We’ve had the chance to talk to some of Australia’s leading ladies in the construction and property sectors on life, business and the future of the industry.
Kahlia and I have been friends since we were 6 years old. She has always had a creative flair and eye for detail. Cordony Designs was established in 2011 with a focus on interior design and presentation services to increase the appeal of a property and thus sale price. Since its foundation, the organisation has won numerous accolades including Best of Houzz Service for 5 years running.
Kahlia, how and why did you get into the interior design and property industry?
During my childhood I was never really sure about what I was going to do, although design, architecture and presentation of homes always seemed to grab my interest. Looking back on my childhood now, all the pieces of the puzzle make sense. I was lucky enough to have a family including an uncle who encouraged me to undergo or instruct my ideas and recommendations. Whether they were sure or not about such ideas, my family let me go full force into trying. Painting a wall, building furniture (flat packs), setting up electronics, colour and finish recommendations and the like. These updates always worked out well – thankfully.
After school, I knew I wasn’t the university type. There was no way I could sit in a lecture room, I needed to hone into my creative. And so I studied Architectural Technology and under the recommendation of my late father, got a Saturday job in reception at a boutique real estate agency on Sydney’s Upper North Shore. The industry felt so natural to me, but I always knew it was a stepping stone for something else. 5 years there and I was grateful to have been given the opportunity to have roles in Property Management, Sales, assist in Marketing & Administrative running’s of the office.
As the firm’s creative and driving force, what does your role encompass at Cordony Designs?
As the Creative Director, I feel blessed to share my creative ideas and recommendations with not only my clients but also my team of designers and trades.
To initiate ideas and watch them evolve in the minds of others is something else to watch. To then see a final product come to life after concept, under time and budget constraints – the feeling is so satisfying. The process is about problem solving to reach the final result.
Essentially my job is to direct, consult and manage the different projects we undertake.
How do you kick off your day? Do you have any morning rituals or routines?
My days usually start at 5am. This gives me time to stretch, turn on music or listen to a podcast/TED talk. I am a mum of two boys so this time helps me gather my thoughts, energise and organise the day before my boys get up. My days are long and lots of juggling is involved, so starting the day this way assists me with my energy levels throughout the day.
Those that have an eye for interior design, have surely heard of Steve Cordony. I know that you are both related. Has he inspired you in any way?
Of course, Steve’s journey and hard work is one to be admired, his eye and talent are extraordinary. His success is no surprise considering all of these things. We all have our own journeys but the inspiration we find in others I believe insists we push to achieve.
You have carved a promising career for yourself, what is your personal philosophy behind what you do?
Follow and do what you love, do it well, do it with kindness and passion, be helpful, be grateful, say yes (what have you go to lose?) and work hard.
From your point of view, is interior design an art or a science?
I believe it is a combination of both.
Can you walk us through your creative process?
Consultation – this is where we identify, seek a brief, initiate ideas and create recommendations.
Proposal/Recommendations – depending on which process you are undertaking (preparing for lease/sale or whether you’re an interior design client); we submit to you our recommendations or proposal with a strategy as to how we would undertake your project.
Creative Direction – once we have been employed we begin to create the concept with moodboards, colour and finish specification, floorplans.
Implementation and Project Management – this involves bringing the concept into fruition.
Delivery – this is the last stage of the process, delivering furniture and décor items to complete the interior.
How does art and design impact the home and workplace environment?
Home and work is where we spend most of our time. So, we believe creating an environment that welcomes you, nurtures your mind and body is one of the most important things you could do to value yourself, your family or your employees.
Working heavily within the residential industry, what property market and real estate trends are you finding at the moment?
Preparing your home for sale or for lease is about capturing the broadest market. Whilst we consider trends the objective is to offer a home to the largest market we possibly can. This allows the vendor to achieve the best possible result on the price of their home. So, we look at presenting and providing a turnkey property that most furniture style and trends work with, we undertake repairs and updates to allow the buyer to move straight in. There is great value in time, therefore buyers will present their best hand to secure a property that is ready to live in.
