Nestled between the buzz of Brisbane and the Gold Coast, Karà and Kyra-Bae are the heart behind the women-led business Studio SunRàys. This creative studio, located in Carbrook, offers a peaceful sanctuary space where modern design meets countryside charm—brought to life with passion and a shared vision.
At Rock ‘N’ Soil, we are all about creating beautiful spaces. Studio SunRàys is a shining example of how a combination of creativity, thoughtful planning, and hands-on effort can turn a blank canvas into something beautiful.
How Studio SunRàys came to life
Like most great ideas, Studio SunRàys was born out of a need for a beautiful shooting space that was versatile and modern. Photographer and branding talent, Kyra-Bae, found herself booking numerous studios for her shoots and together with her mother Karà, saw an opportunity to build their own studio by transforming an existing property. The pair built the space over the course of a year, often on weekends, with help from their partners and tradesmen.
Since opening, Studio SunRàys has grown into a fully functioning creative studio that is quickly booking out each month.
Karà and Kyra-Bae both have their own roles within the business and seem to have found the perfect business balance. Karà handles the day-to-day operations, studio prep, and accounts while Kyra-Bae manages all the social media marketing, collaborations, and in-house photography. After using our rocks in their outdoor styling, we interviewed the pair to get an insight into their process for creating beautiful spaces.
Designing the outdoors
When it comes to designing outdoor spaces, Karà and Kyra-Bae are in the same boat as many first-time DIYers. To formulate the idea for the studio, they took inspiration from several sources.
Kyra-Bae drew much inspiration from her homewares business, Kove Kollective, and photography business, By Bae Creatives, which shows through the modern architectural curves and in-vogue colour palettes present in both the inside and outside of the studio.
“The outside leans into that farm-style feel, while the inside is clean, minimal, and modern,” said Kyra-Bae.
“We wanted the space to really stand out. The challenge, though not a difficulty, was finding the right balance between modern and rural. While we love the rustic look and appreciate its charm, we didn’t want that to define the entire space. We aimed for something that pops while still being neutral, so that people can bring in their own colours and creative vision. The neutral tones, both indoors and out, are designed to complement whatever is brought into the space,” explained Karà.
Luckily, the pair also have partners who helped bring their creative vision to life. Kyra's partner, Louis, runs a landscaping business Luna Landscapes, and Karà’s partner, Rob, runs a formwork company South East Qld Formwork. Even though the pair have partners with strong trade backgrounds, they were still very hands-on throughout the process. From using concrete to secure pavers, erecting fences and landscaping, the duo has learned a lot along the way.
When we asked about their approach to outdoor styling, Karà and Kyra-Bae shared, “We use mood boards, and we take a lot of inspiration from Pinterest. We’re always screen shooting ideas and running various ideas by each other. Then we blend what we both love, taking into consideration colour, space, and budget.”
Finding the right balance for Studio SunRàys
One of the standout features of Studio SunRàys is its white gravel pathway, chosen after careful product comparisons.
“We tried various rock colours and sizes until we found the rock of choice from Rock and Soil as it complemented the Travertine pavers,” explained Karà.
To achieve the clean, cohesive look they envisioned, Studio SunRàys used our Rock ‘N’ Soil Emerald White 20mm stones, adding the perfect finishing touch to their thoughtfully designed pathway.
Developing the outdoor space was a learning experience for the pair, especially when working within the limitations of the area.
“Council approvals were a key part of the process. Ideally, I would have loved to go bigger, but we have maxed out the allowable building area. We’re planning to expand by adding a veranda-style concrete area at the front with adjustable rooflines, so we can create a flexible indoor-outdoor space in the future.”
The landscape itself also presented its own set of challenges. The natural slope of the property, combined with rainfall patterns, created drainage issues that affected their original landscaping plans. Starting out with a vision of about fifty conifers planted to line a path, they struggled in the soggy conditions.
“We couldn’t keep them alive,” Karà explained. “The slope just held too much water.” In the end, only twenty survived—an early lesson in adapting design ideas to the realities of the land.
The current design uses a variety of plants in different areas, including conifers around the perimeter, Ficus Hilli for some border privacy, gardenias for a soft touch of white flowers, and evergreens. This combination creates a look of both modern elegance and country charm. There are also plans to train bougainvillea to grow on one side of the studio wall and jasmine to creep over the hanging swing and parking space to further increase Studio SunRàys outdoor backdrop features.
DIY insights from Studio SunRàys
When asked for advice for budding DIYers and designers, Kyra-Bae believes that those initial planning stages are the most important: “Really try and visualise your ideas before you start. Draw up your ideas, look at inspiration and do not be afraid to ask the experts questions.”
Karà believes that taking a good look at your budget and getting the best value out of it, also sets you up for success, “I think working within budget is important. Whether it's big or small; you can always make something beautiful on your own budget. You don't have to work with the expensive stuff - but find beautiful items that you can use at your level and things you are happy with.”
One of the DIY projects the pair planned out together was their gorgeous swing area, which has a countryside charm that’s perfect for outdoor photoshoots.
“Our swing area, which started as an attempt to disguise a septic tank. Now boasts a porch-like swing with the same Emerald White 20mm stones underfoot and a white garden chair surrounded by citrus fruit trees. The white picket fence is also a cute addition and now a major feature of our studio entrance. It really complements the stone pathway and garden beds,” said Karà.
So, what is next for Studio SunRàys?
“We have a few ideas up our sleeve as our space will always continue to evolve,” said Karà.
Outdoor fencing options with movable walls for different types of photoshoots and a sunflower field are among just some of the future developments planned for the property.
“We’re proud of what we have created. Studio SunRàys is much more than just a business; it is an opportunity to work and grow together, which we love,” said Karà.
“I agree, it’s great working together. We’ve had the best time already designing SunRàys, and we look forward to working as a team and adding to the aesthetics of the studio,” said Kyra-Bae.
Check out the way that Studio SunRàys have implemented our Rock ‘N’ Soil Emerald White 20mm stones in their exterior shoot locations on their website here.