Kerrie-Ann Jones
Sydney-based stylist Kerrie-Ann Jones is a leading voice in Australian interiors and design. We chat to her about her design journey and take a glimpse into how she fills her work days.
Photography: Alicia Taylor, Esteban Le Tessa, Brigit Arnott, Pablo Viega & Maree Homer
‘Interior styling can be intimidating and overwhelming so I designed the course to put students at ease and make styling your home fun,’ says Kerrie-Ann Jones. Photo: Alicia Taylor
Kerrie-Ann Jones’ incredible kitchen in her Sydney Sutherland Shire home she shares with her husband and two children. Photo: Alicia Taylor
In her Interior Styling 101 course, Kerrie-Ann Jones shares her styling expertise and knowledge in a branded content format to educate and inspire the audience with home decorating advice and tips. Photo: Alicia Taylor
The Design Your Scent Wardrobe event for Mecca, styled by Kerrie-Ann Jones. Photo: Esteban Le Tessa
H&F: Hi Kerrie-Ann, when did design first make an impact on you?
Kerrie-Ann: From a young age I’ve always been curious and inspired by all forms of design. I was interested in creative and design subjects at high school – I attended a performing arts high school so I was exposed to the arts and design in many forms and this sparked my love affair with it.
Have you always been creative?
Yes, always. As a child I couldn’t imagine not doing something creative, the thought of an office job and not doing something artistic frightened me! Although I never had a clear direction of what I wanted to do, I just knew I wanted to be creative. My creativity has evolved through many forms in my life – I was a classical dancer in high school so I expressed myself through dance and movement. In my twenties I worked in the music industry sourcing the music for TV production to convey or enhance the emotion of the vision and now visually with interior styling… who knows what’s next!
What does a ‘normal’ day at work look like for you?
I wake up around 5-6am, have snuggles in bed with my children. Then get up and make them lunch for school and workout in our home gym. I then get the kids off to school for 9am. Then zoom calls at 9:30am, I’m either in my home office on emails, co-ordinating shoots, scripting or prepping for my video series - Styling Spaces or I’m off to meetings. I’m home to pick up the kids around 5:30pm, make dinner and chat about our day around the dinner table and put the kids to bed. I’m usually bed watching a TV series by 8:30pm. I go to bed early and like to rise early.
Tell me about your YouTube styling series - how did it come about?
On the first Sunday evening of each month I host a Sunday Style Session on my Instagram stories where people can ask me all their styling, interiors and renovating questions. I’m always inundated with questions and try to answer as many as I can. Some questions are best answered in a practical visual way, so I thought why not answer these questions with a video series. And so Styling Spaces was created. I’m very lucky, I’ve had a wonderful response and I really enjoy presenting the videos and sharing whatever tips I can to help people create a beautiful home.
Bedroom derails in Kerrie-Ann Jones’ Sydney Sutherland Shire home she shares with her husband and two children. Photo: Alicia Taylor
‘I’m very lucky, I’ve had a wonderful response and I really enjoy presenting the videos and sharing whatever tips I can to help people create a beautiful home.’ Photo: Brigit Arnott
‘My Interior Styling 101 course also helps students to develop and figure out what their personal interior style is.’ Photo: Maree Homer
‘Firstly start with a mood board of inspiration, this will help to narrow down what your style is and the direction you’d like to go with decorating your home.’ Photo: Maree Homer
“My family, creativity, collaboration with others and self improvement motivates me… I’m always trying to push my own boundaries and do better, in many areas of my life.”
‘Designing and renovating my own home was a mammoth task that consumed me for two years.’ Photo: Pablo Viega
Wall tiles from Lulo Tiles. Palladiana floor & door handle designed by Kerrie-Ann Jones. Photo: Alicia Taylor
You also hold an online styling course - why do you think your courses are so valuable?
I believe that everyone can have a beautiful home and I show students in my Interior Styling 101 course step-by-step how they can achieve it, using with what they have already and how to plan for new investment pieces as well. The course also helps students to develop and figure out what their personal interior style is. Interior styling can be intimidating and overwhelming so I designed the course to put students at ease and make styling your home fun.
As a stylist, what’s the most valuable piece of advice you can offer to someone embarking on restyling their home?
Firstly start with a mood board of inspiration, this will help to narrow down what your style is and the direction you’d like to go with decorating your home. Or if you really aren’t sure, invest in an interior designer or stylist to make the process much easier for you. It will be worth time, energy, stress and money in the long-run.
One thing you wished you’d known when you started designing/styling that you know now?
How exhausting it is! I often feel I’m running on adrenaline trying get jobs done on a fast turn around while multi-tasking other jobs that come in. As a freelancer the work comes in ebbs and flows. Enjoy the down time when you have it, because when the work comes in, it’s thick and fast. You also need to be great a problem solving, think on your feet and don’t get overwhelmed. Things never go to plan on shoots so you need to be adaptable.
What’s been your proudest work moment to date?
Designing and renovating my own home. It was a mammoth task that consumed me for two years. I renovated as an owner builder with the help of my dad (carpenter Nick David of ND Built). I juggled it while my husband was in and our of hospital unwell, two lockdowns, home-schooling and launching The Stylist Lab. When I reflect, I’m not quite sure how I go through it all but living here everyday is the biggest reward for all the hard work and I’m very proud of it.
What’s in store for you for the remainder of this year?
I have some exciting brand partnerships in the works, styling some beautiful projects that I’m looking forward to sharing soon and I’m working on updating the Interior Styling 101 course with lots more exciting new content. I’m also looking forward to a break at Christmas too!