What is your work style? Do you have a signature style that is identifiable throughout your projects?
We have heard that our work can be picked from photography or from visiting homes. I think we do have a style or stamp on our interiors. Our bed making is one of our signatures, as well as our implementation of plants and perhaps placement or use of our own cushions. Overall I think our layering of furniture and décor items with colours and textures would be our strength. As we work with many styles and ages of homes, we don’t have one style that we install in all properties. Our designers work to compliment details whilst taking into account the target market or if for interior design clients, their preferred style and personality.
What are 3 tips for vendors to consider when selling their home?
Simplify and declutter.
Depersonalise.
Provide the best flow through your property with the best furniture layout, showcasing at the same time the benefits and space of your home.
Based on your research and consumer demand, what growth trends do you envision within the next 10 years?
The light bulb moment for me came when I was standing at the front door at open homes taking names and numbers. To get there it took weeks of work (for those that chose to ready their property for the spotlight) that the vendors challenged through with trades timelines on top of their day to day schedules. Some vendors would not undertake anything at all (when they really needed to), some vendors asked their busy agents to project manage. I knew there had to be something better to assist both vendors and agents. That’s when I dreamt up Cordony Designs. The timing of this may have been pre or at the very beginning of The Block or the Home Improvement Shows. I married my passion, education and knowledge in the two industries to create a business targeted to just this – assist vendors, agents and property managers. Property Styling back then was such a new concept, there were hardly any styled properties or property styling agencies.
I believe these TV shows have assisted the design industry immensely in where preparing property for sale/lease and its importance assists in the overall outcome and assisted in the results in property prices of the past few years. We know that a prepared or styled home achieves (in the majority of cases) better results and faster sale times.
We have been lucky enough that our business follows our vendors to their new homes where we are asked to design and personalise their homes to be lived in for the next 10-15 years. Same goes for the buyers, they ask us to recreate the interiors/ furniture layout of the home they fell in love with and bought. Separately, we do have an interior decorating and property management arms of our business.
What is the most challenging aspect of your job as a designer?
For the property market I would say this would be getting our clients to detach during the preparation for sale exercise.
For the interior decorating arm of our business, I believe lead times for furniture in Australia can be our biggest challenge. Once a client falls in love with our concept, they want to achieve it straight away (as do we). Unfortunately lead times cannot be guaranteed due to sea freight delays, customs, delays in factories etc.
To wrap up, do you have a favourite project or interesting story behind your favourite project?
I think my most favourite project so far has been the office fitout of a real estate in Willoughby, once LJ Hooker Willoughby/Artarmon, now known as McGrath Willoughby.
Again, this project allowed me to marry my passion with education and experience. I was employed here to create an office that reflected the progress of the Real Estate Industry and to set a benchmark where the ideals of lifestyle are now sold rather than just bricks and mortar.
Agencies are so often seen as a reception desk with wall and offices behind it. I wanted to sell their clients what they were buying, homes, to become a part of something special from signing up. To invite them into a home, the home of an agent.
I believe in selling the experience from the get go to your clients. The fitout was designed like a home. A boardroom designed as a dining room, meeting room as a living room, fitted out with wardrobes and substantial storage joinery, a stunning timber veneered kitchen and its bathroom receives gasps of beauty every time it is discovered behind a mirrored door. The space was originally a new, dusty, empty 3 walled room, shopfront doors and utilities yet to be installed.
I believe that due to my experience and understanding of the industry, the principal, John McManus also trusted me to setup their IT and phone systems and daily presentation expectations of the office. We gave them wardrobes for their jackets and coats to implement the importance of an agent’s presentation to their clients.
The office went onto win a Sydney Design Award in 2018 tying second with Barangaroo House – a proud moment. This is an office like no other and I will share with you that it’s given me itchy feet into exploring possibilities in a business direction I would like to explore.
Interviewer:
Natalie Pavlovic,
Rotric Constructions.
