Into the Blu
Adri-Ann Brown had her work cut out for her when moving Blu Peter to its new home just a few doors up from its previous location.
For starters, part of the floor had to be rebuilt, a quirky legacy from the property's previous inhabitants, a boat sail-making workshop. And in true Blu Peter style, the building's walls and floor needed a few coats of white paint - an expensive exercise in such a big space.
But with 340sqm of floor space to work with, the South African-born Ms Brown said the move was absolutely worth it.
"I needed the extra room to display my sofas," she laughed.
The sofas are indeed one of the first things you notice upon entering the furniture and homewares showroom, which opened the doors of its new premises in April.
Sourced from various suppliers in Holland, Japan and Australia, each sofa features removable stone-washed Belgian linen covers in various shades of white and beige.
"You can throw them in the washing machine - they're actually really practical, which many people might not realise," Ms Brown said.
"They're made to look crumpled and lived-in and washing them only enhances that."
The collection of sofas teams wonderfully with Blu Peter's lighting range. There are crocheted leather pendants, lamps made with bleached coconut shells and clay-bead chandeliers, sourced from a manufacturer that supports African women living with HIV and AIDS.
"I try to select hand-crafted, one-off pieces," Ms Brown said.
"You'll see a little bit of an Asian influence mixed with an African aesthetic."
Shell-inlay coffee tables, feathered headdresses and decorative pieces from Swaziland are testament to her style, while Madras Link floor rugs, Cool Galah towels and Mud Studio ceramics keep the look modern.
Paddywax Apothecary candles and diffusers, and ceramics by Robert Gordon Australia, Ivory House and Wonki Ware, a South African company, are also in the mix. The work of resident artist Madeleine Casey hangs on the walls.
A fan of a clean, calm colour palette, Ms Brown favours furniture and homewares that are earthy, textured and unique.
"Living by the coast, it simply must be relaxed and livable," she said of her selection.
An antique mud basket sits in a corner, there are silver trays with caramel-coloured leather handles and napkin rings made from hessian rope, and hanging glass vessels styled with succulents line one wall.
"We've just bought some new linens with gold and copper threads running through the fabric to make cushions," Ms Brown added.
"They'll be in the store soon."
Blu Peter, 82-84 Stirling Highway, North Fremantle, 9433 1782, blupeter.com.au.
