When working as the Melbourne Style Editor for Real Living magazine, I was asked to create a series of decorating features called Copycat Rooms. This was an idea editor, Deb Bibby came up with and after my initial briefing, I was given free rein to bring these stories to life. The first in the series was ‘Copycat Shops’ and I chose 3 iconic Australian stores with very different identities – WITCHERY, KIT Skin Kind, and HUSK. I chose these brands because I knew I could take various elements and create interesting, cohesive room schemes inspired by their signature looks.

WITCHERY is one of Australia’s most popular women’s fashion brands. Designed by a team of New York architects, the stores have a classic Hamptons vibe with a warm, neutral scheme. Beautiful clothes and accessories are displayed in open-plan areas, with sofas and coffee tables creating a comfortable “at home” feel to entice customers to linger.

Inspired by the Witchery stores timeless feel, I created an elegant sitting room with an emphasis on tactile materials, raw linens, textural sisal flooring, luxurious knitted throws and organic, natural elements. A traditional wingback chair from Town & Country Style sits next to a whimsical, birch Tripod floor lamp by Juliet Horsley, adding some off-beat charm. The palette is sophisticated and subdued with a combination of soft cream, earthy taupe, and contrasting dark wood to create a calm, serene space. A subtle, but striking Marise Maas painting called ‘Pod’, from Flinders Lane Gallery, brings the whole look together.

KIT Skin Kind is an uber-trendy skin care brand that focusses on sustainability and wholesome ingredients. The red, black and cream packaging is super simple with a logo reminiscent of industrial metal signs. The decor style in their stores was pared back and urban with pops of red contrasting with raw wood and cement walls. Modern graphic typography, and a clever use of vintage finds, set it apart.

Taking inspiration from Kit’s utilitarian red logo, my starting point for this living room scheme was the vintage enamel number ‘4’ sign from Tarlo & Graham. I collected other vintage finds from well-loved Melbourne stores such as Izzi & Popo, Douglas & Hope and Three Quarters to add to the cool, retro feel. I combined a mid-century red Egg chair with a stainless-steel console table on wheels and metal cabinet to enhance the industrial vibe.  

I sourced everything in this room scheme, including the Globewest ‘Slant’ day bed and the Provence coffee table from Dare Gallery in Melbourne. Here's a short run down of some of the Australian brands that were kind enough to loan product to me in exchange for a credit in Real Living magazine: antique German ceramic polar bear from antique emporium, Izzi & Popo; cushions from Country Road, Moss Melbourne and Juliet Horsley; Attiki woven baskets from Papaya and the softest angora throw from Hermon & Hermon.

I commissioned prolific Melbourne-based photographer, Sharyn Cairns to photograph this story with me at a beautiful, modern location house owned by Prue Brown, overlooking the Yarra river in Melbourne. Scroll down to see the other 2 Copycat Shop looks - KIT Skin Kind and HUSK.

I always love visiting HUSK in Albert Park, Melbourne - the original store. With it’s creamy, tactile, curved plaster walls and treasure trove of finds, I feel like I’ve been transported to a cocooning Moroccan souk. When I lived in Melbourne, it was an added bonus when I’d bump into friends that worked there at the time, including artist Miranda Skoczek and jewellery designer, Eran Naylor. Now with stores all over Australia, each space represents a unique and diverse layering of artisanal objects and luxe clothing. This amalgamation of hand-crafted homewares, and modern bohemian fashion, embodies a truly unique retail experience and celebration of global diversity.

Chunky wooden beams and curved plaster walls form the backdrop to the Husk stores and so I focussed on earthy, solid wood furniture for this dining room scheme. I then added handmade ceramics in organic shapes, with flashes of green and amber coloured glass to set the scene and create a laidback feel. Moroccan tea glasses mixed with a decadent chandelier and one-of-a-kind, tactile objects are reminiscent of the eclectic, relaxed glamour that Husk is well known for.

Here's a run-down of some of the lovely stores that kindly loaned product to me in exchange for a credit in Real Living magazine: the pendant chandelier hanging over the dining table is from Beacon Lighting; Cross chairs are from Globewest; tea glasses, green votive, white script bowl, teapot and enamel vessel with butterfly design are all Husk; the Java console table is from Freedom; the large brown Chrysanthemum artwork is from Oz Design Furniture and the Freeform wooden table lamp is from Coco Republic.