The current lockdowns in NSW and VIC have hit non-essential retail hard and when we see brands doing something innovative to keep their services going and sales coming in, we want to share it. The latest comes from Melbourne’s Norsu Interiors, who are offering console styling advice via email for an affordable price.
Starting at just $39, they’ll help you style your console like a pro. This might be a hallway table or a buffet in your dining room for example.
“Styling a console is one of our most favourite things to do!” says co-founder Nat Wheeler. “It’s a piece where we can really get creative with objects, plants, artwork and mirrors, and, in a nutshell, let loose.
“Given the multifunctional nature of a console, we get it can be confusing selecting the right things to style with. Do you go for form or function? How many pieces should you place on top? Have you considered the heights of your objects to ensure there is balance?
“If the mere thought of these questions sends your head into a spin, we are about to rock your world! With the new ‘Style your console like a PRO’ e-styling service, simply select your package, send us pics, answer our simple questions, and wait for our styling gurus to send you a visual representation of your perfectly styled console oozing with personality!”
There’s no obligation for you to buy the suggested items from Norsu, but of course you can, or you could buy some and use some of what you already have that’s similar, or you can save up and buy them later.
They also offer a similar service to help you pick cushions for your sofa or bed, something I know many of our readers (and I!) struggle with!
Do you know of any interiors and home businesses offering something a bit different online during lockdown? Let us know!
norsuHOME reno transforms life for foster family
A charitable project created for a Melbourne foster family, the latest norsuHOME renovation story is a real Christmas heart warmer. “We called this one ‘Project Seven’ because the family was…
Inside the chic but thrifty norsuHOME renovation
If you’re a fan of this blog you’re no doubt aware of norsu interiors – the Melbourne based retail and online purveyors of stylish Scandinavian art and homewares started by…
The rattan furniture trend is certainly one with legs. We first wrote about its mass resurgence back in 2017 and the look has remained a constant in our Pinterest and Instagram feeds since. And while the material has been used to create all sorts of different furniture pieces, our favourite iteration is the statement armchair. Here are our top eight picks, perfect for Hamptons, rustic and coastal homes.
Oz Design Furniture Bermuda designer chair: Made from fast growing, environmentally sustainable materials, this gorgeous chair is handmade from bamboo, rattan and bent cane bound together with reed. $699.
Home Bazar: With prices starting from $39, this new rattan range is notable for its ridiculously low price points and stylish designs. The range will hit WA and QLD Bunnings store this week, with VIC and NSW to follow next week. Expect a stampede!
Wild Fig Bodhi bamboo sofa: Perfect for the outdoors, this sleek handmade sofa comes with a cushion upholstered in a fabric that is water, mildew and fade resistant. $1252.
HK Living rattan egg chair (natural): Available locally at Norsu Interiors, this stylish chair combines a hand braided seat with legs made from black lacquered metal. $999.
Sitting Pretty Harper rattan armchair: This stylish, (and not your run of the mill) rattan number has a thick base cushion and comfy back support too. I love its curves and criss cross detailing. $519.
A charitable project created for a Melbourne foster family, the latest norsuHOME renovation story is a real Christmas heart warmer. “We called this one ‘Project Seven’ because the family was expanding from five to seven members with the introduction of two permanent foster children,” says norsuHOME co-founder Kristy Sadlier.
The renovation included the addition of a new stand-alone room, or ‘tiny house’ at the back of the property, built by Soulspace Studios
The family’s first foster child, a boy, was put into the family’s care straight from birth, while his sister came along a bit later. “Suddenly his biological sister, aged eight, also needed a new safe home to live in, and being the generous people that they are, the family decided that they would provide a home for both children and therefore grow their family to seven; literally overnight!” says norsuHOME co-founder Nat Wheeler.
Growme Melbourne donated one of their gorgeous Moodyboards
And with three biological teenage boys already living under the roof, the rapid family expansion presented an urgent and pressing need to update the home’s kitchen (it was struggling with the mounting demands), while adding an extra bedroom and bathroom too.
