shop owner brooke crowle

Soon after visiting Brooke Crowle at her store, Elements I Love, in Sydney's Surry Hills, she was off to India. That was after a trip to France and Belgium only a short while ago. She is a nomadic shopper who is always on overseas adventures, sourcing antique wares for her two stores - Elements I Love and Architectural & Antique Elements in Leichhardt. But while Brooke loves to travel, and discover new finds, she still enjoys getting her hands dirty in the workshop, restoring furniture, which is where she started out.

Which five words best describe you? Creative lapsed hippy, cynical, messy, bossy and cheeky.

How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? A love of art history drove me towards restoration, from there I learnt the many finishing skills that I use daily in the workshop. Photography is a bit of hobby that I have been able to nurture via the blog, same with writing my blog, which I am sure I could improve if my dream works out - jump to the second last question! All the other stuff about running a business you learn from just doing it, hard work and commitment.

What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? To paraphrase the ever optimistic Indians: trust your gut instinct in both business and life because “if it’s not a happy ending, it’s not the end yet”.

What’s your proudest career achievement? I haven't really got one thing but the philosophy of "keeping it real", not dumbing down our "beautiful products" despite the pressures of commercialism and making a living.

What’s been your best decision? Opening a bricks and mortar store in Surry Hills - near like minded folks - when everyone is going online or moving to a warehouse. I’ve been there, and it's really cold!

Who inspires you? Travel is great for inspiration, especially India for "life" and France for how to work and live. Family, friends and other creatives in business inspire me - whether it is fashion, food, music, writing, music, design...

What are you passionate about? Real things not faux: real people, real food, hand-made, hand-crafted, texture, texture...

Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? Stevie Nicks. Barack Obama. Sylvia Beach.

What dream do you still want to fulfil? To live in France for three, six months, or a year or two or three...

What are you reading? Why be happy when you could be normal by Jeannette Winterson. Really, I am!

images natalie walton (courtesy of elements i love)

SHOP OWNERS SASKIA + LIBBY CARR

There are a number of small but successful shops in London that focus on selling practical and well-designed wares. Australian cousins Saskia, pictured above left, and Libby Carr hunted them out while living there a couple of years ago, and finding them sparked the idea that they could create something similar back in Australia. After returning home they launched online shop Ten Things in 2012, and at the end of last year held a pop-up shop at Blank Space Gallery in Surry Hills, Sydney. They’ve also started to hold market stalls at a few different locations, including the Entertainment Quarter markets in Moore Park. Their philosophy is that we should own less but better quality objects, items that you treasure.

Which five words best describe you? Focused, seekers, curious, creative and determined.

How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? Libby studied design at COFA and has worked as a graphic designer for a number of years, while Saskia studied drama teaching and has worked in teaching and training across education and retail. 

We lived together in London a few years ago and this is where the idea for Ten Things emerged. We were constantly on the hunt for practical and well-designed products and were inspired by a number of small boutiques that focused on quality and functional design. Upon returning to Sydney with a strong desire to work for ourselves, we decided to go into business together and open an online shop.

What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? Experiment, find what works for you, but always keep learning. Don’t expect to get everything right the first time. Also, preparation is key.

What’s your proudest career achievement? Starting our own business. We have both learnt and discovered so much in a relatively short amount of time.

What’s been your best decision? Going into business as a partnership. Merging our skill sets has allowed us to do much more together than we could alone. While we make a lot of decisions together, we also divide and conquer when it makes sense to do so.

Who inspires you? Other small businesses and creatives who work really hard, commit to quality and love what they do.  

What are you passionate about? Seeking out great design and craftsmanship. Finding those everyday items which make life a bit easier and more beautiful – both for Ten Things and for ourselves!  

Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? As all of our designers and manufacturers are scattered across the globe, so we’d love to have the opportunity to meet all of them in person and see them in action. Saskia visited Southern Field Industries (maker of our Waxed Canvas & Leather Tote) in Japan last year and was incredibly inspired by their passion and craftsmanship. We look forward to being able to do this with more of our brands in the future.

