STYLE TALKS: WITH SARAH AT BIRDBLACK DESIGN
May 17, 2023
In conversation with Sarah Nolan, the owner/founder of Birdblack Design and the recent Interior Design Award Winner of our $5K prize for their Wollongong Project.
Niagara Rug, featured in the winning Wollongong project
With accolades both nationally and internationally for her ability to take clients’ dream ideas and make them a reality, be inspired by Sarah and Birdblack Design Projects.
Describe your style in 3 words?
Mid-century Palm Springs
When & what made you start Birdblack Design & what’s behind the name?
Birdblack Design turns 9 in June, 2023. I wanted to have my own design company that delivered something unique to our clients: bespoke, custom designs with a mid to high end specificity. I didn’t want a company with my own name, as I wanted a brand that all designers could aspire to be part of.
The story behind the name is quite unusual! One day I had a vision of a black bird, so I looked into black birds and discovered that the raven had very similar characteristics to myself. That very night, my husband came home and randomly suggested I call the business Blackbird Design. I took it as a sign. I inverted Blackbird to Birdblack to create a sticking point in people’s minds – and here we are today! Birdblack Design.
What are your top style tips to make a space feel inviting, unique and inspiring?
Plenty of natural light, tactile textures and a spattering of pattern. Birdblack Design aims to create unique designs each and every time. Given that we are bespoke designers, we don’t have “a” set of tips and tricks that we cookie cut into each project to encourage a welcoming and inviting space. Every space is unique and inspiring.
WOLLONGONG RESIDENCE
Located on the most coveted fairway in Coastal Wollongong, this spacious apartment boasts beachy opulence. Birdblack Design were engaged to refresh this entire space with a new Bathroom, Ensuite, Study and three Bedrooms, as well as a new Butler’s Pantry and Laundry. We were then engaged to finish the home with our Furniture Curation Package, from the larger furniture items right through to the décor and finishing touches.
Two rugs were specified: one for the Dining Room, the other for the Lounge Room, both a blend of wool and artsilk. The rug in the Dining Room grounds the space, leaving the pendant to sing and the feature wallpaper to captivate. The rug in the Lounge Room blends in with the surrounding scenery, inviting the outside in.
Interior Design & Furniture Curation: Birdblack Design
Build: Maison Built
Photography: Better Together Photography Co
Videography: PipeWolf Media
Rug: Niagara
What’s the one piece of advice you would tell your younger self?
I would definitely tell myself that I am capable and to back myself continuously. I would encourage myself that there’s always a solution and that my mindset should always be: I’m capable of anything that I set my mind to. There’s always an answer to any problem that comes your way and a way out of any situation.
What’s your favourite part of any project?
Whilst handover is always fun, I think my favourite part of any project is the creative moment that inspiration strikes: particularly if I’m face-to-face with the clients at that point in time and I watch their faces get excited with the creative spark.
If you could style anyone’s home, who’s would it be?
It would be my own haha! I’m so busy working on everyone else’s homes and businesses, my home is designed (Grenache Residence on the Birdblack Design website) but it isn’t styled. It would be nice to have it magazine picture perfect every day!
ALEXANDRA RESIDENCE - Main Bathroom Interior
Our clients are empty nesters, with space for their visiting older children. The home is being renovated in two stages, with the Primary Suite and Main Bathroom in the first stage.
The Main Bathroom is for guests and visiting children, but primarily for our client who loves to takes baths, so this space was designed especially for her to have her daily baths. The curvature of the walls were intended to wrap around the client on the bath, like warm, welcoming arms. To tile the curves, Birdblack Design had to think practically – thin tiles would work best so we implemented Kit Kat Mosaics. To create something truly unique, we specified pink grout for the Kit Kats to match in with the blush pink zelliege tiles that clad the remaining walls. To tie everything together, we painted the ceiling in a pink that complemented the tiles. The floor tile was kept neutral to allow the room to sing.
Design: Birdblack Design, Builder: Peaq Projects, Shoot Stylist: Birdblack Design, Photographer: Better Together Photography Co
Wall tile 1: Zelliege Blush Handmade Moroccan Tile, Wall grout 1: MAPEI Ultracolor Plus Sand, Wall tile 2: INDUSTRIE TILES Kit Kat Mosaic White Gloss, Wall tile grout 2: MAPEI Ultracolor Plus Magnolia, Joinery: Victorian Ash Recycled Timber, Benchtop & Bathtub Stone Top: SMARTSTONE Blanco Naturale, Basin: ROBERT GORDON Colour: Rose Quartz, Tapware and Accessories: Industrie Tapware and ABI Interiors: Brushed Nickel
What’s your go-to rug?
In this season of life, with a young one running around, my go-to rug has to be COMFORTABLE! Something that is comfy to sit on the floor with kids, something that has a beautiful vibrant pattern in it, something that you don’t have to be precious living with it, something that is liveable and won’t get dirty.
Any key pieces, trends or colour palettes you are loving at the moment?
Definitely those earthy tones, but I loving the muddied effect of those colours: the olive greens, the terracottas, the rust colours. They are very on trend right now!
