Ashley is the creative behind Homemate, where her services include interior decorating, professional organising, and freelance assignments.
Nothing excites Ashley more than the process of space planning, interior styling, and making a space live up to its full potential. Helping homeowners make their personal space work for their family and lifestyle is what keeps her motivated.
Ashley is a very proud graduate of The Interior Design Institute. Through our course, she acquired the knowledge, skills, and confidence to pursue her dream of being a creative entrepreneur. She also has a great deal of independent real estate staging experience and professional administration from past positions held with one of the top five banks in the world, in the mortgage administration and sales support departments.
In addition to working with clients to improve their lives, she enjoys taking care of her family, playing with her dogs, reading, and exercising. Some of her work has been featured in trade magazines, local publications, and the school prospectus. She also recently became a certified professional organiser, which works hand in hand with interior design.
I have a diverse background in service-based industries, banking, interior design/decorating, and professional organising. Throughout my career, I have held various roles that have challenged me to better understand how environments affect different personalities, moods, and productivity. Growing up, I watched my mom constantly rearrange furniture, which changed the entire mood and flow of the room, and this left a lasting impression on me. I've always enjoyed decorating my own homes, and after receiving positive feedback, I decided to pursue formal training. After graduating, I launched my own design business, which has evolved from property staging and blogging to professional decorating and organising. It is a privilege to work with clients, enhancing their spaces and their lives.
I was inspired to become a tutor because of my familiarity with the course and my passion for guiding, leading, and teaching others about interior design.
Every designer should possess essential skills and qualities such as creativity, patience, resilience, resourcefulness, empathy, flexibility, a personable nature and a desire to learn.
Some of my favourite projects have been holiday-themed. One of these will be featured in an upcoming magazine issue and even helped raise money for a local charity.
My approach revolves around fostering creativity, encouraging a deep understanding of spatial dynamics and developing practical skills. I believe in hands-on learning and gaining experience to develop confidence. where students can experiment and explore their ideas in a supportive environment. It's important that I emphasise the critical nature of understanding client needs, as well as staying adaptable and open to continuous learning in this ever-evolving field.
Some of the key skills and knowledge areas I like to focus on are understanding design language, spatial planning, and attention to detail - there is so much more to design than selecting pretty decor. Fine details truly matter in every aspect of this career.
My personal design style is a mix of traditional and contemporary but I love the impact of negative space so a touch of minimalism and strategic placement is important to me.
The most influential designers for me have been Nate Berkus, Jeremiah Brent, Kelly Wearstler, and movie producer Nancy Meyers.
My favourite part about being a tutor is assisting students in their journey to better themselves. I appreciate seeing the effort they dedicate to completing the course and the creativity they express.
I encourage students to remain open to feedback, as it enhances their growth in all areas of life, be practical when it counts, and not be afraid to push creative boundaries.
Image source: Ashley Vancardo from @myhomemate.ca.
My confidence and skills have increased immensely since studying for this Diploma, and I have a new outlook on the future – not to mention my house, which is now looking pretty fantastic!
Waikanae, New Zealand
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