Phoenix takes five with Angela Haughton from Coral Homes

Firstly, how did you get into the interior design industry?

I have always worked in design, with a career spanning advertising, television, magazines, and interiors. From art directing for advertising campaigns, styling sets and homes for television and magazines, to managing the Interior Design Team at a high-end furniture company. All this led to my current role designing display homes from concept through to photography of the finished home.

Speaking of, the Coral Homes’ Bentley 38 display home and its interiors are beautiful – such a calming palette! How would you describe the overall look and feel?

The home is very calming, fresh, and coastal. When you step inside, you’re transported to the Mediterranean coast. A modern palette of chalky white and concrete greys feature against light timbers, accents of aqua and clay, and pops of brushed gold to elevate the look. The layout is so liveable, and the kitchen is incredibly enviable – it suits a family that loves to relax and entertain.

Phoenix Vivid Slimline Pull Out Sink Mixer in Brushed Gold in Coral Homes Bentley 38 Display Home

Yes, you chose to include Phoenix’s Vivid Slimline collection in Brushed Gold. What drew you to this finish?

It is a timeless and liveable gold, perfectly suited to elevate the coastal feel to our Bentley 38 display. The scheme needed a pop of metal to contrast nicely with the whites and timbers in the home.

You mentioned the Mediterranean coast, is that among your list of current design inspirations and mood board inclusions?

Travel seems to be calling me – it’s a big inspiration. My mood board and colours are inspired by a recent LA trip and the Mediterranean locations I wish I was! I am also blown away by our homegrown designers and architects, and enviously following along with them walking the streets of Milan Design Week this year. I am still inspired by my visit in 2019 – the Europeans are a constant inspiration.

The Coral Homes Bentley 38 Bathroom, featuring Phoenix Vivid Slimline tapware, shower and accessories, in Brushed Gold

Readers will be curious to know what the client’s design selection process is like with Coral Homes. Can you walk us through that?

After the client has chosen a home suited to their requirements, the really fun part is the Selection Showroom appointment. This is when our talented in-house Interior Designers help customers envision the look of their future home. This involves selecting fixtures, fittings, and colours from our extensive range, and placing them in a flat lay. It’s exciting for clients because they can start to see their new home dreams come to life.

What does a typical day as the National Display and Design Manager at Coral Homes look like?

A typical day always involves a list and is planned, but varied, with office meetings, site, and supplier visits. We have displays across QLD and NSW in various stages of construction, so I am often travelling to meet with trades onsite. We always have upcoming projects in concept stage, so I aim to get visual inspiration with my team by attending supplier showrooms, design talks and workshops. When we finish a home, there is the styling and photography, so we source flowers and props and direct the shoots. I also have regular meetings with the CEO or my team on display progress and we workshop a lot of ideas together. I also listen to podcasts and love to read a design magazine or book.

What parts of your job do you love most?

There is enjoyment in losing myself in the initial concept stage. I also get a buzz visiting construction sites and meeting trades, seeing the home in various stages, slowly taking shape. Walking on to site and seeing your cabinetry come to life or the tiles laid – that brings the ‘aaah’ moments! But when colleagues walk through the home once completed and fully furnished and ready to open to the public, it’s great to see them proud and excited. Seeing it come to life is a highlight for me but it’s a reflection of the hard work all the different teams put in across the business.

Phoenix Vivid Slimline Pull Out Sink Mixer in Brushed Gold in Coral Homes Bentley 38 Display Home

As an expert interior designer, what do you think are the three most important things to get right when considering the interior design of a home?

1. Forecasting trends and translating them into timeless and liveable designs.
2. Understanding your client. We have varied clients to appeal to, so our displays must be attainable and an inspiration.
3. Communication and managing the project efficiently – whether it be with trades, team members or clients, this is very important to get right.

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learnt on your career journey?

My biggest lesson learnt is to trust your instinct with decisions. Also, patience – builds don’t always go to plan and involve compromises – which from my experience often leads to better outcomes anyway. Be proud of what you achieve. Ask questions and be inquisitive – you are always learning. Having a sense of humour also helps. Surround yourself with a team that supports you and at the end of the day you can have a laugh with!

Finally, everyone wants to know, what trends are you seeing in the bathroom, kitchen, and laundry spaces?

We are becoming bolder with our choices in colour and materiality in our homes, layering textures with our finishes. Curves don’t seem to be going anywhere, but all white kitchens do. Statement lighting, coloured fixtures, tiles in different formats, natural stone, and mixed metal accents. I think the timeless aspect to these spaces will always be functionality, but now we are adding personality.

Visit Coral Homes here
And see more of the beautiful Bentley 38 Display Home here