A Light and Airy Nordic Inspired Renovation in Melbourne by norsu Design

Today I’m sharing a new project from norsu Interiors, the Melbourne-based retail boutique and interior design studio founded in 2013 by Nat Wheeler and Kristy Sadlier. Long-time friends of TDC, the business initially started as an online store but grew rapidly, opening its first physical store within a year. Well-loved for its Scandinavian-inspired homewares, furniture, and artwork, norsu’s mission is to help their community create a home that they love coming back to every day, along with simple and easy styling tips to transform the way we live. In 2017, after completing and sharing a renovation on Nat's family home, they established the norsu Design team of interior designers and decorators who now work on home projects across Australia. Their latest project, the Malvern Residence, is a gorgeous transformation of a Victorian home that exemplifies the light, bright and airy style norsu is known for.

The previous Victorian-style floor plan consisted of a small kitchen, one bathroom for the whole family, a living and dining area that the family had outgrown and a poorly designed and disjointed back living space add-on. “We knew the house needed to be re-stumped from the moment we bought it and that was going to be a big job, so we just waited until we knew what we wanted to do,” says owner Skye, who shares the home with her husband Andrew and their teenage children Henry and Lucy.

Skye engaged interior designer Lauren Bartlett-Bragg from norsu Design with a vision to create a modern, Scandinavian-inspired home, after seeing the transformation of norsu owner Nat Wheeler’s family home over Instagram several years ago. “As a first-time renovator I knew roughly the look and things I wanted but didn't have the confidence to put it all together - especially with the fixtures and finishes,” explains Skye.

The original colours of the home were dark, with deep blue carpets, yellow cream walls and orange-toned floorboards. When it came to her reno non-negotiables, Skye’s number one was a light, bright, open and airy house with plenty of clever storage solutions, separate living room spaces for the adults and children, and functionality without sacrificing beauty. The key renovation elements included an extension of the back of the home to create a large open-plan living, kitchen and dining area, a dual workspace study, a hardworking laundry zone with multiple drying cupboards, and the addition of a separate studio in the backyard.

For designer Lauren, one of the critical parts of designing this home was making sure she could get as much natural light into the home as possible. “Due to the orientation of the home and the configuration of a few of the front rooms that remained in their existing positions, we were limited to what side of the home the kitchen could be on (the north wall of the property), leaving limited light into this space”. The result is something Lauren describes as quintessentially Australian-Scandi with a signature norsu aesthetic, combining the perfect mix of natural finishes with a cool neutral palette while injecting warmth through timbers, sheer window furnishings, and cosy textural furnishings. The sheers are by Sheridan Window Furnishings and the flooring is by Scandinavian Floors.

On entry, the first thing you notice is the spacious hallway with fresh, cool-toned white walls (painted in Dulux Vivid White), soaring skylights and feature pendant lighting. Breathtaking white steel doors open to the formal lounge and contrast with the olive-painted walls (Dulux Spanish Olive) and custom cabinetry by Albedor Industries in a soft grey with oak shelving.

“The brief for the back extension revolved around function, opening up the space to create a central hub of the home” states Lauren. “With the abundance of windows, we added sheers throughout to soften the light, and added indoor-outdoor functionality to the kitchen by adding in a servery window and bench from the kitchen to the barbecue area”. For Skye, this area is her favourite. Calm and relaxing - whether cooking in the kitchen or reading on the sofa - she loves the size and feel of it, and the beautiful sunlight that streams through. The kitchen features benchtops by Quantum Quartz and CaesarStone paired with tapware from ABI Interiors.

Apart from the obvious addition of storage in every room of the home, Skye’s favourite feature is the hallway skylights. “We had one in the plans and added another as we were building and then made them both as big as possible. They draw your eyes up as soon as you walk in the front door and flood the hallway with light”.

