Home & Garden Awards 2021

BUILD Home & Garden Awards 2021 22 aving been in the design industry for more than twenty years, Sarah Heyes, Director of Provoke Design, knows how exciting but nerve-racking the process of creating the perfect interiors for a home or commercial space can be. Provoke strives to guide its clients through that process, engaging with them in order to thoroughly understand their visions and to work alongside them towards exceptional outcomes. “Whether it’s a beautiful, uplifting home you just love to walk into each day or a wow-factor, luxury residence made for entertaining, we nurture your ideas and hopes as if they were our own,” says Sarah. A versatile and agile team of designers, Provoke thrives on the opportunity to collaborate with clients from concept to completion of a project, working with them to deliver the house of their dreams. “We aim to exceed our clients’ expectations and love nothing more than the overjoyed looks we see on their faces when the work is done.” Sarah began her career as a designer in the UK in the nineties. Since then, her experience as an independent consultant and designer has equipped her with global perspectives on the design industry that she is today able to inject into her projects across Queensland. This universal experience is married with a client-centric approach to design to create a service that is unparalleled across Australia. Even if a client can’t quite put into words themselves what they are looking for from a project, the meticulous research and lifestyle questionnaire portion of Provoke’s design process enables Sarah and her team to identify even the minute details of what a space should look like and how it should function for its inhabitants. “We are real people and very down to earth,” says Sarah, when asked what it is that makes her firm special. “We do not judge, but embrace our clients and their homes and lifestyle. We listen to what they want, and don’t offer just one style or have ‘our style’ - we work with all styles.” Clients love working with Provoke, as they feel they are really being listened to, and every decision they make is respected and honoured. At the same time, the team proffers new ideas or suggests potential elements that could elevate a space higher than the client ever imagined. “Our latest project was an Airbnb cottage on the beautiful Mornington Peninsula,” Sarah tells us, when asked about a recent project that is a source of pride. “As it already had bookings, we had a four-week turnaround from when the tenant moved out to the first Airbnb guest. “We have great experience working on tight schedules, and were able to stick to the schedule and complete this cute and cosy cottage, influenced by the incredible Queenslander homes in the tropical north.” ‘Passion Colours Everything It Touches’: the words of Sarah Heyes, Director of Provoke Design, represent the agency’s bold and creative approach to interior design. Sarah tells us more about Provoke as it celebrates success at the BUILD Home and Garden Awards 2021. H Jan21238 At the moment, guests of this Airbnb have been limited to local residents as travel restrictions borne from the Covid-19 pandemic have changed the vacation habits of both the Australian and global population. Provoke has seen several other repercussions of the pandemic on its industry and its own business activity, some positive, others less so. “The great news is that people have spent more time at home, especially in Victoria where we are based,” Sarah tells us. “In fact, eight months of very hard lockdown has simply meant people are not spending money on holidays and are now considering renovations.” However, she continues, “I am finding that the biggest challenge is stock; much of the furniture we have chosen and ordered is simply not available due to the shipping containers being unavailable or stuck in dock.” Australia relies heavily on imports of products from overseas, and the impact on global shipping has been felt across the country. Meanwhile, changes to the building industry within Australia itself have also had an impact for Sarah and her team. In 2018 the building codes became very strict, stating that unless a client spends less than $10,000 on a kitchen, by law a builder must supply and install that kitchen. A typical kitchen in Australia is probably between $16,000 and $35,000. For Provoke, which likes to consider the whole space and structure when working on a kitchen renovation, this law is immensely inconvenient. As such, Sarah is currently taking her builders license, in order to regain the freedom to create bespoke kitchen spaces. Her current training is just one area in which Sarah is growing her organisation this year. “We will be taking on more wonderful staff and now work with an in-house cabinet maker, David, who we are very thrilled and excited to have on board.” These members will join a team that Sarah is devoted to, and a positive and collaborative working environment that has acquired a reputation for outstanding customer service. We look forward to seeing what lies ahead for Sarah and the team at Provoke as they embark on this exciting period of growth. Contact: Sarah Heyes Company: Provoke Design Website: www.provokedesign.com.au Designed With Passion Most Versatile Home Design Firm – Victoria