For Norsu Interiors co-founder Kristy Sadlier, creating a holiday retreat had been on her team’s bucket list ever since they opened the doors to their first homewares store in Melbourne’s southeast.
‘Every day we would receive beautiful comments from our customers saying they didn’t want to leave, as the store made them feel so calm and at home,’ Kristy says.
Their vision for a Norsu getaway came to life when they came across a timber log cabin for sale in Macedon. Believed to have been built in the mid-1990s, the retro-inspired home featured a quirky A-frame design with timber log walls, pitched ceilings and landscaped gardens.
‘We loved that it reminded us of a quaint retreat in the heart of Scandinavia — a nod to the Scandi-inspired offerings of our retail business,’ Kristy says.
‘The uniqueness of this property really stood out to us, I mean, how many log cabins do you see in Australia? And the fact that it was located less than an hour’s drive from Melbourne had us sold!’
Having renovated many family homes before, Norsu’s design team completely redesigned bathrooms and treated the rest of the property to a major cosmetic transformation. The exterior was painted black for a modern touch, while the existing orange-stained logs inside were carefully sanded back by hand, before being treated to a lime wash to reveal a subtle blonde timber.
‘We knew instantly that we needed to pay homage to the Scandinavian theme of the cabin,’ Kristy adds. ‘The character and charm of the log walls is a true experience in itself.’
With a cosy fireplace and a bar on the lower level, upstairs serves a kid’s zone with four, custom-built double beds. There’s enough room for up to eight people across the three bedrooms, and they even installed a concrete bath overlooking the rows of silver birch trees in the gardens.
Naturally, all the minimalistic homewares, furniture and art have come from Norsu Interiors, and Kristy says every detail has been curated to make the cabin feel like a true escape.
‘The thought of families coming together making memories by exploring the gardens, and toasting marshmallows, while the adults enjoy great conversation by the fire over a cheese board and a nice bottle of red is what really puts a smile on our faces.’
