At Home With Sheridan

Interior Designer Natalie Walton’s Restorative Cottage Escape

Interior designer Natalie Walton is a champion of the ‘SLOW’ movement (sustainable, local, organic, and whole), which is reflected in every inch of her family home just outside Bangalow, in the Byron Bay region.

Today we’re showcasing the cottage on Natalie’s property — a mindfully renovated shed turned self-contained apartment nicknamed The Still Studio.

Natalie’s trademark styling features natural materials and meaningful pieces, where Sheridan’s tactile wool, cotton, and linen textiles look right at home.

Written
by
Lucy Feagins
Supported by Sheridan

Natalie Walton in The Still House on her property just outside Bangalow, NSW. Sheridan Pembleton Square Cushion. Sheridan Abbotson Linen Bed Cover in Flax. Sheridan Pembleton Throw. Sheridan Abbotson Linen Pillow Sham in Flax. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli

Tactile, handcrafted materials make up The Still House interiors. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli

Towels from the Sheridan Luxury Egyptian Towel Collection. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli

Sheridan Stetson Throw. Sheridan Gannon Breakfast Cushion in Blue Fog. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli

The self-contained apartment is currently used as the studio of Natalie’s business, Imprint House (while their showroom in Byron Bay is being designed), and will eventually be available to rent on Airbnb. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli

Sheridan Stetson Throw. Sheridan Gannon Breakfast Cushion in Blue Fog. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli

Materials in the cottage have been selected for the low toxic and sustainable properties. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli

Natalie’s design frames the surrounding leafy environment, and maximises space indoors through a built-in seating area. Sheridan Pembleton Square Cushion. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli

Sheridan Stetson Throw. Sheridan Gannon Breakfast Cushion in Blue Fog. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli

The triple bunk beds! Sheridan Abbotson Linen Bed Cover in Flax. Sheridan Abbotson Linen Pillow Sham in Clay. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli

‘Every child that steps into the studio LOVES them,’ says Natalie of the beds. Sheridan Abbotson Linen Bed Cover in Flax. Sheridan Abbotson Linen Pillow Sham in Clay. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli

The shed turned studio! Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli

‘It’s so peaceful. It’s away from the main house, so if I’m working there, I can enjoy peace and quiet,’ says Natalie of her cottage. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli

Writer
Lucy Feagins
15th of June 2022

Interior designer, founder of Imprint House, and Imprint podcast host Natalie Walton, with husband Daniel Rollston and children Charles (14), Sabina (10), Isis (9), and Miles (6), made a treechange in 2016, where they committed to living in a more mindful home. 

‘I only wanted to take with us the pieces we truly loved,’ says Natalie. ‘I soon realised that these were invariably made of natural materials and had a neutral palette, and this has been my signature style ever since.’ 

The family recently moved again to the Byron Bay region, where they purchased a north-facing property on two acres surrounded by established fruit trees. Included in the sale was a 46 square metre shed with potential to convert into a studio and eventual Airbnb.  

Working entirely within the existing footprint, Natalie transformed this shed into ‘The Still House’: a self-contained apartment for relaxing, living, and working (it’s currently the studio of her business, Imprint House), with enough beds to sleep five people (including triple bunk beds!). 

The design frames the surrounding leafy environment, and maximises space indoors, through a built-in seating area. ‘I made the decision not to put a sofa in the living room but instead make the dining area as comfortable as possible…It’s a great solution for when you don’t have a lot of space,’ she says. 

‘I love seeing how light moves around the space, and given that it was a very dark shed before I designed it, it goes to show how the careful placement of windows and doors can make all the difference.’

Materials in the cottage were chosen for their low toxic and sustainable properties, including natural tadelakt on the walls, microcement on the existing floors, reclaimed timber used to make the dining table, and salvaged doors and windows in line with the ‘SLOW’ (sustainable, local, organic, whole) movement Natalie subscribes to.

Soft furnishings and woven textiles crafted from natural materials by Sheridan are also in line with this philosophy. The Pembleton Throw made from 90 per cent wool and 10 per cent cotton in particular adds a beautiful texture to the main bed, paired with the 100 per cent Belgian flax linen Abbotson Linen Bed Cover that is breathable, soft, and durable.

Natalie’s commitment to SLOW is further showcased in her new book, Style: The Art of Creating a Beautiful Home, which is all about creating authentic homes with integrity. 

For those looking to create a more sustainable and meaningful home, Natalie says it all starts with making better decisions. ‘It doesn’t have to be perfect, but aiming for progress over perfection can be helpful.’ 

Stay tuned for when The Still House opens its accomodation bookings soon! 

Shop Sheridan’s latest collection, Harmony of Contrasts, at Sheridan Boutiques, sheridan.com.au, David Jones and Myer.

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