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Female ad exec becomes successful furniture maker

September 21, 2022 Leave a Comment

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Like many women, it was motherhood that proved a turning point for Sydney furniture maker Katie Stafford. After a long career in advertising, where she made TV and radio commercials, it was the birth of her son that gave her pause. โ€œMotherhood certainly puts life into perspective, and I stopped respecting what I was putting out into the world to be honest. Iโ€™ve always liked making things, but I wanted more than just a crafty side hustle,โ€ says Katie who subsequently began exploring other options.

Katie Stafford
Katie Stafford in her Sydney workshop

After her husband suggested furniture making as a possible career path, Katie investigated studying and eventually settled on a three-year TAFE course that required a one day per week commitment. She was still working three days a week in advertising and looking after her son one day a week, so it was quite the juggle.

โ€œI hadnโ€™t ever picked up power tools, so it was daunting. Plus, at TAFE, it was a sea of 17-year-old boys and me wondering what on earth I was doing there. But I kept turning up and slowly it started to make sense, and slowly I started to love it.โ€

After finishing the course, she went on to work for the furniture company Mr & Mrs White and it was at this time that she decided to quit advertising all together. โ€œWorking for Mr & Mrs White was a really good training ground, but it was a lot of pressure too as their furniture isnโ€™t cheap,โ€ says Katie who lasted eight months before a company restructure encouraged her to go out on her own. After securing a workshop space in Brookvale, on Sydneyโ€™s Northern Beaches, Katie launched Girl & Grain and has been working on furniture commissions ever since.

A recent commission
A recent furniture commission

Creating only solid timber furniture, mostly in American Oak and American Walnut, Katieโ€™s customers are drawn to her minimalist aesthetic. โ€œI like very soft curves and I like the materials to speak for themselves. I guess I aim for beauty and simplicity but simple doesnโ€™t mean easy โ€“ my designs are thoughtful and considered.”

Girl & Grain
A beautiful stool crafted by Katie

An organic extension of the business, Katie recently launched workshops and โ€œmake and mingleโ€ classes for women. โ€œFurniture making is very male dominated and I donโ€™t know any other women that do what I do so itโ€™s nice to throw the doors open and welcome women into the space,โ€ says Katie, who has found the experience to be very fulfilling in both a personal and business sense.

Workshop
One of Girl & Grain’s popular workshops

โ€œWith COVID, everyone is hungry for connection. Women think they’re coming to a woodworking class, but they leave with a connection to themselves and one other. I thought I was just offering woodworking classes too but Iโ€™m getting so much out of it.โ€

A recent workshop

For more on Girl & Grain

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One half of popular parenting podcast @wedonthavet One half of popular parenting podcast @wedonthavetimeforthis, turns out former Neighbours actor @gemma_peanut is even more multi-talented than we thought! Will you check out the joyful and colourful reno of her holiday home (and airbnb) @yo_caba_caba?!

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๐Ÿ“ท @tanikablair_photography 

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Come and check out the before and afters via link in bio now and read the reno story. It's a real beauty.

And you can book it for your next holiday too!

Blair Smith Architecture @kateshanasy

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Excuse me while I die of a cute attack ๐Ÿฅฐ @damia Excuse me while I die of a cute attack ๐Ÿฅฐ @damianfrancis 

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Hello friends! Just thought I'd say hi. Two weeks Hello friends! Just thought I'd say hi. Two weeks since leaving hospital and I'm doing much better than I expected to be at this early stage. A long recovery road ahead but making progress in how much I can move my arm and although I drag myself through some days non-stop yawning, others I can go for a little walk or out for lunch before collapsing on the couch! I can now tie my own hair back and put on a real bra which is very exciting ๐Ÿคฃ Having my bestie here to help us with the boys, drive me places and just be brilliant positive company is the best thing I could have asked for not to mention the many Dinner Ladies vouchers from friends! Thanks for all your kind messages, cards, flowers, gifts and offers of help โค๏ธ
I definitely feel like a statistic now but hoping I definitely feel like a statistic now but hoping to raise some awareness off the back of my misfortune (and also very lucky escape).

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Apparently there's similar happening in VIC too.

It's extremely rare but very serious nonetheless so please have a read and be aware of symptoms. I've linked to the article from a button via my link in bio.

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While new technologies continue to shape the inter While new technologies continue to shape the interior design scene, one that has been getting a fair bit of traction of late isย marble-look porcelain. A cheaper alternative to natural stone, the latest printed porcelain tile technology makes it difficult to distinguish from the real thing.

Founded by husband and wife duo Anton and Rita Bourtsev, Sydneyโ€™s @kaolintiles has a unique offering in this space with over 100 different marble-look tile designs in small and large formats.

More via link in bio now.

#porcelain #porcelaintile #porcelaintiles #largeformattiles #largeformattile #marblelooktiles #bathroomtrends2023 #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #heartyourhome #realrenovations #goldsink #brasssink #jenbishop #kaolin #kaolintiles #interiorsblog #interiorsblogger
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Amy Collins Walker

About Amy Collins Walker

Amy is our regular feature writer, an experienced journalist and interior stylist living in Perth, Western Australia. Find out more about her styling work at http://www.amycollinswalker.com/

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