Melissa Webster and Family
The Newcastle home of designer Melissa Webster and family. Photo – Sean Fennesy, Production – Lucy Feagins
The Newcastle home of designed Melissa Webster and family. Foreground left – GatherKids‘ amazing scandi-inspired kids table setting which doubles as a stylish coffee table – designed by Melissa and husband Trent. Photo – Sean Fennessy, Production – Lucy Feagins
Loungeroom details. Photos – Sean Fennessy, Production – Lucy Feagins
Melissa Webster of GatherKids at home in Newcastle. (baby bump a little outdated now – Melissa and Trent welcomed little Kobe into the family last month!). Photo – Sean Fennessy, Production – Lucy Feagins
REMEMBER GatherKids? That super gorgeous kids bedlinen / furniture label from Newcastle we shared back in May? Well, finally today the time has come to share with you the home of GatherKids designer / director Melissa Webster and her family! (Sorry a little later than anticipated – better later than never!).
As it happens, since we took these pics, Melissa’s family has grown a little. Whilst she’s looking glowing at around 8 months pregnant in the pic above, Melissa and husband Trent welcomed Kobe, their third child into the world last month. Kobe joins their other gorgeous kids Kaila (5) and Blair (3) – jeepers that’s one busy little household!
‘We bought this home on a whim’ says Melissa. ‘Originally it was a tiny two bedroom miners cottage – which was actually smaller than the townhouse we were moving from!’ she recalls. But Melissa and Trent could immediately see the potential of this home, with its generous gardens and room to grow. They put in an offer straight away.
In the end it took two years to finally extend the home – which included the addition of a master bedroom, small study, and reconfiguration of the internal layout. As you can see, the house very much reflects Melissa’s designs for GatherKids. With a background in interior design, Melissa’s Scandi-inspired aesthetic and love of crisp neutral tones is clearly evident in the picture perfect styling of her family’s sweet 3.5 bedroom home in Kahibah, Newcastle.
When asked for her favourite aspect of the home, Melissa’s answer is a little unexpected! ‘I love our white floors’ she says! ‘I would never recommend my clients to go for white with children and pets – but here I am with white! Do as I say not as I do? They are incredibly easy to clean (think baby wipes – those things clean anything) and they have given the house such a light, Scandinavian feel’.
Another design feature which Melissa really appreciates is the open layout and views to the garden from the house. ‘I love that I can see the kids wherever they are playing… I can be pumping out emails at the kitchen table and see the kids in the cubby house out back. It’s a small cottage and suits us perfectly whilst they are young and we are so busy’.
Indeed, busy they are! I get the impression Melissa absolutely doesn’t sit still for one minute – in fact, GatherKids will be exhibiting at Life inStyle in Melbourne next week! Melissa is truly such an inspiring multi-tasking Mum, who somehow combines efficiency with an incredible sense of calm. With a business to run and three kids in tow, it’s amazing just how chilled out this household is. Maybe that calming neutral colour palette is her secret!?
If you love Melissa and Trent’s home, do show your support with a visit to GatherKids online, and don’t forget, retailers can see the full GatherKids range at Life inStyle in Melbourne next week.
Dining table looking through the loungeroom and garden beyond. Photo – Sean Fennessy, Production – Lucy Feagins
Dining. Photo – Sean Fennessy, Production – Lucy Feagins
Kitchen – super stylish. Love the simple black and white! That’s a sweet stool from the GatherKids kids furniture range. Photo – Sean Fennessy, Production – Lucy Feagins.
Master bedroom. Photo – Sean Fennesy, Production – Lucy Feagins
Master bedroom. Photo – Sean Fennesy, Production – Lucy Feagins
Master bedroom details. One of Melissa’s most treasured possessions is her Eames rocker… ‘a gift from dear friends with my first baby – it’s served well and is a favourite place I retreat to often’ she says. Photos – Sean Fennessy, Production – Lucy Feagins
Blair’s bedroom. Super cute owl softie handmade by Melissa’s sister. Photos – Sean Fennessy, Production – Lucy Feagins.
Gather Kids HQ! Yep, it’s only a tiny office, but this is where the design magic for Melissa’s range happens! Photo – Sean Fennessy, Production – Lucy Feagins
Cubbyhouse in back garden – built by Dad! Photo – Sean Fennessy, Production – Lucy Feagins
Kaila (5 years) = SO CUTE! (She wasn’t camera shy either!). Photo – Sean Fennessy, Production – Lucy Feagins.
