Candid Company: A Q&A With IndigoJungle Interior Styling
Interior stylist Vanessa Cribb has earned a reputation for her individual and unconventional spaces. Here's how
Houzz caught up with Vanessa Cribb, the creative mind behind IndigoJungle Interior Styling, to learn how she founded and grew her Brisband-based business, without the help of an interior design course or a professional qualification.
What distinguishes your work?
An honest, humble approach that is shown in our use of rustic textures and materials.
West End house
An honest, humble approach that is shown in our use of rustic textures and materials.
West End house
How did you enter this field of work?
Originally I worked as a self-employed graphic designer. Then after raising three children, rekindling my love affair with photography and finding much enjoyment in styling my newly renovated home, I returned to the workplace with a passion for styling.
I used the design skills I had previously learnt and I knew I had an eye for style and composition, so it seemed natural to offer these services through a consultancy channel.
Dutch Courage Officer’s Mess
Originally I worked as a self-employed graphic designer. Then after raising three children, rekindling my love affair with photography and finding much enjoyment in styling my newly renovated home, I returned to the workplace with a passion for styling.
I used the design skills I had previously learnt and I knew I had an eye for style and composition, so it seemed natural to offer these services through a consultancy channel.
Dutch Courage Officer’s Mess
When did you start IndigoJungle?
IndigoJungle was born in March 2015 with another designer and stylist who had already completed some local styling projects with an architectural firm.
We decided to combine forces, with me operating the business in a management and accounting sense and with her handling the creative side.
Ashgrove residence
IndigoJungle was born in March 2015 with another designer and stylist who had already completed some local styling projects with an architectural firm.
We decided to combine forces, with me operating the business in a management and accounting sense and with her handling the creative side.
Ashgrove residence
How has your business changed?
It takes a while to grow a business; things were very slow initially, so my original partner decided to follow her academic dreams at the end of our first year. I have since then handled all areas of the business, including the creative side. I sub-contract to other designers and stylists depending on the project scale, but generally it is a part-time, one-woman show!
IndigoJungle has grown organically through word of mouth – Brisbane is great for that – with no major marketing campaigns or the like. I only take on projects that I can commit to creatively and in a timely sense, that will not interfere with family life.
Ashgrove residence
It takes a while to grow a business; things were very slow initially, so my original partner decided to follow her academic dreams at the end of our first year. I have since then handled all areas of the business, including the creative side. I sub-contract to other designers and stylists depending on the project scale, but generally it is a part-time, one-woman show!
IndigoJungle has grown organically through word of mouth – Brisbane is great for that – with no major marketing campaigns or the like. I only take on projects that I can commit to creatively and in a timely sense, that will not interfere with family life.
Ashgrove residence
Can you identify a turning point for your company?
The completion of my studio and having a visual identity base made all the difference. The studio gave IndigoJungle style-cred as well as a home and it proved to be a great use for marketing on social media.
Many online and print articles have helped promote the business as well.
IndigoJungle Garden Studio
The completion of my studio and having a visual identity base made all the difference. The studio gave IndigoJungle style-cred as well as a home and it proved to be a great use for marketing on social media.
Many online and print articles have helped promote the business as well.
IndigoJungle Garden Studio
What has proven the greatest professional challenge?
Believing in myself. I thought that I wasn’t able to offer the services because I hadn’t studied a course in interior design and I didn’t have a piece of paper listing a qualification.
Though gaining a solid client base and regular requests for styling projects has slowly eased my mind.
IndigoJungle Garden Studio
Believing in myself. I thought that I wasn’t able to offer the services because I hadn’t studied a course in interior design and I didn’t have a piece of paper listing a qualification.
Though gaining a solid client base and regular requests for styling projects has slowly eased my mind.
IndigoJungle Garden Studio
What have you learnt about your industry that you wish you knew when you started?
Just be your authentic self and do things your way. If you love what you do, others will see this. Don’t try to be something you are not or follow what everyone else is doing.
Ashgrove residence
Just be your authentic self and do things your way. If you love what you do, others will see this. Don’t try to be something you are not or follow what everyone else is doing.
Ashgrove residence
When choosing sub-contractors or clients, what do you look for?
I look for honest people with good intentions and a clear idea of the outcome for the project. A comfy budget always helps too.
Darling & Co Swayze Room
I look for honest people with good intentions and a clear idea of the outcome for the project. A comfy budget always helps too.
Darling & Co Swayze Room
What are the deal breakers that make you reluctant to work with sub-contractors or clients?
Disrespect, dishonesty and a lack of confidence either in IndigoJungle’s capabilities or in themselves.
Darling & Co Swayze Room
Disrespect, dishonesty and a lack of confidence either in IndigoJungle’s capabilities or in themselves.
Darling & Co Swayze Room
What’s the best advice you can offer about managing a team?
Do provide good, clear instructions, time management and lots of fun along the way. Don’t be flaky with direction or make promises that you know you can’t follow through with.
Darling & Co Swayze Room
Do provide good, clear instructions, time management and lots of fun along the way. Don’t be flaky with direction or make promises that you know you can’t follow through with.
Darling & Co Swayze Room
How do you plan to grow or maintain your level of success?
I intend to keep the business growing organically through word of ‘industry’ mouth and client recommendations.
Darling & Co Swayze Room
I intend to keep the business growing organically through word of ‘industry’ mouth and client recommendations.
Darling & Co Swayze Room
Any recommendations for software or apps that help you run your business well?
Indesign is perfect for presenting ideas and laying out schedules, and Instagram is great for showcasing current projects.
St John’s Wood residence
Indesign is perfect for presenting ideas and laying out schedules, and Instagram is great for showcasing current projects.
St John’s Wood residence
Why is it important to have spaces styled by a professional?
Using a professional stylist will result in a completely layered, balanced and harmonious appearance for a space, encompassing all aspects of the elements of design. Professional stylists save you money, lots of time and your sanity, as the choices are endless. We utilise your space and suggest unique ideas, such as innovative storage suggestions, noise reduction, traffic flow, colour palette, and much more.
The Glen Hotel
Using a professional stylist will result in a completely layered, balanced and harmonious appearance for a space, encompassing all aspects of the elements of design. Professional stylists save you money, lots of time and your sanity, as the choices are endless. We utilise your space and suggest unique ideas, such as innovative storage suggestions, noise reduction, traffic flow, colour palette, and much more.
The Glen Hotel
What are some of the biggest blunders people make when styling spaces?
I often see artwork hung far too high, rugs too small, and one style used throughout a room. I like to mix it up a bit: old with new, eclectic with Scandinavian, contemporary with mid-century modern.
Mid-century modern apartment
Tell us
If you enjoyed this feature, like it, save your favourite images, share it and tell us what resonates with your own experience of running a business.
More
Missed last month’s interview with the husband-and-wife founders of Minosa? Read about their road to success here.
I often see artwork hung far too high, rugs too small, and one style used throughout a room. I like to mix it up a bit: old with new, eclectic with Scandinavian, contemporary with mid-century modern.
Mid-century modern apartment
Tell us
If you enjoyed this feature, like it, save your favourite images, share it and tell us what resonates with your own experience of running a business.
More
Missed last month’s interview with the husband-and-wife founders of Minosa? Read about their road to success here.
IndigoJungle provides interior styling and design services that blend the new and the old to deliver spaces that are individual, warm and perhaps sometimes, unconventional. We offer permanent styling installations for all areas of business, mainly hospitality, along with prop sourcing for photo shoots and the occasional residential interior styling project. We don’t supply services for structural works, nor do we undertake home staging projects.
Vanessa Cribb, stylist and founder of IndigoJungle Interior Styling