When it comes to the designer’s favourite features of the home, Lauren references the custom white powder-coated glass steel doors which are both visually impactful and practical. The joinery throughout the home is also a grounding feature, especially the use of the linear V Groove lines in parts of the joinery that guides your eyes upwards, accentuating the already high ceilings. Lauren’s other favourite material choice in the home is the stunning linen sheers.“They make the biggest impact - softening and making it feel homely and calm. The sage sheers in the formal living space, against the olive walls, along with the creamy oak shelves, terrazzo speckled stone, leather handles...this has to be my favourite space in the home”.

The norsu Design team were engaged not only to help with the home’s interior design but also its decoration, which was a huge advantage to Skye to ensure her finished home maintained a consistent and cohesive flow throughout all elements of the renovation.

“It’s the finishing touches to the home like the furniture, artwork and decor that truly bring the look together. Our interior styling and decorating services consist of curated packages that make it incredibly easy to achieve a seamless and sophisticated feel throughout the home, as we’ve always got the end result in mind ” explains Lauren.

Feature items seen throughout the home include artworks by local artists Prudence Demarchi, Jen Sievers and Jai Vasicek, furniture by norsu, Ethnicraft and Globe West, and lighting by Danish design house Muuto. To see all of the products featured take a look here. 

There’s a seamless blend of style and comfortable functionality in this family home. A calm and neutral palette, paired with light-filled sophistication, timeless finishes and thoughtful entertaining options that are sure to stand the test of time.

Looking ahead, what does the future hold for norsu Design? The answer lies in their latest and perhaps most ambitious project yet: the extensive renovation of Nat Wheeler's personal residence, also known as norsuHOME 2. With the renovation currently underway, the end result will be a dream home for Nat and her family, with stunning features such as 4.9m cathedral ceilings, separate living areas for adults and children, and an effortless blend of indoor/outdoor living and dining options, and a stylish curved pool. I am eagerly anticipating the final outcome of this project! Follow along on the journey here.

Image Credits

Photography: Simon Shiff

Styling: Nat Wheeler, norsu Interiors, Lauren Bartlett-Bragg - norsu Design Senior Interior Designer, Georgia Nixon - norsu Design Interior Designer

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Assemble by Atelier Cph

Atelier Cph has launched Assemble, a new art print collection for 2021 based on the concept of manipulating fabrics. Taking inspiration from the feminist textile artist movement, which challenges the distinction between textiles and fine art, the new art prints are an exploration of techniques that include hand stitching, sewing, layering and folding. An extensive collection of 28 fabric collages featuring a palette of warm neutrals and a few surprise pops of colour, these beautiful art prints will add a new dimension and focal point to any room of the home.

Atelier Cph has been experimenting with textiles since their first collection and this has continued to influence their design direction throughout the years. Abstract in composition, all pieces are made from leftover textiles, scraps of yarn from secondhand shops and recycled fabrics, demonstrating an honest use of materials. Piecing together materials as a form of collage, the constructed geometric patterns reflect a simple modern expression. 

Assemble is now available online from Atelier Cph. 

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New and Noted

Danish brand &Tradition has introduced Wulff, a lounge chair whose upholstered form pays tribute to the hand-crafted designs of the 1930’s. A time that marked the foundation of the Golden Era of the 'Danish Modern', master carpenters and architects in Denmark began working together on furniture, combining carpentry traditions with the increasing sculptural courage of architects. This saw a move away from clunky, over-embroidered design aesthetics of prior eras to a more holistic experience, where all pieces melted together in a simple yet decorative and organic mode of expression.

 

Exemplary of this time, where we see the likes of the Little Petra chair breathe its first breaths, the Wulff lounge chair promises superior craftsmanship and outstanding comfort with luxuriantly soft upholstery that covers its seat and backrest, details which generally define Danish design of the 1930’s. Intended as a lounge chair for the living room or bedroom, its architectural shape will add a stylish statement to any interior. A selection of fabrics are available for the upholstery, while the wooden legs and armrests come either in oiled walnut or white oiled oak. 

