At Home with Sally: The Art of Cosy Living
In the vibrant world of home styling, few shine as brightly as Sally Faughey @sosallysaid. A Sydney-based stylist and mother of three, Sally infuses her eclectic aesthetic with a passion for colour and creativity. Her home is a true reflection of her personality, an inspiring mix of styles and memories that spark joy in everyday life. With years of experience shooting for top brands, including KAS Australia, Sally shares her insights on creating spaces that are both functional and beautiful, all while embracing the chaos of family life. Join us as we explore her approach to interior design, styling tips, and the art of incorporating personal touches into home decor.
Hi Sally! It was an absolute pleasure meeting you—your styling is divine! For those who may not know you, could you tell us a bit about yourself?
My name is Sally, and I’m a Sydney girl who has a love for colour running through her soul. I'm also a Mum of 3 kids. I have a wonderful husband and a mum to a dog, cat and a horse - yes a horse! My home is a shrine to all I love, eclectic interiors, a Mish mash of all the styles I love, and has become my home base for shooting for some pretty amazing brands over the years, and of course shooting for KAS.
You seem to be a master stylist - How would you best describe your Interior Design Style?
I don’t think I could even name my style, it mostly just represents how I feel in that space, everything needs to pop, and sometimes for me more is more and I don’t limit myself to narrowing down on one style I just do what I love, and for that reason I love my home.
What’s your go-to strategy for styling KAS cushions?
I love to use different textures and patterns, like pairing solid-coloured cushions like one from the Belrose range with those that have geometric or floral designs like the Alina or the Quincy cushions by KAS. I like to Layer cushions of different sizes and shapes to add depth and make a space feel more full and cosy, for example placing the Casablanca cushion behind the Alina quilt set, is like a mix mash of heaven to me on a bed, or on the couch.
Nowadays, we spend a lot of time in our homes and it can get pretty crazy. How do you balance functionality and aesthetics in your home decor?
With three kids our home is full of wonderful chaos, I need my space to be as functional but yes, I'm a little obsessed when it comes to making sure everything suits my style. It would be like an artist living in a home with no art on the walls, I need to have my home filled with things that spark my creativity, and my family know that, and actually my kids and husband are all pretty creative too so they take it all on board. I choose pieces that not only look amazing but also serve a purpose, like storage-friendly furniture or busy patterns for bed linen on the kids beds that can withstand daily life and ‘kids’ like the Bee Cover quilt set for my daughters room is amazing, a soft enough pattern to not be overpowering but just enough that if she scribbles on it with her texts then it won’t be noticed. I also love incorporating vibrant, eye-catching decor. Things like swapping out my shelving decor often . KAS have the most incredible range of ceramics, I’m obsessed with the Paloma Vase in green or anything from the Candy Vase range is Divine, and enough to make you catch your eye as you walk past, and that’s what I love about my home, having little pops of ‘oh that’s cool’ all over the place, makes me feel so happy and proud of my space.
In an era where we have information-overload, what are some common challenges you face when styling a space, and how do you overcome them?
One of the biggest challenges is filtering through the endless stream of inspiration and trends. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed or second-guess your choices when you’re constantly bombarded with new ideas. To overcome this, I stay true to my personal style and the story I want each space to tell. I remind myself that not every trend needs to be followed, and not every beautiful piece needs to be included. I focus on what resonates with me and the specific vibe I want to create in a room. Another challenge is balancing the desire to experiment with new ideas while maintaining a cohesive look. I overcome this by setting clear intentions for the space before I start styling and ensuring that every piece I choose supports my vision.
How do you incorporate personal items or memorabilia into your decor without cluttering the space?
Yes, I absolutely loathe clutter, so this is a great question. However, I’m a huge hoarder of memories. I love taking photos, making photo-books, creating movies after family holidays, and keeping items that tell a story or trigger a memory for the kids as they get older. Since I shoot in my home most days, I’ve decided to keep the kids' bedrooms off-limits. This allows them to be as creative as they want—whether that means having Taylor Swift posters all over the walls or arranging their space however they like. I feel strongly about not imposing my own design preferences on their personal spaces. I also love having photos professionally blown up and framed to showcase around my home. That’s a huge part of my art, and I carefully choose the colours in the photos to match the area before deciding where each piece will go.
What advice would you give to someone just starting to style their own space?
Stay on track and be really true to what you love. Find inspiration, follow a trend, map out what makes you feel good and go with it. You don’t need to style your home to suit anyone else other than yourself because you are the one turning the key everyday.
What was the thought process behind matching the KAS cushions to the KAS bedding?
Using the Ferdinand quilt cover set was a no-brainer. I love the pattern, and the colours weren’t too overpowering, which allowed me to mix it up with some out-of-the-ordinary cushions. I used the Melrose range as the base to create a resting point for the eyes, subtly breaking up the quilt cover. Then, I added a pop with the decorative cushions Alina and Dollie. As soon as I saw the Dollie cushion, I knew I had to have one, so pairing it with the Alina, which has a completely different vibe, just worked in my eyes. Design is always open to interpretation, but in my home, I find that combining two completely different looks side by side, and then placing them close to a neutral palette, creates a nice little vibe.