What’s your biggest design no-no?
Cost cutting on furniture and rugs because the budget doesn’t allow for it immediately. Birdblack Design (under my tutelage) prefers to plan ahead so that our clients can have a perfectly curated space when they can afford it. My design no-no is designing piecemeal. No! Design holistically and always have the end goal in mind, not just one wow piece that suffers in a poorly designed space.
PARKLAND RESIDENCE
This family home, surrounded by native Australian bushland, has been stylised in the American Plantation aesthetic. Birdblack Design was engaged to redesign the entire Master Suite and the Main Bathroom. The Master Suite comprises of the Master Bedroom, an Ensuite, Walk-in Robes and a wonderful Reading Nook. The Main Bathroom is for the teenage sons to utilise daily and for guests to enjoy when they come to visit.
Prior to the Birdblack Design touch, the Master Suite was fragmented and dysfunctional. By removing all the internal walls, as well as discovering an unused cavity, we created an open-plan space with functionality and purpose. The Ensuite was relocated and doubled in size. The Bedroom was tucked away on the back wall, giving privacy. The Walk-in Robe was now accessible and provided great flow for our clients. Customised banquette seating was incorporated in the Reading Nook, which also doubles as a Dressing Room thanks to the nearby luxurious Walk-in Robe. The Walk-in Robe is fully fitted out with pull-down Robe lifts and shoe drawers, using every inch of space available.
In the Ensuite, we created two zones: the dry zone including the vanity and dressing space, a place to do hair and makeup; and then the wet-zone with double shower and freestanding bath.
To emphasise the American Plantation style, Birdblack Design specified wall-to-wall sisal carpet, beautifully textured. The materiality and joinery flowed between the spaces marvellously, in particular between the Robes and the Ensuite: plenty of walnut timbers, rattan, and gorgeous Norwegian Rose marble is featured. Wallpapers add more pattern.
Interior Design: Birdblack Design, Build: Pavilions, Shoot Stylist: Birdblack Design, Photography: Better Together Photography Co, Videography: PipeWolf Media
Bedroom Flooring: Floorspace: Fine rustic Quartz sisal, Bedhead: Polytec Steccawood Finish: Notaio Walnut Woodmatt, Wallpaper: Wallpaper trader: Hollywood palm - Rose gold, Bedroom and WIR Joinery: Polytec: Notaio Walnut Woodmatt, Bedsides, Entertainment Unit, and Shower recess: Gitani Stone: Norwegian Rose Marble, Ensuite Joinery: Solid timber American Walnut
What couldn’t you do without when creating a space?
Music playing in the background! Any creative will understand the need for white noise in the background to get those creative juices flowing. Similarly, I need music when doing the more tedious aspects of the design process as motivation to get me through!
If you could have one super power, what would it be?
(Insert evil laugh) Mind control. To have clients who just say YES to everything you propose, and they just trusted everything you said. It would make it sooo much easier. Imagine going to work everyday where you just got to design what you wanted all day, every day. Wow!
What’s on your design wish list at the moment?
For more clients who are willing to be boundary pushers of typical design. Clients who want to see and use different materials throughout the home, and who are willing to entrust us with their home because they know they can't do it on their own.
BEACH VIEW RESIDENCE
This Main Bathroom began as a standard Bathroom and WC side by side. Birdblack Design decided to combine the two rooms to create one large room. Our clients are empty nesters and desired a beautiful day spa retreat and were open to ideas on how to create that special haven.
Birdblack Design wanted to move away from the standard boxy bathroom and instead chose to incorporate gorgeous curves into the space. We were able to maintain the use of ledges and niches in the space, particularly around the bath and in the shower. Birdblack Design was inspired to create one continuous ledge: from the bath to the vanity (including the basin), through to the shower and finally around the toilet.
The choice was made to go with Corian Dune Prima to create this wonderful ledge and basin. One smooth curve, right around the room, from either side of the door opening. As it moves around, it creates a ledge for the bath: for bath oils, lotions, a book and a champagne glass. The ledge continues around and becomes the vanity, widening out to create a custom stone basin. The Corian stone continues through the shower recess and becomes a niche for all the shampoo bottles, soaps and scrubs. Finally it reaches around the toilet, becoming a space for candles, diffusers or incense. Corian was used for its seamless continuous stone and being ability to be formed into basins and other beautiful curves.
Most importantly, the clients love it and show it off to every guest, there is a queue to use the day spa!
Interior Design: Birdblack Design, Owner Builder, Shoot Stylist: Birdblack Design, Photographer: Better Together Photography Co
Floor and Wall tile: Di Lorenzo: Eureka Stone, Wall finish/joinery finish: Architectural Venetian Plaster, Corian top around Ledge & Basin: Corian Dune Prima, Tapware and Accessories: Design Bathware in a brushed copper
How can we stay up to date with the latest from Birdblack Design?
Website: www.birdblackdesign.com.au
Instagram: www.instagram.com/birdblackdesign
YouTube: www.youtube.com/birdblackdesignwollongong
Facebook: www.facebook.com/birdblackdesign