The extra room/tiny home came in the form of a SoulSpace Studios’ standalone room – the first supplier to donate. “Having met the husband and wife duo Razz and Bec from Soulspace Studios earlier this year at the Tiny House Festival, Nat immediately contacted them to see if they’d partner on the project. To her joy, Soulspace jumped on board, generously donating their building services and expertise, and the fun began!” says Kristy.
After securing SoulSpace Studios, the norsuHOME team approached more of their contacts to donate time and materials to the project with donations including kitchen cabinetry from Zesta Kitchens, tiles from Perini Tiles, stone benchtops from CDK stone benchtops, flooring from Scandinavia Floors, Meir tapware, Dulux paint, Bowens timber, Nood.Co basins and Easycraft panelling to name a few.
“We’ve never experienced generosity on this level before. To see so many of our contacts instantly jump at the opportunity was truly humbling and shows that our beautiful community shares the same desire to help. This project perfectly demonstrated the impact that can be made when partnering collectively, and trust me, it has been huge for this family!” says Nat.
The tiny home houses the eldest of the biological sons – a practical decision that was made due to his age. “It made perfect sense for the eldest son to move into the home because he was able to get the privacy an 18-year-old needs. He was previously sharing the upstairs living quarters with the two foster children,” says Kristy who, with her team, enjoyed creating a Nordic inspired cabin for her young male client.
The Easycraft panels were painted in Dulux Monument Grey and Vivid White
The space has a masculine palette of charcoal, dusty blue, vivid white and tan. It also has an airy pitched roof, rustic oak wide board flooring, wall panels and natural linen drapery. The team also installed a built-in storage bench seat to create a separate lounge zone while the nearby bathroom combines speckled tiles with matte black tapware.
Bathroom mirror is from Thermogroup, basin from Nood Co, tapware from Meir Australia; tiles from Perini; towel from Aura Home; vanity is a repurposed Ethnicraft bedside table available at Norsu Interiors.
Shower tiles from Perini; tap ware and shower head from Meir
The renovation also included a complete overhaul of the home’s kitchen which included the addition of extra storage, workable cooking space and a giant island bench. “Did we mention this family also runs a family daycare business from home as well?!?” says Kristy who designed the space to be able to feed 12 people from the space daily.
Kitchen cabinetry by Zesta Kitchens, handles by Lo & Co, tiles by Perini, bench top by CDK stone
There’s Hamptons-style white cabinetry, blush fish-scale mosaic tiles, matte black tapware and stone benchtops. The design also included an update to the adjacent dining area – built-in banquette seating making the space much more functional.
Tap ware and sink from Meir
“There’s something so special about combining our passion for design with making a difference to those who need it most. When we first started this little business several years ago, Kristy and I never imagined we would be able to impact the lives of others in such a large capacity. This project has been a dream come true for our entire norsu team, and we are itching to do it all again soon, so watch this space very closely!” says Nat.
Dining. Built-in seating makes the space much more functional.
Photography: Kate Collingwood | Styling: Nat Wheeler and Lauren Bartlett-Bragg for Norsu Interiors
It’s not something we tend to think much about but a beautiful door can be just the finishing touch a room needs say Scandi interior decorator and renovators Nat Wheeler and Kristy Sadlier, of Norsu Interiors. “You should be able to tell a lot about a space by its doors. They’re the first thing you see when you enter a room and, if closed, the last thing you see when you leave. If your room has a design story, then the doors are its cover and in this case, you should definitely be able to judge a book by its cover,” says Nat who carried out a beautiful renovation her 1920’s Melbourne bungalow recently.
Nat used Corinthian doors (Balmoral PBAL 2) throughout her home
Create a grand entrance
“One of the best things I did when renovating my home was to open up the hallway. The Scandi aesthetic is open and full of light, so a small corridor just wasn’t going to work. This new space created the opportunity to make a big statement with my doors,” says Nat of her double entrance front doors, painted in Dulux Vivid White.