What dream do you still want to fulfil? We would love to have a permanent shop front one day.

What are you reading?

Libby: Elephant by Raymond Carver. Short stories are perfect when life’s a bit busy. I also usually have a few home/interior magazines on the go.

Saskia: Wherever You Go There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn. A great little book on mindfulness with perfect tips for surviving life as a new mum.

images courtesy of ten things

SHOP OWNER CLAUDIA ZINZAN

Claudia Zinzan has spent most of her career working as an interior designer, but retail has never been far away. The New Zealander has run an interior design and clothing business as well as a luxury clothes brand. But after the birth of her first child, she wanted to change direction. And so Father Rabbit was born, a project that Claudia started with her husband, Nick Hutchison, who also works as a camera operator in the film industry. The business started out as an online store, and now as two physical shops in Auckland.

Which five words best describe you? A calm and consistent whirlwind.

How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? After completing an interior design degree I fell into colour consultancy. From there I had an interior and clothing design business and was the general manager of a luxury clothes brand before starting Father Rabbit after my first child was born. All the movements in my career have been about seizing opportunities without thinking about them too heavily. But I do have a strong “gut feeling” monitor that tells me if I feel uncomfortable travelling a certain path. I don't over think things. I use my contacts and travel toward a loose goal in my head about the bigger picture but I seize opportunities that my networking provides. I surround myself with people who have more experience and different skill sets than myself and work with them to enhance my business. 

What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? Pay attention to detail. I am still teaching myself this. It is such an important skill and money saver.

What’s your proudest career achievement? Launching Father Rabbit with Nick.

What’s been your best decision? I feel like I don't make very conscious decisions and instead rely on my gut. But as my business gets bigger I have to be more careful with my analysis of opportunities... mainly because more risk is involved. My best decision is that I started Father Rabbit and didn't go back to my old job.

Who inspires you? Other business creatives. I am always watching other people and their think-big attitudes. The guys at Supreme Coffee inspire me. The boys at Fidels Cafe/Havana Bar in Wellington. 

What are you passionate about? Being kind in my business to my staff, customers and suppliers. The world needs more gentle-handed approaches to business and negotiation. I am insanely passionate about shop displays, merchandising and retail interior design.

Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? I am a huge fan of Beyonce and Jay Z. I would almost give up everything to be their friends or at least a fly on the wall. I think they are hugely talented but also are a massive business inspiration.

What dream do you still want to fulfil? I want to live in a foreign city with Nick and the kids. Bangkok or Brazil are at the top of the list.

What are you reading? I am not reading anything currently except the news, Facebook and emails! I am a tired mother with a little baby.  

images courtesy of father rabbit

stylist & designer katie graham

A second honeymoon in Bali reminded Melbourne stylist Katie Graham that she needed to slow down and focus on what was important in her life: family. It also gave her an idea as to how she could do this. The Family Love Tree is a business that allows her to travel, source vintage fabrics and furniture, and have new pieces made to sell via her online shop. She gets to indulge what she loves, work from home, and spend more time with her family.

Which five words best describe you? A frustrated interior designer with a fabric/textile addiction!

How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? I started and still have a career in costume design for film and TV, which started in 1994. I also had a self-named fashion label from 1995 to 2000, have been a stylist for many photo shoots, music videos and TV commercials, small business owner of Raggidy Rag Dolls, the list goes on.

What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? Collecting skills from the many industries I have worked in and joining the dots together has been invaluable. Also, good old-fashioned customer service and keeping up high standards, offering quality and something a little different can take you a long way.

What’s your proudest career achievement? I have many proud career achievements: being able to work with some pretty amazing film directors and actors is one and showcasing my fashion label at Mercedes Sydney Fashion week in 1999.

What’s been your best decision? I think starting this new venture with The Family Love Tree; it allows me to channel all the things I love into one thing, such as the travel, sourcing vintage fabrics, researching vintage furniture and also spending more time with my kids, being a home-based business.

