Founded in Singapore, Castlery is a direct-to-consumer furniture company that aims to produce stylish, modern, quality pieces at accessible price points. The brand oversees the entire build, ship and delivery process which enables them to keep prices down and from mid-century to contemporary designs, there are lots of great pieces in the mix.
Harper TV unit: A textural dream, I love the oval silhouette and vertical timber detailing on this gorgeous piece. $1,099.
Paloma Bouclé Armchair: Available in grey and the beautiful ‘snow’ tone pictured, this sculptural occasional chair is a statement making piece. Love! $569.
Castlery Seb Bed with 2 Bedside Tables: Castlery do bedroom furniture sets to take the anxiety out of coordinating finishes. The trio is priced at a very affordable $1,899 for the complete package.
Esther Bookshelf, Tall: The perfect place to house your books and favourite objects, this pieces combines alternate marble and dark walnut shelves anchored by a gold metal frame. $999.
Castlery Luna Sideboard: Combining a veined grey Spanish ceramic top with a stunning green, this 160cm long piece is perfect for small spaces. $1,599.
Odette Performance Bouclé Sofa: Made from spill-resistant polyester boucle fabric, this glamorous sofa combines gorgeous on-trend curves with plated metal legs. $1,599.
Parker Desk: Sporting mid-century inspired lines, this desk features a gorgeous walnut timber veneer and shapely iron legs finished in gunmetal. $629.
Pebble Chaise sectional sofa: It’s the gently curved frame, blue upholstery and metal brass-capped legs that drew me to this design. $1,999.
Lorenzo wool area rug: Reminiscent of Kelly Wearstler’s iconic Graffito design, this monochrome wool rug is handmade and comes in several sizes including a small mat, hallway runner or large area rug. From $69.
Vincent dining table, oak: Available in solid oak or solid American walnut timbers, this compact dining table (it’s 150cm long) has a gorgeous, slim silhouette. Matching chairs are available. $799.
Adelaide family business, Natural Flooring, have launched a new online arm, Natural Rugs Australia. “Our rugs are designed to counteract today’s throwaway culture and stand the test of time,” says co owner Catriona Morgan. “In a world of fast fashion, product quality and durability can be low. The natural fibres we use for our rugs are incredibly tough and perfect for high transit areas of your house. Some of our Natural Floors customers have had our rugs for 15 years and they still look great.”
Natural Rugs uses fibres sourced from sustainable village industries throughout India and China. Jute, seagrass, sisal, coir and wool fibres are derived from naturally occurring, recyclable sources such as coconut husks, vegetable fibres, plants, and animal textiles.
The rugs are cut from reams of these natural fibre materials and stitched to shape. All rugs are proudly assembled in their Adelaide warehouse. “All of our rugs are handcrafted, so you know they’ll stand the test of time, as we’ve given them attention to detail, care and precision that a machine couldn’t.”
Though Natural Rugs is a new brand, the team behind it have over 30 years’ experience in handcrafted flooring.
Their handcrafted, beautiful and sustainable rugs are available for delivery nationwide. Investing in a rug can be a big decision, so they provide free rug samples and free 30-day returns for change of mind.
What’s more, our readers can get 10% off using the code NRIA10%OFF
A look inside this stunning eco friendly modern home
By Jade Diamond-Haggert Tucked away in a cul-de-sac in Melbourne’s northern suburb of Northcote, Maxwell House is a high-tech eco-friendly home built for a young family of five, plus their…
Australian made sofas: Bespoke, fast and better for the local economy
The COVID-19 ripple effect continues to be felt across many industries and while it has been devastating in many ways, it’s not been without silver linings – especially when it…
When Skye Donaldson, owner of the ethical brand The Young Folk Collective, was pregnant with her first child, she didn’t know searching for an elusive natural product would completely change the direction of her family’s lives. Her search for a natural newborn sleep space led her to Ghana in West Africa.
“I had stumbled upon weavers in Bolgatanga, home of the classic Bolga market baskets. Having used these baskets, I knew the material (elephant grass) was extremely high quality – ideal for a baby basket,” Skye explains. “When talking to family and friends, it became clear that this gap in the market was real and could transform into a business.”
