For Ocean Road Magazine

I was recently invited to tour designer homewares and lifestyle collective, Newrybar Merchants, located in the quaint, scenic and historic Northern New South Wales township of Newrybar in Byron shire (19 Old Pacific Highway, Newrybar, NSW). I, of course, enthusiastically accepted because I’ve been looking for an excuse to visit and there seemed no better one that this. I am pleased to report that I was not disappointed.

Newrybar Merchants is the result of a shared vision by Zane Grier and Todd Miller to open a collaborative concept store bringing together a handpicked group of creatives in a way that compliments the old world charm of the village. Mission accomplished and so without further adieu, meet the artisans of Newrybar Merchants.

Newrybar Merchants

The Society Inc.

I’ve long followed Internationally renowned interior stylist, product designer, and author, Sibella Court and I even own one of her books so I was delighted to see and touch, in person, Sibella’s carefully curated collection of curiosities known as The Society Inc. The space can also be described as a hardware & haberdashery shop made up of items found whilst venturing off the beaten track and currently it is Sibella’s only bricks and mortar retail destination, making Newrybar Merchants even more worth the visit.

Shannon Fricke – Heart and Home

Respected interior designer and stylist, Shannon Fricke’s homewares and bedding range, Heart and Home, is a showcase of diverse pattern, textures and natural fibres and all designed to be mixed and matched, promoting individuality and originality in the home. Shannon’s mantra is, a life lived with love, sensuality and an open-heart is a life better lived, which drives the aesthetic and ethos of her brand.

Shannon Fricke

Jai Vasicek & Paterson & Steele

Artist and retailer, Jai Vasicek has long been revered for his art and homewares offerings and his latest venture with Nicole Steele from Paterson + Steele at Newrybar Merchants is the only collaborative gallery-style space of its kind. Jai’s original and one-off pieces sit beautifully against Paterson + Steele ceramics. The space also showcases pieces from like-minded Australian designers including Megan Weston, Bonnie & Neil, The Beach People, Pop & Scott and Anchor Ceramics.

Beautiflora

Open since 2000, Beautiflora is the Byron area’s longest established floral design studio headed by Britte Sunde, who is renowned for tackling projects on a scale that others won’t, and with exceptional results. The brand’s success is due, in part, to Britte’s ability to strike a balance of creativity, attention to detail, skill and exceptional organisational skills. Specialising in botanical styling, Beautiflora provides exquisite bouquets for local delivery, weddings and large events and their space at Newrybar Merchants provides a dynamic first impression of the creative space.

Beautiflora

Diana Miller Artist

Artist, Diana Miller describes her contemporary abstract paintings as expressive and emotive and they provide a striking and spirited pop of colour within the space, juxtaposed perfectly against the old, raw, heritage homestead that houses Newrybar Merchants. Diana now pursues her art on a full time basis and in addition to her large scale artworks, she produces prints, greeting cards and a range of art cushions. Look out for Diana’s work in other forms as she embarks on producing a range of fabrics.

Fate & Fortune

Friends, Daniella Picone and Heidi Sidoti founded stationery boutique, Fate & Fortune in 2015 spurred by the notion that a little heartfelt message scrawled on the prettiest of paper can brighten any day. The talented duo, with their keen eye, are skilful curators and Fate & Fortune offers customers a delightful collection of paperware, journals, ribbons and pens, as well as hand-sourced gifts from both local and International artisans.

Newrybar Merchants

Mister Zimi

Husband and wife team, Jimi and Zoe Paul are the masters behind, Mister Zimi, a carefully designed edit of 70s inspired garments that admittedly and unashamedly march to the beat of their own drum. The brand’s aesthetic is about loud and proud prints on relaxed-cut designs, which take shape in classic shift dresses, maxi skirts, harem pants, leather jackets and footwear.

Wolf & Maiden

Wolf and Maiden is a Cape Town-based luxury accessory and lifestyle brand that creates products made from sustainable and natural materials of supreme quality, a nod to craftsmanship of a time gone by. Each one of the fine handcrafted products promotes simplicity and sumptuousness and is designed to evolve with its owner.

Wolf & Maiden

Tigmi Trading

If I could have a floor covered in berber rugs I surely would, which is why it was such a treat to see the Tigmi range of rugs sitting proudly at Newrybar Merchants.  The carefully sourced, rare Berber rugs sit perfectly against other artifacts from Morocco and around the globe as the brand aims to present an eclectic mix of vintage and contemporary pieces, which stimulate cultural curiosity and promote the values of traditional production methods.

Tigmi Trading

Since my visit, there have been some recent additions to Newrybar Merchants including MJG (Mr Jason Grant), Minimosh and Nikau. Read up on the new residents here www.newrybarmerchants.com.

Photography by Brian Usher for Ocean Road Magazine.

Carlene xx