Nat’s double entrance front doors are Corinthian Classic PCL 4
“Simple elegance is key to the trend, so making a statement with your choice of doors relies on the detail. The deep carved vertical panel motifs add texture and shadow without being too dramatic,” says Nat who finished the pair of doors with Buster and Punch handles. “I set them on a background of Dulux Tranquil Retreat painted walls that helps them really stand out,” says Nat.
Keep the look consistent “Beautiful interiors rely on having a strong design story that is executed consistently throughout your home. This ensures that the eyes can wander calmly from space to space without any unexpected surprises,” says Nat who says that interior doors should complement exterior ones. “A good trick for doing this well in a Scandi home is to slightly pare back the motifs of the front door with a simpler profile inside,” says Nat who selected brass interior door hardware too. “That material choice was picked out in fittings and furnishings including our tap ware and lighting,” says Nat further emphasising the importance of consistency in design.
Brass handles complement the home’s light fittings and tap ware
Door to door design “If we think of the door as the cover of your design story, then it follows that you should ensure it is represented in your space. Door frames, picture rails and skirting boards all provide opportunities to add more texture to the home through the use of carved and embossed profiles,” says Nat who used mouldings throughout the house alongside soft grey and pink paint colours on the walls for subtle contrast.
The doors are complemented by skirtings and architraves
“While getting the Scandi style goes beyond door choice, they are a great place to start thinking about how you are going to construct your vision and some of the core elements that are going to define it. Whether you’re going for the original 1950’s aesthetic, a more modern interpretation, or an entirely bespoke twist on the design, make sure your home opens the door to your personal Scandi style.”
Currently in its fifth year, the annual Feast Watson Re-Love Project is upon us again and this year sees a talented line-up of design folk upcycling for charity. Steve Cordony, Sarah Ellison, Natalie Turnbull and norsu Interiors’ Nat Wheeler and Kristy Sadlier have all reimagined existing furniture and homewares that are set to be auctioned for charity at the end of October.
Steve Cordony’s upcycled wares
Steve Cordony Featuring lots of gorgeous turned wood, stylist Steve Cordony’s upcycled pieces bring plenty of drama to this year’s line-up. There’s a bold black dining table (that was upcycled with a black stain) and an array of complementary accessories – the proceeds of which will raise money for the Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation.
BEFORE Steve Cordony
AFTER Steve Cordony with his upcycled pieces
Sarah Ellison A solid timber sideboard, a classic wooden bowl, two wicker chairs and a hollow cube-shaped side table with glass top all received the makeover treatment from stylist and designer Sarah Ellison for this year’s project. Sarah’s nominated charity is Livin’– a charity that aims to destigmatise mental health issues and increase awareness of suicide prevention.
BEORE Sarah Ellison
AFTER Sarah Ellison
AFTER Sarah Ellison’s upcycled glass cube table
Sarah Ellison
Natalie Turnbull A solid timber desk and coffee table were given a statement green stripe when stylist and art director Nat was put to task on her Re-Love Project upcycling project. They complement her upcycled accessories too and all proceeds will go to Challenge, a charity focussed on supporting kids with cancer – a cause dear to Natalie’s heart.
BEFORE Nat Turnbull
AFTER Nat Turnbull
AFTER Nat Turnbull
norsu Interiors Employing their signature Scandinavian meets pastel style, the ladies from online homewares store norsu Interiors have worked their magic on a number of pieces for the project including a stool they transformed into a table by reupholstering it and shortening its legs. Proceeds from the sale of their pieces will raise money for brain cancer research, with money going to Carrie’s Beanies 4 Brain Cancer.
norsu Interiors’ Nat Wheeler and Kristy Sadlier with their Feast Watson pieces
BEFORE chair
AFTER chair
BEFORE stool
AFTER the legs have been shortened to make a table
