At Home at Sunshine Plaza
Creating a space that feels like home is made so much easier with the guidance of an interior styling expert. Carlie Wacker gets some home retail therapy with the new personal shopping experience at Sunshine Plaza.
Maryna King has worked in the styling industry for well over 20 years in Dubai, South Africa, Macao, Singapore and now the Sunshine Coast. The interior stylist and designer behind
The Cushion Accessory Company now shares her exquisite taste and knowledge with shoppers at Sunshine Plaza through a personal shopping experience.
I booked a session with Maryna as I had hit a roadblock in my home decorating and needed an expert to put me on the right track to achieve my home styling goals. I also don’t have the luxury of time to scour websites and blogs looking for help only to be overwhelmed or worse still, seduced into making poor decisions.
“People are time poor and don’t always trust their own judgement on what to buy,” Maryna shares. “The options can be overwhelming so having an interior stylist by your side saves time and stress and guarantees a great result.”
Sunshine Plaza has such a vast offering when it comes to homewares, furniture and décor. Having an expert like Maryna there to bypass the elements that will help guide and complement your aesthetic direction was a game changer. I discovered new retailers that I had never explored before and found the bounties within the home departments of David Jones, Myer and H&M that I had never previously considered.
“Every style has specific design elements which will tie a living space together,” Maryna tells me. “I’m here to help you choose complementary textures, fabrics and colours.”
Before a styling session at Sunshine Plaza with Maryna, you complete a questionnaire and share photos of the spaces you want to style.
I wanted to focus on updating the guest bedroom to create a coastal space that feels like you’re on holiday as well as continue my mission to decorate my main bedroom with ‘Hollywood Glam’.
Maryna planned our styling session based on that information to ensure our time together was maximised and that we were not distracted by items and stores that didn’t fit my needs. Her familiarity and knowledge of the homewares gems at Sunshine Plaza is second to none!
We start with a coffee at Little Sparrow to prioritise the shopping list.
First, Maryna gets to understand my interpretation of ‘coastal’ and identifies that I’m at the luxe end of this trend.
“Living on the coast we are drawn to this theme, but we can add a touch of glam but thinking outside the box,” Maryna says. “Kmart have beautiful handles that will add glam to your coastal oasis and you can add luxe to the coastal theme by doing simple things to tie the different styles together; the addition of palm tree handles, hooks or a brass lamp effortlessly elevates the overall look.”
We decide to start with an artwork and head to a little shop near Coles named ‘Ideas’ which has gorgeous paintings and prints. The very first one I saw drew me right in – Cali Dreaming. The guest room was on its way to being the relaxing, calm and glamorous haven I envisaged.
With colours set by the artwork we were able to quickly source textured blue and natural linen-coloured cushions and throw rug at Adairs and Bed, Bath and Table which would pair perfectly with the existing white duvet cover.
The next room to conquer was the master bedroom which I wanted to feel like Old Hollywood glamour; a place where all the beautiful things are.
With my existing black leather and brass dressing table I was having trouble knowing how to dress the bed in that theme, so Maryna takes me directly to David Jones where we spot a studded velvet headboard – so delicious but too tall for my space. Next stop, Myer where we found quilted black velvet European pillowcases that serve as an alternative to my bedhead idea and start to bring the va va voom to my sleeping room.
Keeping in that dramatic style we pick up a swanky faux fur throw rug from Big W and some earthy but fluffy and fabulous cushion covers from H&M.
We shopped and successfully styled my spaces and I learnt so much about what will and won’t work in my home.
I feel confident in my home styling abilities thanks to Maryna and I know so much more about where to get the best home accents at Sunshine Plaza.
Save time, be smart and stylish by booking Maryna for your style session today. Visit www.sunshineplaza.com