The Moses Basket and Stand
Taking a leap of faith, she and husband James invested their modest savings of $5000, and The Young Folk Collective was born. This move proved a highly successful one, selling out of their first collection within days. “We were overwhelmed by the immediate response,” Skye says.
Fast forward four years, and the company is now a successful family run business, with a large selection of products, handmade by artisans around the globe and an annual turnover of well over a million dollars and growing.
The baby change basket
Their baby baskets are safe, ethical, and look gorgeous. With many of us looking to bring natural elements into our homes, their elephant grass items are a perfect choice. Plus, you don’t have to hide them away once your baby moves into a new bed. Their signature baby baskets grow with your child, functional as a sleep basket, a doll cot, or a unique storage space.
“Our pieces have become a huge hit for those who love aesthetics,” Skye says. “Our baskets are the storage solution that people don’t need to hide.”
Quality craftsmanship is another cornerstone of The Young Folk Collective. “As each piece is handmade, with unique characteristics, they really are a functional piece of art for your home,” Skye adds. “We feel there has been a major shift in people searching for authentic products, with a real story behind them.”
The play mat in Into The Ocean
Their offerings have expanded to include play mats. Skye found that many play mats on the market were too cartoonish to fit into a main living space, and that others sacrificed the bold and contrasting colours that promote childhood cognitive development. The Young Folk Collective’s mats are designed with both form and function in mind, so both you and your children can enjoy their play space.
“Our playmats fit harmoniously into your existing decor, complimenting your style, rather than clashing with it.”
Skye and her family, with one of their Moses baskets
Skye believes in providing a heartfelt customer experience. “To this day, I still hand write thank you notes for every order. This is usually late into the night after our children are in bed,” she says. “In recent times, the world has come to appreciate the important things in life more. Being able to work together alongside my husband while raising our children has been invaluable.”
How to start a design or decoration business – your first steps
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During the first Melbourne lockdown, the two founders of Hommey were moving house, when they noticed that there was nowhere to easily choose from a large range of quality, affordable pillows online. They decided to fill the gap by creating their cushion brand.
“Our goal is to position ourselves as the one-stop cushion shop,” says Hommey’s Justin Kestelman, “all without the premium price tag.”
Hommey offers dozens of colours, shapes and fabric options, ranging from bright yellow boucle to natural linen.
“What makes us even more unique is our quality of inner cushion,” he adds, explaining that the process of creating it took three months and nearly 30 prototypes! The end result is a unique blend of down and hollow fibres that promises to hold its shape. “Nobody wants a pancake cushion!”
Knowing some people are nervous to buy online, they offer 30-day returns if you’re not happy with your choice. And if you’re one of many people who struggle to put cushion combos together, you can even opt for one of their packs, like the one below.
“Since launching in December 2020, we’ve had amazing traction here in Australia and have just launched into New Zealand,” Justin says. “We are exploring the UK and USA as we speak.
“In short, we’re making cushions cool, desirable, relatable and slightly aspirational.”
Given the myriad of cushions available on the market, it is not surprising how overwhelming cushion selection can be. Choosing shape, size, colour and pattern can be a daunting task.…
You know what they say about buying well and buying once? That’s why I always prefer, if possible, to buy great quality brands on sale rather than buy a lot of cheaper full price stuff which will show its cheapness and disposability in a few months’ time. So the good news is that Designers Guild, which I’d call a classic investment homewares brand, is currently on sale. ALL OF IT!
If you’d always wanted some bed linen, cushions, towels or other textiles from Tricia Guild’s iconic British (I’m not biased!) brand, there’s currently 25% off across the entire Australian online store. There’s a lot to choose from though, so I’ve tried to make it easier for you with a few of my sale highlights to get you inspired.
I’m crushing hard on the Hand Painted Pink Stripe table linen. I find I always have more dinner parties this chilly time of year and it’s nice to make a special effort. This also comes in less feminine blue and green colourways but you know me and pink! Just look at the perfect light crumple of the organic linen! From $52.50.
If you prefer plain linen, these mint Lario placements and napkins come in nine different colours. From $45 for four.