Who inspires you? Colours, patterns, interesting and unique design, vintage shopping, overseas travel, old movies from 1940s and 50s, and my husband Jason - he's an incredibly passionate independent film maker.

What are you passionate about? Film, art, architecture, vintage furniture and fabrics, my thre kids/family/friends....

Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? My great great great great great grandfather Jacob Bellet - a silk merchant - who was caught stealing a bolt of black silk and sent to Australia on the First Fleet as a convict - I think we have lots in common!

What dream do you still want to fulfil? Being able to take time off to travel with my family, take the kids on overseas caravan adventures, mmm like gypsies in Morocco.

What are you reading? Steve Job's biography

images courtesy of the family love tree and derek swalwell

SHOP OWNER MAXINE SMITH

More than three years ago Maxine Smith was watching a group of women from Laos make silk scarves. The idea struck her that she could take them back to Australia - along with other wares from her travels - and sell them to people who treasured handmade and crafted textiles and decorative objects for their home. Maxine spends considerable time sourcing each piece for her online store Barefoot Gypsy, and travels around the globe hunting out pieces she would want in her own place, always with an eye towards ethical pieces.

What five words best describe you? Passionate, enthusiastic, focused.

How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? I have always loved travelling and collecting beautiful pieces along the way. In 2009 I was recently separated from my then husband and business partner. Together we had created a building business, which gave me a keen insight into the world of business and architectural design. Now a single mother with five children, I took a trip to Laos. In hindsight, it really was a trip of reflection, a time to think about the future. I was in a community in Laos admiring the silk scarves the women were making which gave them an income for their family when I had that “light bulb” moment and thought what if I could bring in the scarves and sell them to small boutiques and home and gift stores. I haven’t looked back, each day the collection broadening in scope and destinations I source from.

What's the best lesson you've learnt along the way? That you can't do it all yourself.

What's your proudest career achievement? Our newly launched catalogue and the fantastic response it has received from my customers and others in the industry. It is really gratifying when you work so hard on something and people respond well to it.

What's been your best decision? To not waiver in my decision to keep the collection organic and to care where products are sourced. While I often work with vintage pieces, one of my new collections is made in India. I didn't want my products made by women in appalling working conditions or the use of child labour, so I went there unannounced to see who was making the products and the working conditions. Needless to say I was happy with the working environment. I do believe you always need to care how and where things are made.

Who inspires you? A lot of things inspire me but it is the artisans who keep their craft and traditions alive that keep me constantly motivated to continue finding new pieces. I love that I can be part of the process of sharing their craft and traditions with different audiences.

What are you passionate about? People and their cultures. I love the textiles and objects that are part of the communities I discover through my travels and embrace the stories behind them.

Which person, living or dead would you like most to meet? I couldn’t choose just one - maybe we could host a Moroccan style brunch and I could put together the guest list so we could invite all the amazing people I would love to meet in person.

What dream do you still want to fulfill? I would like to design and develop a clothing and soft furnishings range.

What are you reading? I demolish mountains of magazines on interior design. One favourite magazine at the moment is The Renegade Collective, a great source for inspiring tips for small business. I also enjoy trawling through my endless Nomad Textile books.

images courtesy of barefoot gypsy

INTERIOR DESIGNER JASON MOWEN

After 14 years of living overseas - mainly in the UK and Spain - interior designer Jason Mowen was ready to start a new venture on his return to Sydney in 2009. Along with artist Eduardo Santos, he set up a boutique showroom in an enviable double-fronted position in the regenerating suburb of Redfern. It’s a cross-pollinating space that showcases an unexpected mix of antique and 20th Century furniture and decor pieces, as well as tribal and contemporary art. From here, Jason also creates custom furniture and interiors based on an aesthetic cultivated during his time in Europe. After moving to London in 1995, he and Eduardo ran a menswear shop in Covent Garden for seven years before Jason worked for interior designer Jonathan Reed. A highlight of this period was assisting on the new royal palace for Queen Raina of Jordan. Later, after setting up his own studio in Madrid in 2005, he converted a 14th Century Moorish tower that had belonged to the Austrian Archduke Luis Salvador. While most of his adult years have been informed from a life spent overseas, most of his childhood was spent between Maleny and Brisbane in Australia, other than a stint in Papua New Guinea. 

