Okay, I have a confession to make. I do have a rather large skeleton in my closet, and it’s probably going to shock a lot of people, so hang onto your knickers for this one, ladies…
Fashion is not my first love. Not even my second!
Somehow, and I would need to rewind many moons to say exactly how it all started, my first love, my real passion, is homewares, styling, and designing cosy, slow, nature-inspired spaces.
I’m a hard NO on vanilla or beige spaces. If you must be inside (which I try my best not to be!), one must bring the wilds in, and absolutely not get hit with the beige stick!
Designing textured organic wool soft furnishings, printed lux linen cushions, art that brings nature inside, and creating calm in your most treasured space, the home, is what keeps me invigorated.
Home is where the heart really is. It’s where we raise children, or fur babies, where we celebrate with friends and family, and where we hide when we can’t quite face the world.
Our homes must be our sanctuaries first and foremost.
It’s not about designer labels or expensive things. It’s about the things you love, pieces that carry meaning.
For me, it’s my grandfather’s green velvet chaise lounge and a hand-woven wool rug I found on a trip to India. None of it matches as such, but they have soul. They carry the stories of the maker’s hands. Those are the stories I collect.
It’s the feeling from the pieces that creates that electric vibe, the one that makes me love them more and more each year.
So my key tip for styling a space with soul, calm and cosiness is to AVOID the catalogue look. LOL.
Don’t buy mass-produced crap without soul or story. They won’t last, and you won’t love them. If you don’t love something forever, it has no place in your home taking up good vibes, cluttering your mind, and spreading toxins.
Think of your homewares like a partner.
Are they a keeper?
Are they a forever buy or just a roll in the hay?
Would you bring them home to meet Mum?
Do choose vintage, repurposed pieces, or even troll the tip shops for treasures that just need a little TLC.
Just last week, I found an old wooden wardrobe left on the sidewalk. It fits perfectly in my space. It just needed some wood oil and a clean. Bonus: it was free, and it didn’t end up in landfill. Not all boyfriends need to be ripped with a six-pack. Some can be a little rustic and weathered and still be rugged and handsome. In fact, I prefer grizzled.
Do choose locally made soft furnishings from durable natural fibres. Wool throws made in Tasmania are always a forever piece. Choose beautiful one-off ceramic pieces, old bottles on window sills, or hand-crafted coffee cups over mass-produced items.
Add plants to your space to calm the farm, clean your air, and bring the wilds indoors. **Disclaimer: A Tasmanian Devil may not bring calm to the farm, but it could create a great YouTube video.
Another favourite tip is to burn a Tasmanian beeswax candle to cleanse your space. Natural beeswax collected from the Tasmanian wilds actually removes toxins from the air. Cheap mass-produced candles are made from paraffin. What is paraffin? A white, odourless wax made from petroleum, coal or oil shale. So let’s not burn that in our sanctuaries.
Choosing wall art is a big commitment, sometimes bigger than marriage. Original art can require a big budget and a big decision. If you’re the marrying type, like me, our removable wall spots might just tick that box. Perfect for renters, bedrooms, shared houses, waiting rooms, or that vanilla office with all the beige walls. I like to think of them as portals to another place, and you won’t even need a TARDIS. They’re removable, affordable, and can add love and personality to even the beige-est of walls.
And my final rule?
If you LOVE it, bring it home.