Speaking of pink and crumped (and my aversion to ironing!), check out this Biella linen in Peony and Camellia. I love how it’s reversible. I’m a plain bed linen kind of girl but that doesn’t mean you have to stick to greys or white. This linen also comes in shades of green, blue, grey, red, purple and of course, white.
I have a cushion from this range and the linen is thick and gorgeous. From $37.50.
Next up, and still in the bedroom, I’m coveting this silk Chenevard silver and slate quilt. A quilt is a great investment as you can use it on its own in the hotter months and as an extra, good-looking layer on the bed in winter. This also comes in other colours and Designer’s Guild have many beautiful quilts to peruse.
Moving onto the Moselle Bath Robe, I personally always find it really hard to find a robe which is neither too skimpy or too big and fluffy. Waffle is the answer, and this one’s the perfect length and comes in loads of colours. I think it would be $176.25 well spent when you consider you’d probably wear it every day. In 100% linen this will add a fun pop of colour to your bathroom too.
Even if you don’t need anything yourself, this is a great time to buy gifts for loved ones at a bargain price!
Any true interiors addict will have heard of the iconic British brand Designers Guild. Established in 1970 by Tricia Guild, the brand designs and wholesales furnishing fabrics, wall coverings, upholstery and bed and bath collections worldwide. And now, in exciting news for us in Australia, we have our very own online store, meaning we can easily access a whole range of homewares for the first time. I know many a friend who has imported Designers Guild at great expense in the past so I’m sure this will be music to their ears! Discover everything from beautiful bed linen, rugs, bath towels and home accessories to table linen, bathrobes, home fragrance, baskets, and much more.
What’s more, we have 20% off for you all this month, but more on that later!
Renowned for her brilliant and alchemical use of colour, pattern and texture as well as her discerning eye for the ultimate in stylish living, the Designers Guild online store brings Tricia Guild’s innovative concept for modern living, to realisation online. The site is stocked with the full UK Designers Guild lifestyle offering (plus the ability to order wallpaper and fabric samples).
It’s not just a store either; the new website enables users to compose and create their dream living spaces and find the colours that they love via a mood board creator, save favourites in an online scrapbook, or order samples of fabric and wallpaper direct to their door. Hours of fun! The ability to share moodboards online is a great tool for interior designers and stylists and those shopping for their own homes.
And while Tricia’s vibrant and floral designs may be what immediately springs to mind, you might be surprised at the hugely varied range available, including more subtle designs as well as quality basics in the softest washed cotton or linen.
The latest collections definitely pick up on interior trends we’re seeing here in Australia too. We’re loving the moody floral Delft Flower Charcoal and Tulipa Stellata pretty much screams Spring!
Delft Flower Charcoal
Tulipa Stellata
There are some really standout rugs. We love the plain (but shimmering!) Clerkenwell, available in a variety of greys, or why not try a shot of cobalt blue with the Emerson? If pattern’s your thing, you surely can’t go past the textural Valbonella.
Emerson rug in cobalt blue
Valbonella rug
And while I did say Designers Guild is more than just florals, there’s a reason why they’re known for them and the Majolica Cornflower Rug would make a beautiful statement, pared back with more neutral and plain furniture and textiles.
Majolica Cornflower rug
Love the luxury, classic hotel bedroom look (who doesn’t?!)? Check out the divine Astor range. It’s quality 400 thread count plain white cotton with the most beautiful embroidered edging in 16 colours.
Those double edged Oxford pillowcases are something else!
Classic with just the right amount of modern twist! In the same vein, the Biella reversible 100% linen bed linen is great for the indecisive as you have two colours to play with. And we all know a well dressed bed needs contrast! Again, there are an impressive 16 colour combos. Our pick is coral and on-trend blush; a lovely look for Spring.
And then we have wallpaper, which you all know I’m a big fan of. As well as the Designers Guild house designs, you can also access some exciting brands like Ralph Lauren and Christian Lacroix (darling!) through the store. Somebody, take my credit card, quick!
Wallpaper and fabrics samples can be ordered online and then bought through one of the recommended stockists.
