Before Emma Read was one half of dynamic interior styling duo Read & Hall she spent many years working as a social worker. But with a burgeoning creativity bubbling inside her she felt it was time for a big change.at revolutionized Australia’s wheat industry.
“I just decided that I'd been doing the same social work job for a very long time and I wanted to use my creativity and have a more fulfilling life,” Emma explains.
Teaming up with her sister, Sarah Hall, the pair boldly quit their day jobs and hustled to create Read & Hall, a styling firm who create beautiful accommodation spaces for themselves and others. The duo are both based in Willunga, a small town in South Australia’s Fleurieu Peninsula, an area that inspires Emma every day.
“I love Willunga. It's surrounded by vineyards, and the beach, the High Street has everything we need within walking distance to my house including the kids' school,” she says. “There's a strong sense of community and we are all in it together.”
While Read & Hall have an incredibly impressive portfolio, Emma’s own 1920’s country bungalow is the finest example of their styling prowess. Although it was love at first sight, the home needed some renovations to make it the show-stopping home it is today. Thankfully, Emma had a vision.
“I wanted to create a warm environment that was truly reflective of who I am; lots of colour, texture, pattern, and it was important that it was comfortable and not too precious,” Emma shares.
During the renovation Emma focused on making sure the home was not just beautiful but functional, and suited their needs as a family of five.
“We left as much of the original features as possible and updated the rest to make it comfortable for a family of five,” she says. “We accept that it is an old house and will always have the issues of an old house which we prefer over a new build. We do love old salvaged items and so included these in the renovation so that the house would have a lot of character.”
When the big renovations were complete, it was the styling that took the home to the next level. Emma’s secret? Layers.
“Every room needs layers of rugs, furniture, art, lighting to make it an intimate cosy atmosphere,” she says. “Make sure to collect things over time, so it truly reflects what you like which can't always be bought at once.”
5 Things we learnt from interior stylist Emma Read’s country bungalow renovation
1. Recycle, Recycle, Recycle
It’s not just better for the planet, Emma says recycling materials adds “character, warmth and has no lead times.”
2. Natural light is key
When renovating, use every opportunity to add as much natural light as you can.
3. Take your time
It’s only natural to want your dream home as soon as possible but Emma urges you to embrace the process and allow it to take as long as it takes. “It’ll be worth it in the end!”
4. Plan your spending
Have a gameplan going into your renovation of where you want to spend the most money. “It helps to keep your focus throughout rather than feeling overwhelmed,” Emma explains. “For us it was the kitchen because we spend the most time in it.”
5. Embrace the history
“Don’t cover up too much of the charm and character, the cracks, and patina of an old house,” she urges. “It adds to the charm, I think.”