk to be patient and have faith. The pot it’s in is also originally an antique water pot from Indonesia. I love its unevenness.
Do you have any special décor pieces you’re looking to add?
There’s currently a great big empty wall near the hallway and I’m on the hunt for a large-scale artwork.
Which is your favourite room in the house?
The living room in all its versatility. Many coffee tables have come and gone but now we keep it purposely spacious as it wears the most hats as a yoga/stretching spot, games night space, and rumble zone with our clown-dog.
What are your top tips for a well-styled bedroom, and home generally?
To always add mindfully and not for the sake of filling a space. I think it’s really important to be clear on how you want to feel at home, and anything you bring into the space or colours you choose should help achieve that.
What are your top tips for selecting furniture for your home?
I do believe that you get what you pay for. If it’s within your means, you can’t beat quality. Pieces that stand the test of time are worth investing in. Practicality also – choose pieces in colours and finishes that integrate well with your lifestyle. And lastly, if it doesn’t make your heart sing, don’t get it.
What’s one styling item that you find never fails to elevate a space?
A good rug will never let you down. It brings colour, texture, and tactility all in one.
Do you have any projects coming up you want to talk about?
My husband and I are on the hunt to find a patch of land to build our first home. We also have a trip to Indonesia and Sri Lanka planned during which I will be sourcing like a lunatic.
For more from Audrey, follow her @audreymj
Photography by Benito Martin. Styling by Audrey Won.
