The Laws of Attraction
Interview by Stephanie Galante
When it comes to selling your property, first impressions are everything. Property specialist from Breakfast Point Realty, Stephanie Galante, sits down with interior stylist, Melita Bruvelis, to get her expert pre-sale design tips
What award-winning creative director and Breakfast Point regular Melita Bruvelis doesn’t know about making a space look alluring probably isn’t worth pondering. “I’m very lucky to have a career in an industry I love, and I’ve dedicated over 20 years to designing, decorating and styling some truly amazing spaces,” says Melita, who’s honed her skills in several different, but equally creative, fields throughout her career, including furniture design and visual merchandising. Today, she is the director of MBM Styling Co. and furniture business, Mayvn Interiors. “Establishing a sense of relaxed informality in a space is what I love to do best. I’m most at home producing timeless interiors that are comfortable, functional and beautiful.” Here, Melita shares her top interiors tips, whether you’re looking to put your place on the market, or simply want to help it look and feel a million dollars.
Is styling really worth it in terms of return on your investment?
“Research shows styling actually increases the perceived value of a property by around
12 percent, which makes it absolutely worth it.
In my experience, styling has helped properties set street and building records.”
How does styling a property before its sale help both vendor and buyer?
“When a vendor styles their property, it presents it at its best and highlights the best features.
For buyers, styling helps showcase the function and flow of rooms and helps them visualise their own furniture and its fit. Often, properties are newly painted with maintenance up to date, too, meaning buyers don’t have to worry about these things before moving in.”
Is there a bare minimum for interior updates that sellers should consider?
“Property photos online generally include the living room and master bedroom. I’d professionally style these spaces at a minimum to get potential buyers interested and making enquiries.”
Would you suggest hiring or buying furniture?
“If it’s an empty property, I’d always recommend hiring furniture and styling decor because it’s most cost effective. It can be done in a short amount of time and you’ll get a cohesive look that presents your property in the best possible light.”
Melita Bruvelis
Should you style to your own taste or copy the aesthetic of the current market?
“Tempting as it is to want to add your own taste, I always recommend styling to suit the target market and the property itself.”
Can you tell us the standout interiors colour trends for 2021?
“It’s all about having pieces that are the right scale for the room. For example, oversized corner lounges in compact living spaces make the room feel even smaller. Exchange them for a two-seater lounge and a couple of armchairs that suit the room’s scale. Then it feels spacious, but cosy.”
What is your signature styling trick?
“Incorporating mirrors and large floor rugs. They both make a space feel much bigger, offer a distraction to a room which may be on the small side, and add instant personality.”
What do you enjoy most about styling Breakfast Point homes and apartments?
“I absolutely love their classic aesthetic and coastal undertones. The buildings here are all are beautifully designed with a neutral palette which makes it very easy to add layers on for styling.”
Fake plants or real? What’s your expert take?
“I’d love to style all properties with the real deal but unfortunately this gets very expensive to upkeep throughout a sales campaign. And if the property is vacant, it’s even harder. We all love greenery in our homes, and faux plants have come leaps and bounds in the past few years, so my answer is a very big yes to fake.”
What about prints versus paintings?
“This all depends on the style of the property. Breakfast Point suits paintings and classic glass-front prints, whereas more contemporary homes suit large canvases and fun artwork.”
How important is a property’s scent in terms of styling?
“People fall in love with a place using all of their senses and smell is important, but you shouldn’t take it too far. Overwhelming scents don’t appeal and could look like you’re trying to mask bigger problems, like mould or animals. Keep it light and fresh – I like summer and washed linen scents.”
How did you come to be in the business of styling homes?
“I was helping a friend house hunt over a decade ago and was shocked at the state of some of the places we were viewing. There was no way I would have offered top dollar on some of these dirty, broken, outdated and un-kept homes. I realised there had to be a business in this. My background is in design from visual merchandising to event design, so it was an easy sidestep into interiors.”
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