I also throughly recommend this as your new go-to destination for unique gifts for the interiors addicts in your life! Think candles, ceramics, statement cushions, toiletries and gorgeous throws.
Interiors Addicts get 20% off everything full priced online until the end of September. Use the promo code ADDICT at checkout.
–Designers Guild has been brought to Australia by Radford Furnishings, the leading distributor of fine furnishing fabrics, floor rugs, wallpapers, furniture, cushions and accessories to interior designers, decorators and architects. Their other brands include Cole & Son, Ralph Lauren Home and The Royal Collection.
For the past four years, Kate Pierce has run her giftwares storeAntipodean Love out of three different inner city apartments and now from her home in Ballarat.
“The business has grown exponentially and as a result, I have developed quite impressive packing and storage skills! Here are my tips (learnt through many a late night and wrapping frenzy) that I believe can create a sense of sanity for others looking to launch a business from home:
Research. I cannot stress this enough, particularly during your initial planning stages. I would love to say that I had a robust business plan in place but it was more of a notebook filled with figures, notes and ramblings. Look at the market, identify your competitors and work out what your point of difference is. What are you going to deliver that they cannot or that you can do better?
Remember why you started. Ask and constantly remind yourself, ‘why am I doing this?’. You have to love working for yourself as it can (and most often does) become all-consuming. The lines between home life and work become very blurred. As much as I try to set clear boundaries between both, when you live and work out of the same space it is inevitable that there is some overlap. There is also a lot more to an online store than setting up the website, sitting back and watching the orders flood in. You need fire in your belly and a desire to succeed.
Get creative with space. This may sound obvious but most of us do not have a west wing or a huge unused space in our homes that we can work out of. You need to be mindful of what space you do have and how your work space will fit into your home. While my girls have loved copious cardboard boxes to play with, you have to feel at peace with orders coming in to your home and that the business at times can encroach on your space. We started off with a desk and storage in our bedroom, to taking over a bedroom altogether, to taking over the largest room in our house. We have played many games of Tetris with boxes and storage in our home.
Consider unavoidable costs. Shipping will be one of your largest costs/expenses. Research this and be mindful of your products’ weight and dimensions. If you are looking at flat rate postage (and let’s be honest we all like to know our postage fees upfront) postal charges vary widely in Australia dependent on destination. So if your products can fit in to a designated 500g or 3kg Australia Post satchel, you could save yourself a lot of cash.
Get systems in place. I am not talking crazy procedures and process flows but look at all the ways you can make your life easier. In the early days, you will most likely be writing addresses on the delivery satchels (I know I did) and when I automated this procedure it freed up an enormous amount of time.
Outsource as you grow. As a one-lady show initially, I could not and was not able to do it all myself. Where possible and within financial constraints, you need to delegate and outsource. Try and engage with local people and look at the resources you have available. Also look at your friends and family as you may be amazed at the connections and knowledge they can offer.
Kate Pierce
Above all, be confident in your concept and willing to evolve and change. Work hard, be nice and good things will happen. Things do take time but with patience and determination you will be amazed what you can achieve. Having your own business is so rewarding and fulfilling. I’d love to provide advice where I can if you are starting or running your own business from home. Please feel free to email me at [email protected].
Having always wanted to own her own shop, Leila Sanderson’s life long dream eventuated, when in 2014 she launched Skinny Wolf.
Featuring a collection of wares predominately designed and made herself, her products include teepees, quilts, cushions and rosettes. With a whimsical style, everything is colourful, natural, hand-made and one-off. “My wares are all inspired by what I liked to do as a kid,” explains Leila. “Playing house, dressing up, drawing, picking flowers, playing in the mud and reading fairy tales. And well, I guess I never really grew up because they’re all the things I still love to do!”
Inspired by her work for furniture maker Greg Hatton and his partner, florist Katie Marx, Leila not only learnt a lot of valuable skills from them both, but also got her store name. “Skinny Wolf is the combination of two of my nicknames. When I first started working for Greg he was known as Twiggy by some of his mates, so he nicknamed me Skinny (for obvious reasons!). But sorry, I can’t tell you why I’m also sometimes known as the Wolf!”
