Home decor: vintage lockers the new big thing; Keys to the perfect she-shed or womancave
What was once schoolyard chic or banged up and broken is making its way into our homes.
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Becca Stern has loved vintage lockers for as long as she can remember.
Her house is home to several antique versions which she has collected during the years, one from the side of the road.
Given her passion for these eclectic items it made sense to pitch the idea of creating their own when she and sister Jess were dreaming up business concepts they could kick start together.
“I’ve always found vintage metal lockers beautiful to look at,” says Becca, 33.
“I love all vintage pieces, especially furniture … and metal even more so. It ages so gracefully. It gets scratched and banged up but even then it looks cool. Those marks tell a story. They’re like beauty spots and also metal doesn’t fall apart the way wood does, at least eventually.”
Becca explained all of this to Jess while the two of them strolled along a Newcastle beach and discussed business concepts.
Becca was passionate about the idea. Jess, 30, not so much.
“She was like, ‘Really? Are you sure? I get that you like them but I can’t see myself having one in my own house’.”
But Becca was sure.
Very sure.
And she was convinced Jess would be too once she saw the genuine article.
Jess was cautiously willing to give the whole concept a try. In the coming months Becca taught herself how to draw and design in 3D and cooked up a plan for the style of locker she hoped to create. She then convinced her still doubtful sister to hop on a flight to China so that they could search for and eventually lock down a manufacturer.
‘A SIGNAL TO YOUR BRAIN’
The sisters travelled throughout mainland China meeting with business owners.
They eventually settled on a company owned by folk they felt they could relate to.
“It’s all about the people for us,” explains Becca, “And we connected with them. We had a good feeling about it all. Plus, it’s a family-run business, just like ours and it was big enough that they could do the job well but small enough to care.”
The women flew home and six months later launched their locker business Mustard Made.
While they both loved the lockers when they were standing right in front of them neither had high expectations for the line and we’re hopeful to cover costs and perhaps garner a small profit.
They remained conservative and ordered enough lockers to fill a 20-foot shipping container hoping to sell half of the stock via pre-order. They sold enough to fill two 40-foot containers with those in the homewares industry scrambling to land stock of their own.
When asked why Mustard Made’s lockers have proven to be so very successful, Becca puts it down to a mixture of several things.
“Our attention to detail is very strong,” she says.
“Mustard Made lockers are really strong and they last and last. And people love our colour palette too.”
Mustard Made lockers are also surprisingly large and hold more than you might imagine.
They come with adjustable shelves and matching baskets and hangers (if you fancy those).
Another detail that people seem to love – they’re lockable, a feature that has proven especially desirable now that so many of us working from home for at least part of the week if not all. “That’s a real benefit right now,” explains Becca.
“It means that you can finish your workday, close the door and lock it and return to regular home life. It’s a signal to your brain that work is definitively finished.”
Today, Mustard Made is an undeniable success with the brand stocked in Australia, the UK and soon the US. It employs both women full-time and now their partners too, meaning it’s a true family affair.
“We’re so invested,” says Becca. “We’re invested for one another, but also our partners and our kids, and our extended team too.”
TOP HOME STORAGE TIPS
Small storage - Maximise your storage space by using jars, boxes and baskets to organise your things within drawers and cupboards.
Show it off - Storage doesn’t have to mean hiding everything. Show off the things you love and use every day by grouping them and giving them a place to shine.
Sort by colour - Arrange your wardrobe or bookshelf by colour, it makes it feel organised
and brings a burst of aesthetically pleasing joy.
Customise it - Make your storage work for you by adding extra shelves, drawers or hooks.
Look for ways to get the most out of what you already have.
Up and down - Use the spaces that are easily forgotten about. And be creative about it. A basket on top of your wardrobe or drawer under the bed adds much-needed storage.
Label it - Do your future self a favour and label absolutely everything. A label printer will take your storage game to the next level of efficiency. Small sets of multiple drawers and hidey holes of varying sizes are perfect for holding all sorts of trash and of course, treasure.
More: mustardmade.com
KEYS TO THE PERFECT SHE-SHED
Sheds aren’t just for the boys, so claim your own outdoor space, perfect for creative hobbies, pottering, bingeing on your favourite show or lazing around with a good book.
1. Work the room
Whatever you plan for your ‘she shed’, you’re going to need storage options. Ikea has an array of solutions, including the versatile Skadis pegboard (from $20), hooks ($4 for pack of five) and shelves ($6 each).
ikea.com.au
2. Shed some light
Bring rustic charm to your shed with antique-style lighting. The Cantara outdoor pendant has a lantern aesthetic and is $229.
zestlighting.com.au
3. My space
If you’re in need of your own space, feast your eyes on this enticing shed. The Star cabin comes as a kit set with everything you need to build it. It’s priced from $7800.
sheshedz.com.au
4. Happy place
A room of your own needs a lounge chair. The Curve outdoor lounge chair is weatherproof and inviting. Available in natural or black, its $1120.
wgu.com.au
5. Warm glow
Add a little ambience to your shed with colourful glass tealight holders. The Ridged Round tealight holder comes in a range of jewel-like hues, $10.
domayne.com.au
6. Growing sensation
If you’re turning your hideaway into a potting shed, check out the Burgon & Ball seed storage tin. Designed to store seed packs, its made from powder-coated steel with leather handles. It’s $56.10.
botanex.com.au
7. Tea for one
Treat yourself to a cup of tea in your special space with this pretty enamel teapot, $59.
kipandco.com.au
8. Wear well
Practical and stylish, this apron is ideal for protecting clothes while working in your shed. It has a handy pocket for tools and is made from waterproof canvas. It’s $76.
alycealexandra.com
9. Hang out
Liven up your sanctuary with some lush greenery. Hanging planters, such as the Angus & Celeste decorative pebble planter ($89), will help save on space.
mosarte.com.au
This beautiful book will show you how to turn an old garden shed from lawnmower storage into a pretty retreat. It’s $49.99.
dymocks.com.au
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Originally published as Home decor: vintage lockers the new big thing; Keys to the perfect she-shed or womancave
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