Candid Company: How Bask Interiors Creates Homes With Hart
Decorator and stylist, Michelle Hart, talks career change, creativity and the all-important professional leap of faith
Julia Fairley
25 June 2019
Chief Sub-Editor and Writer, Houzz Australia and New Zealand. I love design and architecture that is thoughtful, sophisticated and champions an element of the unexpected. Before graduating with a Bachelor of Arts at UNSW and becoming a journalist, I studied interior architecture. For over a decade I have interviewed inspiring creative minds from around the world to write about design in its many different forms. Recently, I have also become an accidental gardener, to everyone's surprise.
Chief Sub-Editor and Writer, Houzz Australia and New Zealand. I love design and architecture... More
Just like the homes that Michelle Hart of Bask Interiors transforms, this decorator and stylist’s professional trajectory has undergone a dramatic transformation. The ‘before’ image of Hart’s career saw her earning a degree in accounting and working in business; the ‘after’ reveals her as a sole business owner with a thriving Melbourne-based interior decoration and styling company. Houzz caught up with Hart eight years after she founded Bask Interiors to hear how she began her burgeoning business and to understand what’s next.
Michelle Hart of Bask Interiors
What do you do?
I provide interior decorating and styling services that deliver spaces for my clients that are unique, inviting, warm and relaxed. I work towards each project being a reflection of the people living in the spaces to create that sense of ‘home’ for them.
What do you do?
I provide interior decorating and styling services that deliver spaces for my clients that are unique, inviting, warm and relaxed. I work towards each project being a reflection of the people living in the spaces to create that sense of ‘home’ for them.
Hampton house renovation, Victoria
What distinguishes your work?
I like to blend old with new, add textured layers and create crossover styles that often then become something quite unique to the homeowners. I look at creating spaces that feel open, bright, timeless and relaxed but they must also, importantly, function well for living in.
I am also passionate about working with talented local artists and craftspeople when I can as I enjoy supporting our local design industry.
Read about how Hart and her husband, of Hart Builders, bought, renovated and sold this Hamptons-inspired house
What distinguishes your work?
I like to blend old with new, add textured layers and create crossover styles that often then become something quite unique to the homeowners. I look at creating spaces that feel open, bright, timeless and relaxed but they must also, importantly, function well for living in.
I am also passionate about working with talented local artists and craftspeople when I can as I enjoy supporting our local design industry.
Read about how Hart and her husband, of Hart Builders, bought, renovated and sold this Hamptons-inspired house
Hampton house renovation, Victoria
How did you enter this field of work?
My background is in business and I have an accounting degree from many moons ago, although I was always a creative person at heart. After having children, I wanted a complete career change and to tap into my creative and fun side.
For many years we had been renovating or flipping houses on the side. So I knew I wanted to create that sense of ‘home’ for myself and for others.
I studied a Feng shui course – the idea of how your home environment has a direct affect on your health and wellbeing still fascinates me and has led me to where I am now.
How did you enter this field of work?
My background is in business and I have an accounting degree from many moons ago, although I was always a creative person at heart. After having children, I wanted a complete career change and to tap into my creative and fun side.
For many years we had been renovating or flipping houses on the side. So I knew I wanted to create that sense of ‘home’ for myself and for others.
I studied a Feng shui course – the idea of how your home environment has a direct affect on your health and wellbeing still fascinates me and has led me to where I am now.
Martha Cove, new-build family home, Victoria
When did you start Bask Interiors?
I started the business in 2011 with another designer and focused on property styling and home staging in our local area. We did this for 3.5 years and in that time also opened a retail space selling homewares, art and giftware.
When did you start Bask Interiors?
I started the business in 2011 with another designer and focused on property styling and home staging in our local area. We did this for 3.5 years and in that time also opened a retail space selling homewares, art and giftware.
Hampton house renovation, Victoria
How has your business changed?
I took over the business approximately four years ago, and have placed the focus on decorating and styling of homes that people live in rather than sell. To me, this feels like coming full circle from when I first had that idea of creating a sense of ‘home’.
I predominately work solo, but have employed design assistance when required and have found the power of collaborating with others in the industry to be both fun and rewarding.
How has your business changed?
I took over the business approximately four years ago, and have placed the focus on decorating and styling of homes that people live in rather than sell. To me, this feels like coming full circle from when I first had that idea of creating a sense of ‘home’.
I predominately work solo, but have employed design assistance when required and have found the power of collaborating with others in the industry to be both fun and rewarding.
Glen Waverley townhouse, Victoria
Can you identify a turning point for your company?
I think the turning point was realising that if I wanted to create a viable business, I needed to be serious about investing my time and money into creating a good website, looking at ways to market my business, getting savvy with social media and creating a community of like-minded people around me for support and opportunities.
Can you identify a turning point for your company?
I think the turning point was realising that if I wanted to create a viable business, I needed to be serious about investing my time and money into creating a good website, looking at ways to market my business, getting savvy with social media and creating a community of like-minded people around me for support and opportunities.
Windsor residence, Victoria
I was lucky to have a fantastic mentor in my industry who shared wisdom in exchange for my irregular assistance services. I also managed to work with a wonderful client at the start whose home ended up being published in the media with the story behind the article being about my business, which was invaluable.