When you look at the beautiful wares curated by new online homewares store The Dancing Pixie, it will come as no surprise to learn that two of its team of three lived together in Turkey for six years. It’s the vision of Amanda, Travis and Nicole to bring gorgeous things from around the globe to Australian homes, via their Byron Bay base.
Whether you’re looking for lighting, tiles, dinnerware, Turkish towels, throws, candle holders or trinkets, you will find them here, and you could easily convince your guests you picked them up on your travels! It’s always nice to have something everyone else doesn’t! Having just spent a week immersed in the Emirati culture in Dubai, and time in Morocco earlier in the year, I’m loving all things Arabic when it comes to decor. And I really need to tick Turkey off my travel list soon!
Amanda says: “Travel is probably my first love, shopping would be my second, so I am so excited to now have a job that allows me to do both! I think over the years the places that I have seen and experiences I’ve had, have had a huge impact on my life, I am now more than ever grateful to live in the country that I do and am passionate about inspiring others (especially our younger generations) to get out and do the same.
“We have alpacas and chickens on our hobby farm just outside of Byron Bay and other than travelling and shopping, I love surfing, swimming and anything crafty! I am so looking forward to bringing you more treasures from all over this enormous globe!”
If you like what you see too, you’re in luck! There’s 10% off everything for Interiors Addict readers using the code InteriorsAddict10 until Christmas Day 2014. Free shipping on all orders over $200, otherwise a flat rate of $10.
Following six months of assisting with Greenhouse Interiors’ Julia Green, Alana Langan is now happily running her own styling business and online homewares store, HUNT & BOW. Here’s how she did it…
Alana Langan (Photography by Annette O’Brien)
Alana studied an interior styling short course at Central Saint Martins in London in 2011 and then spent six months assisting Julia Green in 2013. “For me, hands on experience was a priority rather than qualifications; I think you can learn a lot about a profession by jumping in head first and learning on the job, ideally in an assistant role. I think it also depends on your career direction. I always had the intention to have my own business so gaining this experience was a priority.”
She started Hunt & Bow, originally as an interior styling business, in 2012. Last year she added the online store string to her (pardon the pun) bow. “I’d always wanted to have my own business doing something creative, so I took the opportunity to develop the business plan during my maternity leave and then went for it. In early 2013, I was lucky enough to secure an assisting position with Julia Green which was instrumental in my career. Not only did I learn the art of styling, but also important business and industry aspects that go hand-in-hand with it.” After six months, Alana felt ready to venture out on her own, and she’s loved every minute.
Alana’s own apartment, as featured on The Glitter Guide. Styling by Alana, photography by Annette O’Brien
“My days are often varied, which I love. They can include sourcing vintage or modern products for the online shop, photographing stock and updating the website or working on creative ideas for upcoming shoots, running around town collecting props or meeting with clients. It’s a complete mixed bag!”
Alana’s interest in interiors started early. “I grew up in a home that always had some kind of renovation happening and was encouraged from a young age to get involved. When I was 12, I painted my bedroom and refurbished my first piece of furniture (a Queen Anne side table I decoupaged!) so it’s always been a part of my life and something I’ve loved doing. It wasn’t until I reached my 20s that I discovered being a stylist could actually be something I got paid to do!”
Alana’s own home as featured on The Glitter Guide. Styling by Alana, photography by Annette O’Brien
Goo Collection Spring/Summer ’13. Styling by Alana Langan, photography by Robert Earp
The best part of the job is getting hands on at a shoot. “Being on set and in the flow of the scene you’re creating is just so much fun. Plus, it’s great being part of a creative collaboration with the team (photographer, client, assistants etc.). It’s a real group effort and when things are working well, you can really feel the energy buzzing around. There’s nothing like it!”
Working for herself however is sometimes quiet and a little lonely. “Thankfully though, I’ve built a great network who are really supportive and are always there whenever I need to bounce ideas around or just have a chat.”
