HEART OF THE HOME
SHE’S THE SECRET WEAPON OF REALITY RENOVATION STARS AND YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY TRY SHELLEY BOYD’S TRICKS AT HOME, WRITES ROSEMARY BALL
Every weekend, young Shelley Boyd would jump on a bus in Rotorua, New Zealand to escape to the countryside to see her Nanna.
For hours on end, the duo would sew, laugh and make a huge mess. It didn’t take long for the budding designer to fall in love with textiles. Shelley says she didn’t have a choice – it was in her blood.
“All my family are very creative and a lot of them are heavily involved in the fashion industry,” the now design veteran says.
“My grandmother was so talented. She made exquisite dresses. We would sew and do crafty projects all weekend.
“Just like Nanna, I loved sewing and my dolls and I ended up having the best wardrobe.”
Shelley’s love of fabric and creativity blossomed, but the creative director and founder of Boyd Blue, a furniture supplier, says she never dreamt of pursing a career in the interior design industry. “When I finished school I always knew I wanted to work in the fashion industry, just like my family,” Shelley says.
“I went to Wellington Polytechnic to do a diploma in fashion and textiles. After that I moved to London and I landed a job with an amazing interior designer, Anne Rossiter, in Bath.
“She made incredible curtains and then I knew I wanted to pursue a career in the fabric industry.”
From there, Shelley started working as a sales representative, selling luxurious upholstery fabric.
A few years later she joined her mum and dad on the Gold Coast, after they packed up their lives in Rotorua. After a plethora of jobs — in the fabric industry, flipping pancakes, waitressing and working as a nightclub maitre d' — she fell in love with interior design at the age of 33.
With the goal of opening her own businesses, Shelley found a niche in the market and started selling fabric to designers out of the boot of her car in 1999.
Her business, Boyd Blue, has grown exponentially in the past 21 years. She now sells an eclectic collection of furniture, homewares, lighting, textiles, rugs and artwork to designers and the public in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
She travels almost six months of the year, to places like India, Indonesia and the Philippines, to source products from multigenerational family businesses.
The 54-year-old visitsVaranasi, India, two or three times a year to meet with her rug supplier.
Every mohair hand-knotted rug that Shelley imports and sells is from a small family business. She says she cannot stop smiling when she sees grandparents, parents, cousins and uncles sitting quietly on the floor in a row, with a large loom, designing and knotting a rug as a family project. Her finds are regularly featured on reality home renovation shows The Block and
House Rules. Shaynna Blaze, Darren Palmer, 2019 Block contestants Mitch and Mark, and 2013 Block winners Alisa and Lysandra often source products from her showrooms. Shelley says her motto is buy once, buy well.
“I don’t buy from China and I refuse to buy cookie-cutter furniture or anything that pops out of a machine,” she says.
“I think everyone should slow down and not buy rubbish. Take time to research, thinking about sustainability and investing in long-term pieces.”
Her key tip for renovating a home is to have a good budget and not buy everything at once. “You shouldn’t try and do your whole house on a tight budget,” she says.
“I strongly believe you get what you pay for. Take your time and invest in a professional designer if you are not confident as mistakes can be costly.”
Shelley says DIY-ers shouldn’t be scared to go big. “I love oversized artwork – it is a great statement in a home,” she says.
“My favourite artists are Charles Blackman and Melissa Egan. Also it’s a good idea to invest in the biggest, most comfortable furniture you can afford because you will have it for many years to come.
“My favourite piece in my home is my two 3m linen sofas.”
Shelley and husband Ion Chiet built their mega contemporary Burleigh cantilever pole home 13 years ago. The build took nine months and saw Ion carefully design a “glass bowl” on the cliff face of Burleigh National Park.
The interior is eclectic yet pared back, with monochrome and a pop of colour in every room.
Shelley says there have been high and low moments during her 21 years in business but her “supreme confidence” has helped her soldier on.
“One of my biggest regrets is that I didn’t start earlier but I am a great believer in that things happen for a reason,” she says.