Find out more about the Wulff chair here.

Anna Church, the Toronto-based NZ sculptographer who I interviewed here, has released an incredible new body of work. The Necessary Art Of Noticing tells a floral language adrift from traditional forms of flourishing bouquets or arrangements, through 12 magnified photographic fine art prints captured in four chapters: In the Stillness, In the Gestures, In the Vanishing and In the Nuances. Composing an alchemy of hand foraged flora layered between abstractly nuanced painted surfaces, arrangements of still life and decaying flora present themselves in suspended animation or as line etchings. All of which are distilled into a magnified photographic form. 

In the Stillness 

“This year compelled me (and many others) to assess our lost ability to interact with pared back, simple pleasures. In a perpetual Lockdown and stripped of usual distraction, I began to adapt and find creativity within the absent. With my pandemic puppy in hand, I walked the long snow covered trails of the Don Valley foraging and gathering plentiful nuggets of inspirational ephemera”. —Anna Church

In the Nuances

In the Vanishing

Visit Anna's website to see the full series and to learn more about the ideas behind these incredible works. There's also an inspiring video showing a behind the scenes look into her creative process. 

I recently discovered All Matters, a Stockholm-based design studio founded by a Danish architect and a Swedish entrepreneur. Sharing an extensive background in design and advertising, their mission is to create and produce high quality interior products developed from a Scandinavian design mindset, while at the same time incorporating a holistic approach with sustainability in mind. From material choice through to production methods, All Matters is guided by the principle of minimising the impact of the environment. At 3daysofdesign in Copenhagen last year they launched an innovative modular concept for rugs WOODEN LINK 01, and most recently they have released the EMBLA Stool 03. 

Fredrik Widén, Director at All Matters says they’re very picky about where the material they use comes from, and how our products are produced. They try to source local materials and use local manufacturers whenever possible. Their rugs are hand-tufted in Portugal and the EMBLA Stools are handmade in Sweden by carpenter Gustav at Nils Verners Verkstad located outside Uppsala. The EMBLA Stool 03 was first launched in elm, sourced from the vicinity of the Fyris River, North of Stockholm. The newest edition is made of European oak.

Named after the first woman in Nordic mythology, EMBLA Stool 03 is inspired by the simple shape of an old milk stool. Designed to be used as a decorative piece in the home, I think it would make a beautiful addition to a living room space, and Frederik says he himself uses them as small bedside tables.

 

Images courtesy of All Matters

Danish brand Vipp has added expanded the Cabin furniture collection introduced last year with a new counter stool. Characterized by Vipp's high-quality design and craftsmanship, the high stool is made of solid oak with elegant details such as invisible joints that make the stool appear as if it has been cut out of one piece of wood. In addition, the construction gives the illusion that the seat floats over the legs of the stool.

The home of Sofie and Frank Christensen Egelund / Styling by Colin King / Photography by Adrian Gaut

The Cabin bar and counter stools are treated with oil which adds a silky soft surface which shields it from everyday wear and tear while preserving the tactile structure of the wood. The padded cushion is wrapped in soft aniline leather, which patinas beautifully over time and provides a high level of seating comfort. A small, curved backrest is shaped so that it provides optimal support for the back. A slim steel footrest adds support to the feet, while ensuring stability.

“Vipp's love for good craftsmanship started with the pedal bin in 1939. It lies fundamentally in our DNA to keep a strict focus on details, quality, and durability, regardless of the materials we work with,” emphasises Kasper Egelund, CEO and third generation Vipp owner.

The home of Sofie and Frank Christensen Egelund / Styling by Colin King / Photography by Adrian Gaut 

The Cabin counter stool is made for the kitchen island and is an obvious choice for Vipp's new V2 kitchen in dark oak, aluminium, and marble. The name 'Cabin' was inspired by an architectural project that Vipp will unveil later this year.

Images courtesy of Vipp

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