Which five words best describe you? Sensitive, stubborn, hedonist, generous, perfectionist.

How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? It's been a culmination of experiences and, in particular, people who have shaped my life and career. I've been really, really lucky to encounter, through either work, friendship or love, a small handful of people with great knowledge and taste. I guess it was inevitable a tiny part would rub off on me. They may not even realise it, but it's been one of the most significant and wonderful aspects of my life.

What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? Don't let anyone talk you out of anything.

What’s your proudest career achievement? So far it's probably been opening the shop in Redfern in the middle of the financial crisis on a budget of $15,000! It was as much a miracle as career achievement. 

What’s been your best decision? Moving to London when I was 24.

Who inspires you? The list is long. In terms of style, the French and Italians. In terms of strength and kindness, my mother. I'm also inspired by the classical world - Ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome. 

What are you passionate about? A lot! I'm Taurean: travel, art, food, love. And Spain!

Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? I was going to say Jesus Christ, but I'm switching to Elizabeth Taylor. I was invited to her birthday party in 2002 and didn't go, stupidly thinking I'd have other opportunities to meet her. Apart from being one of the great actors of the 20th Century, she was a wonderful humanitarian. What Taylor did for AIDS, giving it a voice when it had none, was incredible. She was a true trailblazer.

What dream do you still want to fulfil? I'd love to own a c.1960 house in Old Las Palmas, Palm Springs, with a big garden and a view of the mountains.

What are you reading? The rise of the nouveaux riches by J. Mordant Crook.

images courtesy of jason mowen, felix forest and belén imaz (image 2)

photographer + stylist kara rosenlund

Kara Rosenlund spent much of her 20s dedicated to photography. She was the youngest recipient of the Canon Australian Institute of Professional Photography "AIPP Photographer of the Year" award and from 2003 worked across advertising campaigns and magazine titles. Her photos were exhibited at the Sydney Opera House too. However, Kara decided to take a break and head to London where she swapped industries and worked in antiques. On returning to Brisbane in 2007, she combined her interests in styling, buying and photography with her Travelling Wares shop, in the caravan "Frankie", pictured above.

Which five words best describe you? Loyal, observant, grateful, ambitious, loving.

How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? I started my career at 20 after studying photography. I experienced a lot of success early on within the photographic industry, both locally and internationally with my exhibiting work. At the time I thought of myself as being extremely "lucky" to be receiving such accolades and recognition. In reality I was very dedicated to the work and I probably gave up a good half of my 20s to it. After working as an editorial and advertising photographer in Sydney, in 2006 I decided to have some time off and move back to Brisbane and then on to London. It was in London that I decided upon a different career path, that of an antiques buyer, which strangely lead me back to photography and styling when I returned to Australia a couple of years later to start my new business.

What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? Gosh, there are so many of them. Probably that stressing actually doesn't get anything achieved, it just makes it more daunting in your head and you waste a lot of energy time - just get on with it.

What’s your proudest career achievement? Apart from having a photography exhibition at the Sydney Opera House it would have to be starting up Travelling Wares here in Brisbane, my travelling caravan old wares shop. It made me recognise my strengths and then bundle them all under the one umbrella - photography, styling and buyer - and turn them into a business. This has made me very proud and grateful that I now have created an avenue for myself to push my ambition and drive in to.

What’s been your best decision? Starting Travelling Wares. Being honest with myself and recognising that I needed to take a risk and create something of my own which allowed me to be creative. I realised that in order to move forward, sometimes you need to look back. As soon as I found my beloved 1956 "Frankie" and decided to pick up my camera again. Everything just fell in to place.

Who inspires you? My brand new husband Timothy O does; he has such clarity in every situation, which brings innovation and patience. I love his mind, and how he thinks. Also my father; I think about his hardworking approach to his humble business and it inspires me daily.

