Bringing life to interiors

Geelong’s Fluent Studio is made up of a team full of interior designers, focused on creating spaces that improve the lives of their clients.

Working out of Boom Creative Spaces in Newtown, the business has worked on a range of projects, including in residential, luxury residences, hospitality and major renovations.

Led by Fluent Studio director Karina Harvey, who has 15 years of interior design experience, the team have worked locally and around Australia, bringing interiors to life.

Their projects include the recently opened Daisy Bar in Geelong, transforming the space into a warm and inviting cocktail bar, and their present residential project in Torquay, which is still under way.

Harvey said being able to focus on residential projects and getting to know her clients is one of the things she enjoys most about the business.

 

“With that, you get to know people quite well over the course of the project, usually the design program is a minimum of six months and then by the time it’s built, it’s usually a few years.

“We really enjoy building those relationships with our clients over time and addressing all of their needs that they have for their lifestyle and their family, ensuring their space really fits them.”

As Fluent Studio looks to the future, they would also like to be involved with boutique retail and some wellness spaces, wanting to improve them with some good design.

Space planning is one of the first things Fluent Studio do with their clients, reviewing and tweaking floor plans to include practical things that can often be left out.

“One of the most important steps in the process is really nailing your floor plan and really making sure that all of those spaces are flowing beautifully and that you’ve met your brief for what you want included,” Harvey said.

When it comes to recent trends, there’s been a shift in the colours people are choosing.

 

“We’re seeing a big move away from neutrals and a move towards layering colour and texture and creating more interesting spaces with some depth to them,” Harvey said.

“Interiors usually follow fashion, especially in colour palettes and things like that, interiors will follow those similar trends.”

Her top advice for people who are renovating is to “know your budget”.

“That will really determine how far you can go and being realistic with budget as well.

“Lots of people say they don’t really know where to start, so really knowing what your must haves are, writing yourself a bit of a brief so that when you do speak to a builder of designer, you already have a bit of an understanding of what you’re really looking at doing.”

For more information, head to fluentstudio.com.au