Pearls of Wisdom with Pearl Interiors
Curating beautiful spaces comes naturally to interior designer Morgan Brady, who’s bringing her unique brand of accessible luxury to Noosa through the launch of her new studio. Rebecca Jamieson Dwyer meets the creative mind behind Pearl Interiors.
Like many people, Morgan Brady was driven to create a business to solve her own problem. After buying her Noosa hinterland home sight-unseen during – you guessed it, the pandemic – she set about designing its renovation herself, confident that her more-than-a-decade experience of working in a creative agency in New York would stand her in good stead.
“I was happy with the progress I’d made, but I wanted to run my ideas by an interior designer to make sure I wasn’t going to make expensive mistakes,” she recalled. “I had money to spend on the project, and yet I just couldn’t find the expertise I was looking for. That was my lightbulb moment!”
Her previous role at a photography agency involved coordinating creative elements into a cohesive vision, and she soon discovered that these skills translated seamlessly into designing her dream hinterland home. Morgan took an interior design course to educate herself on everything from design principles to materials and finishes, and her passion was ignited.
“I began working as a sole-trader interior designer, saying ‘yes’ to everything and everyone, which was the best thing I could have done – I learnt so much during that time,” Morgan said. “I discovered what people’s needs are and realised that’s where my superpower lies – tapping into what people really want and making sure they’re heard.”
A natural people person, Morgan began building a strong rapport with clients, tradespeople, service providers and brands, becoming the ultimate local oracle for anyone looking to build or renovate a Noosa or Sunshine Coast home with maximum good vibes and minimal stress – eventually growing her own team to include two more expert interior designers as word of her wisdom started to spread.
The Pearl Interiors philosophy is built around the concept of ‘accessible luxury’, which Morgan describes as “going into a space that feels really high end, unique and special, and being able to afford the pieces in that location. This is something that’s becoming increasingly popular across the jewellery, homewares and fashion industries, and Morgan highlights the fashion label Dissh as a great example.
“Brands are putting more attention into making the entire experience feel elevated, not just the product, and so I wanted to bring that into the interior design space and make beautiful design accessible to everyone,” she said.
The brand-new Pearl Interiors Studio, opening in Noosa Junction early 2025, will be the embodiment of this accessible luxury philosophy – offering clients a stunning space and overall experience, but with affordable pricing thanks to an innovative three-tier approach. The Design Concierge service offers an hour-long consultation, where Morgan’s team will review your floorplans and design inclusions and offer expert advice about the entire process, as well as giving you the opportunity to look through a range of products, materials and finishes from the comfort of the studio.
“I want to help people who are in the position I was in,” Morgan says. “Having an expert interior designer in your corner can help make your home magical, and that’s something I wanted to be – accessible to everyone. We’re catering to a whole market that’s been forgotten.”
Pearl Interiors also offers custom interior design for clients by collaborating on a room-by-room basis, as well as a tailored white-glove service for large luxury projects where they mastermind the entire project as part of their full-service approach.
“We truly love working with these high-budget clients to create their home from start to finish – it’s incredible, and so much fun – but there are so many other people that I also want to help.
I want everyone to get great bang-for-buck when it comes to creating their home,” Morgan said.
Whichever level of service you choose, the overarching Pearl Interiors philosophy remains the same: “Our client experience begins with conversations, expands with curiosity and ends with celebration,” she added. “We transform all aspects of design into an exercise in creative expression.”
The Pearl Interiors aesthetic is timeless, sophisticated and comfortable, and focuses on the tactile and sensory experience of a home – think contrasting textures, earthy tones and the seamless interplay of light and surfaces. Part of this comes from homing in on the exact vibe the client is trying to create.
“We ask clients for three words to describe their space, and when making any decision, we ask ourselves, ‘does this fit the brief?’,” she says. “The three words for my own home were ‘relaxed hinterland entertainer’, so we added sheepskin to the backs of the dining chairs to help people feel at ease, and bought a huge dining table so we could have large groups of people over.
“For our clients, it’s all about figuring out what they value, then making sure their home reflects that.”
The power of working with an expert interior designer comes from their ability to suggest things you’d never think of doing, and for Morgan, that’s the best part of the job.
“I love being able to add that little sprinkle of fun, luxury and enjoyment that people didn’t think was possible,” she enthused. “It’s those things that make life feel so much better.”
The name Pearl Interiors was suggested by Morgan’s husband because her father was a pearl diver in Broome when she was born, and as such, pearls have always been significant to their family. But, for Morgan, it also has a professional resonance: “Our approach to interior design is a bit like creating a pearl – we take something rough, something gritty, and we transform it into something beautiful,” she explains.
In the choppy seas of advice and information, Morgan and her team are your lighthouse when it comes to creating a luxe, comfortable, intentional aesthetic for your own space.
COMING SOON
Pearl Interiors will be coming to Noosa Junction in February 2025, you’ll be able to find them at 19-21 Sunshine Beach Road, Noosa Heads. Can’t wait? Head over to their website for some ideas and inspiration.
‘The Manifest’ Renovation Guide
This digital guide includes Morgan’s top tips for renovators, including essential measurements, finishes, materials and expert design info – for less than the cost of fixing a badly hung pendant light.
Find out more at www.pearlinteriors.com.au
