Leaving London, Chloe Brookman found her happy home in breezy Byron Bay

SWAPPING busy London for breezy Byron Bay was not a difficult decision for homewares retailer Chloe Brookman

Homewares retailer Chloe Brookman found her happy place in Byron Bay.

• WHO: Olli Ella co-founder Chloe Brookman

• WHERE: 1970s bungalow in Byron Bay with her husband Charlie, and children Tennyson, 8, Arlo, 5, Nell, 2, and pup Digby

• FAVOURITE THING: The woven trolley basket is one of my favourite things because it is virtually my extra set of hands when I am out and about with the kids. I load it up with snacks, and activities, things they will bring out with us and never end up wanting to carry, groceries — I love it!

• INSPIRATION: I love to fill our home with comfortable, liveable pieces

• HOME IS: Coming home is always such a treat, it’s a great place to unwind, to be with my family, to cook and just potter about really

HAPPILY ensconced in a 1970s bungalow on the top of a hill overlooking Byron Bay, homewares retailer Chloe Brookman has created a boho-inspired home for her family.

She co-founded Olli Ella in 2009 with her sister Olivia in London, focusing on nursery furniture. Prior to that, the sisters studied design and art history opening a small gallery in the heart of London, specialising in 20th century works. But their focus shifted to furniture design when they designed and made a nursing chair for Chloe when she was expecting her first child.

Now living on the far north coast of NSW, Chloe says she loves being able to run a business remotely now.

AT HOME WITH JAMES PRATT

“I’m originally from London, but have lived all over,” says Chloe. “We have a joke in my family that the longest I spend in any one place is five years, which isn’t too far from the truth.

“Our move to Byron Bay was prompted by the idea of slowing down a bit, giving our kids a more relaxed upbringing.”

Chloe and husband Charlie renovated their current property all while juggling a business and caring for young children.

“Charlie and I have loved renovating our new home — it’s such a creative process,” she says. “It’s intense, especially with a young family but we both think it’s important that the kids have seen us build the house — and we’ve had fun doing it too.”

Pictures Bridget Wood

More: olliella.com.au

Atlas rug: Inspired by my honeymoon with Charlie to Morocco and the Atlas Mountains, I love this rug for sentimental reasons but also because no matter how much dirt or spills end up on it, it always hides it!

Jar of feathers: Arlo knows that I love birds and fallen feathers and so every time he finds one he gives it to me with the cutest smile on his face.

Stick with yarn: I wove this from a stick that Arlo picked up on a beach walk. It’s special also because I made it the day before Nell was born.

Woven trolley basket: The woven trolley basket is one of my favourite things because it is virtually my extra set of hands when I am out and about with the kids. I load it up with snacks, and activities, things they will bring out with us and never end up wanting to carry, groceries — I love it!

Cactus painting: This is by my favourite artist, Kate Jarman. I love her use of colours. A girl can never have too many cactuses.

Ottoman: This pouf was picked up on my honeymoon. It was the very first piece of furniture that Charlie and I bought as a married couple.

Blanket: This blanket was handwoven in Indonesia. It was given to me by one of best friends.

Mat with tassels: It’s actually a vintage donkey saddle bag from Turkey. But I collected this little treasure from one of my favourite flea markets in Balmain.