Juliet Horsley's idea for a homewares store was born after a two-year stint working as a cook in Portugal and Switzerland. A fifth generation 'gal' from family property Yabtree, near Adelong NSW, Juliet longed for the rustic beauty among which she had been raised. So, six years later, she hung up her apron, picked up a chainsaw and fired up the branding iron. Inspired by a mirror her mother had made from old cattle-yard railings found at Yabtree, Juliet is realising her passion for crafts that stem from her love of country life. Mirrors, screens and lamps are the mainstay of her business. The majority are crafted from reclaimed timbers that display a rustic beauty. "Large-scale mirrors are functional. You can fill a large wall area, which reflects another scene. If the frame is made of gorgeous timbers, it's like a piece of art," says Juliet. "It's a bit like cooking - if you have the best possible ingredients, you don't have to do too much to have a delicious meal … it's the same when you have a fantastic piece of timber … you just let it speak for itself." The screens provide the perfect frame for Juliet's passion for displaying. She mixes beautiful Belgian linens with inexpensive materials such as hessian and wallpaper. The linen is typical of Juliet's love for natural materials, and wallpaper is kept neutral for a calm look. "Screens are versatile," says Juliet. "If you don't want to use it as a screening device you can leave it flat and put it behind your bed." Her lamp concept came about as a result of a friend's frustration in the search for a stylish, yet basic, lamp. The simple design is crafted in milled ironbark, cypress pine or Oregon, or silver birch or river red gum for those who prefer a raw finish. The shades are linen, of course. "Some people see timber and think it's a bit ordinary, but when they hear the story behind it … Where I can, I tell people about the timber's previous life and they can then relate that story to someone else … it gives a piece more soul."
AUSTRALIAN INTERIORS FEB/MARCH 2005