‘Have to feel’: The $5k styling secret to snare a buyer

Peace Lehman and Steve Gosarevski with Florence,6, and Primrose,3, at their Hendra property. Picture: Richard Walker

An accountant-turned-designer is banking on a $5000 styling budget and plenty of creative flair to snare a buyer for her Queenslander home.

Brisbane mother-of-two Peace Lehman studied a Diploma of Interior Design after moving from Sydney, styling homes for family and friends before returning to her accounting career. But she never left interiors behind, bringing the same methodical approach she once applied to balance sheets to her own home.

Ms Lehman and husband, Steven Gosarevski, purchased the 1925-built home at 33 Chermside Ave, Hendra for $1.14m in 2016, and have listed it for auction with Place Ascot agent Jill Wright-Wooton on September 13.

The couple purchased the home in 2016. Picture: Richard Walker

Mr Gosarevski was first taken by the property’s wraparound verandah and poinciana views, while Ms Lehman saw it through a decorator’s lens.

“I’ve always loved character homes and antiques, so it was an opportunity to really embrace decorating with the charm of the original Queenslander with its high ceilings, VJs, French doors and original timber floors,” she said.

Cosmetic changes layered colour and pattern across the five-bedroom, two-bathroom house: blue-painted boards in the main bedroom, vibrant green in the powder room, floral wallpaper and wainscotting downstairs, and classic William Morris in her office.

The home was styled to feel warm and welcoming

First impressions count

Pieces collected or reimagined told a personal story. A childhood church pew, refinished with her father, stood in the hall. The dining room glowed under a locally sourced antique brass chandelier, above a table brought from Sydney. In the living room, British Colonial style came through Jacobean armchairs and a white feather-filled sofa.

“We styled our home to suit its age, and our own style,” Ms Lehman said.

“It was important for our home to feel warm and welcoming and reflect our family. We usually style with pieces collected from our travels and treasured family photos.”

The home’s elegant character was enhanced through styling

Designer wallpapers are used to layer colour and patterns

When it came time to sell, Ms Lehman shifted, spending $4000–$5000 to create a strong first impression.

The front door was repainted in British Paints’ Distant Shore and fitted with new brass hardware, while affordable rugs, cushions and lighting were added inside to create warmth and flow. Marketplace finds including a tiger cane side table, antique seating, and $60 garden bench were revived to add character at minimal cost.

Crisp blue and white suits the home’s traditional style

The home has five bedrooms and two bathrooms

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Personal mementos were pared back in favour of a “classic timeless” aesthetic, with blue-and-white accents, fresh paint and an enhanced connection between living spaces and gardens.

“I studied other listings I liked and took cues from there,” Ms Lehman said.

Every detail was considered, down to fresh flowers, bowls of fruit and scented candles matched to each room.

The home is going under the hammer on September 13

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