Jacqui Vidal’s apartment as featured on The Design Files. Styling by Alana Langan, photography by Annette O’Brien
Great as the job is though, if you think it’s glamorous, think again! “There’s lots of furniture re-shuffling, running props back and forth around town and heavy lifting! Plus, a reality for me is being wiped out at the end of a long shoot. It’s non-stop work on set and it can be physically and mentally exhausting come wrap time.”
Alana’s top advice for getting into the industry is:
Get an assistant role to really learn about the job and the industry
Get yourself on Instagram and start practising your styling
Make a career plan of action and stick to it.
In five years’ time she’d love to still be doing what she’s doing, but perhaps with the addition of a bricks and mortar store in Melbourne. As a working mum, she continues to be inspired by women who run their own businesses and juggle the demands of motherhood. “They’re both the toughest jobs in the world.”
The Design Keeperis a new online homewares and lifestyle store filled with carefully curated products for all areas of your life.
Founder Anne-Maree Mammoliti says: “Our store was created to offer simple, functional products that have been expertly crafted and celebrate design. All our products have a strong design element and an understated elegance.”
New online destination Urban Couture is offering free e-decorating services to its customers and an innovative DIY moodboard tool.
By using the site’s Couture Boards, you can select a template for a room or space to curate and style the interiors by literally dragging and dropping from a huge selection of products. Using “share” tools, you can then communicate the designs through your social media networks, creating interactive mood boards and inviting friends and members of the design community to interact, while also viewing other people’s styled spaces for inspiration.
Visitors to the site can even get a free e-decorating session from founder and interior stylist, Katriarna Rodgers. Urban Couture is also an online store for homewares and furniture, stocking brands like MCM House (their exclusive online stockists), Xavier & Me, NUD Lighting, Oscar & Lulu and Billy Heckenberg.
Well, I can’t quite believe it’s been a full year since I came up with idea for 7 Vignettes or that our Instagram community has been participating and making it bigger and better each month this entire time. We’ve shared almost 30,ooo images on the hashtag and it really blows my mind!
The January birthday edition starts on New Year’s Day and you can find the themes list above. Our guest judges next month are The Block twins Alisa and Lysandra Fraser, who will be appearing on the next Fans vs. Favourites series, rumoured to be starting at the end of January. The former Interiors Addict guest bloggers have generously offered a $250 voucher for their new online homewares store, Alisa & Lysandra Collections, as the prize.
I’m a massive fan of Mud Australia and was lucky enough to receive some gorgeous pieces of theirs from our wedding registry recently.
Few people realise what a success story this homegrown business is. It’s frankly amazing that they haven’t had an online store before but hoorah! They have now and that’s the main thing. I hope they’re prepared for their sales to soar!
Our journey into the online world began less than 2 years ago, when my mum Debbie and I had the idea of creating a website for her interior styling business. At the time, Mum had just completed a new interior design course and was ready to put her excitement and passion into practice. Up until that point, she had been flying solo as an interior stylist for over 10 years. I found myself drawn to her assignments and our shared love for beautiful furniture and homewares grew deeper.
Natasha and Debbie
While we were pouring out ideas for mum’s new website, we talked about one day having an online store. Talking and dreaming soon became planning and organising. Within a few weeks we had our name, Zohi Interiors, a domain and a logo, and chose a web development company. Within a few months, we began importing from India, Morocco and beyond.
We often get comments that our online store appears polished and looks like it is run by a team of 20, not a team of 2 who have never had any web or retail experience! The truth is, creating an online brand isn’t easy, we are constantly growing and learning to keep improving our business. We would love to share a few tips for anyone who is considering launching their business online.
It’s come to that time where I am writing my final guest post for Interiors Addict. I had been thinking to myself “What topic am I going to pretend to know about this week?” LOL! Then Jen suggested that it would be nice for the final blog to be about “Where to from here?” For Alisa and I, this is a question that we have been asked rather frequently of late.
I think back to a year ago and think “wow” at how both mine and Alisa’s lives have changed so dramatically. We were both police officers working part-time shift work, always striving for a bit more in life. We sat down and watched the finale of The Block one night and thought to ourselves, yep, let’s apply. Actually, let’s win The Block 2013 (no word of a lie). From the moment we decided to audition, we had this gut feeling that we were going to win.
