Relaxed Scandi
A relaxed take on contemporary Scandi style make this home a sanctuary for both busy family life and a start up business.
Photography: Hannah Blackmore / Styling: Tarina Lyell
As your eye dances around the layered Nordic perfection of this Perth family home, it’s hard to believe that practicality was a top consideration. Tarina Lyell of print store Oh.Eight.Oh.Nine has created a contemporary Scandi wonderland that serves both as a retreat for her family and a base for her online business.
“Our home is a relaxed take on contemporary Scandi - and by saying ‘relaxed’ I meant that I don’t follow a strict style,” Tarina says.
“Our home is full of pieces that I love and think work well together. Sometimes individual pieces don’t follow the typical guidelines of what a Scandinavian house would look like but in my opinion the overall aesthetic has a contemporary Nordic feel.”
Tarina lives in the home with her 15 month old son Chet, FIFO husband Shaun and their Rottweiler Sid. She also runs her successful blog and online store Oh.Eight.Oh.Nine – a striking print shop born out of her Instagram popularity. The home is underpinned by liveability.
“Our home is full of pieces that I love and think work well together.”
“I have chosen pieces that fit in with the overall Scandinavian aesthetic but are durable and easily maintained.”
“One of the biggest factors I have taken into consideration when styling our home is practicality. We have a toddler and like most toddlers he climbs and makes mess. I have chosen pieces that fit in with the overall Scandinavian aesthetic but are durable and easily maintained,” Tarina says.
For example, she chose replica Eiffle DSR dining chairs because their polypropylene make renders them easy to clean. The practicality extends to Chet’s room – Tarina’s favourite room in the house – where she opted for a cot that converted into a toddler’s bed.
“The large armchair is great to cuddle up and read books on and a few funky storage bags hide all his toys when not being used,” Tarina says.
“I find that sometimes when styling monochrome interiors they can start to look a little flat so I have tried to use a lot of beautiful, natural textures like timber, luscious wool and Icelandic sheepskin to add a little warmth back into our home,” she says.
“I also love using foliage and blooms to bring a splash of colour and life in each room. Indoor plants are an affordable and great way to create a natural, fresh element inside.”
The one spot in the house that differs is Chet’s bedroom which is splashed with all the delights of colour, perfect for a little boy.
“I also love using foliage and blooms to bring a splash of colour and life in each room.”
“It is full of vibrant colours and I love that it is different from the rest of the house,” Tarina says.
“I often find him waddling off to his room while I’m making breakfast or lunch to play with his toys and I get a great feeling knowing that he enjoys spending time in there,” she says.
The former design consultant hopes to build her online business and return to commercial interior design in the future. She delights in working from home – and who wouldn’t, in this self-created Scandi retreat?