Read about the transformation of this home from dark and empty to well-lit and welcoming
I was lucky to have a fantastic mentor in my industry who shared wisdom in exchange for my irregular assistance services. I also managed to work with a wonderful client at the start whose home ended up being published in the media with the story behind the article being about my business, which was invaluable.
Read about the transformation of this home from dark and empty to well-lit and welcoming
Hampton house renovation, Victoria
What has proven the greatest professional challenge?
Having the confidence to take over the business and make it my own rather than have thrown in the towel and always wondered ‘what if?’ I never wanted to look back with regret, so to overcome the fear of failure I did a few workshops and courses and found a fabulous mentor, a support group then took the leap of faith.
What has proven the greatest professional challenge?
Having the confidence to take over the business and make it my own rather than have thrown in the towel and always wondered ‘what if?’ I never wanted to look back with regret, so to overcome the fear of failure I did a few workshops and courses and found a fabulous mentor, a support group then took the leap of faith.
Berwick bedroom, Victoria
What have you learnt about your industry that you wish you knew when you started?
I think networking, reaching out to others, collaborating and being open to all opportunities that may come by is so vitally important when you are a solo business owner. Stepping out of your comfort zone and doing things that scare you is how you evolve and keep moving forward.
Being a business owner means juggling many different hats, it’s important to know how to keep the balance so you don’t get burnt out or lose your motivation and passion for why you started in the first place.
What have you learnt about your industry that you wish you knew when you started?
I think networking, reaching out to others, collaborating and being open to all opportunities that may come by is so vitally important when you are a solo business owner. Stepping out of your comfort zone and doing things that scare you is how you evolve and keep moving forward.
Being a business owner means juggling many different hats, it’s important to know how to keep the balance so you don’t get burnt out or lose your motivation and passion for why you started in the first place.
Bentleigh East property-styled townhouse, Victoria
What is the one key thing you always do with each project?
Have clients sign off on a Letter of Engagement or Design and Decorating Agreement so everything is upfront and clear.
What is the one key thing you always do with each project?
Have clients sign off on a Letter of Engagement or Design and Decorating Agreement so everything is upfront and clear.
Bentleigh East property-styled townhouse, Victoria
What are the deal breakers that make you reluctant to work with clients?
Deal breakers for me are disrespect, both personally and professionally, and those who clearly don’t value your time or experience and expertise.
What are the deal breakers that make you reluctant to work with clients?
Deal breakers for me are disrespect, both personally and professionally, and those who clearly don’t value your time or experience and expertise.
Hampton house renovation, Victoria
When choosing sub-contractors or clients, what do you look for?
I look to engage with people who are genuine, authentic, and who believe and trust in your ability to work through the process together to attain the goals that were set out from the start.
I expect attention to detail, reliability, open communication and people who provide good service from sub-contractors and industry professionals.
When choosing sub-contractors or clients, what do you look for?
I look to engage with people who are genuine, authentic, and who believe and trust in your ability to work through the process together to attain the goals that were set out from the start.
I expect attention to detail, reliability, open communication and people who provide good service from sub-contractors and industry professionals.
Martha Cove, new-build family home, Victoria
What’s the best advice you can offer about managing a team?
Just be upfront and open with everyone – clients, sub-contractors and industry professionals – so everyone knows what to expect. And have a realistic timeline in place to allow things to get done properly the first time.
What’s the best advice you can offer about managing a team?
Just be upfront and open with everyone – clients, sub-contractors and industry professionals – so everyone knows what to expect. And have a realistic timeline in place to allow things to get done properly the first time.
Yarraville home, Victoria
How do you plan to grow or maintain your level of success?
Through continued marketing, whether that is gaining exposure in the media, being featured on a blog or in print, collaboration with other industry professionals and being open to new opportunities that come my way.
How do you plan to grow or maintain your level of success?
Through continued marketing, whether that is gaining exposure in the media, being featured on a blog or in print, collaboration with other industry professionals and being open to new opportunities that come my way.
Black Rock family home, Victoria
Any recommendations for software or apps that help you run your business well?
I use Outlook, Instagram as a social media app, Microsoft Office, Dropbox for file and image sharing, and Sampleboard and Indesign.
Any recommendations for software or apps that help you run your business well?
I use Outlook, Instagram as a social media app, Microsoft Office, Dropbox for file and image sharing, and Sampleboard and Indesign.
Black Rock townhouse, Victoria
Your turn
Which points in this interview resonate with your own professional experience? Tell us in the Comments, like this story, save your favourite images and join the conversation.
More
Did you miss last month’s Candid Company? Catch up with Houzz’s interview with New Zealand architect, Ken Crosson
Your turn
Which points in this interview resonate with your own professional experience? Tell us in the Comments, like this story, save your favourite images and join the conversation.
More
Did you miss last month’s Candid Company? Catch up with Houzz’s interview with New Zealand architect, Ken Crosson
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A talented designer and creative - love working with you Michelle.
Great read Michelle, congratulations.
What a great article Michelle! So many beautiful projects. Well done