What are you passionate about? Our home life. It is such a privilege to be able to carve out how you choose to live and have the freedom to enable it to happen. To have a happy and safe place to nurture relationships, have animals and essential harbour love is very inspiring and something which I am very appreciative of.

Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? You know, I think I would have liked to have met Steve Irwin. I know that some people may disregard Steve Irwin, though it really is phenomenal what he achieved for the wider community and the level of awareness he was able to raise through his pure drive and appreciation for animals and conservation. I often think of him and how he truly must have believed that he could really change the world and what a desire that must of felt like.

What dream do you still want to fulfil? I would love to have a permanent shop. Even though I have an online shop and the caravan shop I still yearn for the solid bricks and to share the experience with people, and styling more cook books.

What are you reading? Oh dear. This is going to sound dreadful. I am not reading books, rather flipping through magazines - Gather Journal, World of Interiors, Kinfolk, Monocle, Vogue Living. Between juggling my business, our house renovations - which we do all ourselves - and spoiling our chickens, there is no spare time for proper book reading. I have tried to read, though have shamefully fallen into a slumber too many times. I'll get back to reading next year.

images courtesy of kara rosenlund

DESIGNER NICOLE STEELE

There’s nothing like a major health scare to set your priorities straight. A few years ago graphic designer Nicole Steele had to undergo six months of chemotherapy and it made her rethink the direction that was she was going in. Up until then she had been making tentative steps towards launching an online homewares store, as well as creating some of her own designs. “That health scare made me reassess what I wanted out of life, and realise that I could have faith in myself and my ideas,” Nicole says. The result was Paterson + Steele, a business born on the Gold Coast, Queensland. “The concept behind it was very simple: find or create pieces that tick all the boxes that are important to me - striking design, a unique or eccentric quality, and made with a strong environmental and social conscience,” Nicole says. “We want to encourage slow-buying, buy what you love, buy once.”

Which five words best describe you? Driven, enthusiastic, unguarded, resilient, inventive.

How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? I started by working my butt off at uni for a graphic design degree. I then spent 15 years working, and I have been really fortunate to work with some fantastic brands. I’ve always had a passion for homewares and interior design and I had it in the back of my mind that “one day” I would launch my own brand, but making that leap into the unknown is hard. Then, I had a health scare and six months of chemotherapy and it made me reassess what I wanted out of life. So I took the leap and here we are.

What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? To get over myself and get on with it. I hate to think of the hours I’ve wasted in the past trying to perfect every tiny detail. It’s great to be passionate and dedicated, but perfection doesn’t exist, and if it did, it would be boring. 

What’s your proudest career achievement? Having the guts to turn a hobby into a business and doing it while going through chemotherapy. It’s still evolving and very much a work in progress, but I got there – professionally and personally.

What’s been your best decision? To get off the computer, and out of my comfort zone, and back to designing products. It has given my creativity a new lease of life plus the opportunity to meet and work with new amazing people.

Who inspires you? This is a long list. Daily I’m inspired and mentored by Jai Vasicek, the way his brain works is a thing of beauty. I’m inspired by my family and friends, and all of our suppliers and collaborators; such a bunch of talented and creative people who genuinely want each other to succeed, that’s very inspiring in itself.

What are you passionate about? Food, art, friends, family, pugs, travel, supporting artisans and small businesses.

Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? Andy Warhol – I’m obsessed with Pop Art – to me, it’s the perfect combination of graphic design and art.

What dream do you still want to fulfil? Having Paterson + Steele recognised as a place that succeeds commercially without compromising our principles. I started with the dream of avoiding the mass produced and providing a platform for the unique; I hope I can achieve that.

What are you reading? There’s a stack of reading material currently by my bath – I have a half hour bath every night, it’s my happy place. At the moment the stack is full of interior design magazines, and Daring & Disruptive by Lisa Messenger.

images courtesy of paterson + steele; photography armelle habib; styling aimee tarulli for greenhouse interiors