Meet Nicola, former owner of Journey of Something, colour enthusiast, collector of curious treasures, and firm believer that if something comes in a colour, that's probably the version worth choosing.

Step inside her home and that philosophy reveals itself almost immediately. From the deep green sunken lounge to a growing collection of crystals gathered on family holidays, every room feels expressive, personal and entirely unapologetic. There are antiques, artworks, playful details and plenty of unexpected combinations, all brought together with the kind of confidence that makes you question why anyone follows the rules in the first place.

While many people approach interiors with caution, Nicola and her partner have always trusted instinct over convention. When designing their home, matching was never the goal. Instead, they embraced colour, personality and the joy of taking risks, creating a space that feels every bit as vibrant as the family who lives within it.

We sat down with Nicola to chat about creativity, collecting, colour confidence, life after Journey of Something, and why some of the most memorable homes are built by following your instincts rather than the rulebook.

Shop our lounge decor here.

Meet Nicola

Tell us a little about yourself...

Hi, I'm Nicola and this is my home. I'm a mother of two and the former owner of Journey of Something.

I'd say I'm a maximalist. I love colour, I'm definitely an extrovert, and I'm the queen of started but unfinished hobbies. I really had to come to terms with that, and now I encourage everyone else to be that way too. You're allowed to start something and never finish it. It's all part of the process.

I grew up in a very entrepreneurial household. My parents ran a business and involved my brother and I in a lot of the decision making, which gave me a huge amount of confidence and made business feel like something I could genuinely pursue.

You're in a new chapter these days. What's life looked like since selling Journey of Something?

Around two years ago, we sold the business to a publisher, who I now work for, and it's honestly been a really great decision.

After years of decision fatigue and having the business constantly on my mind, in bed at night, during school pick-up, in the shower, there was never really a break from it.

One of the biggest things I've learned is not stressing the small stuff. At some point in our journey, probably three or four years in, I realised things go wrong, mistakes happen, and there are always things outside your control. We started rolling with the punches a bit more and stressing less about the fact we couldn't control everything. I think that helped us not be consumed by the business and just be happier.

Colour, character and a little bit of chaos seem to follow you wherever you go. How does your maximalist spirit come to life at home?

As you'll see around the house, we were very adamant about being brave with colour. We really leaned into it.

If the interior designer suggested a tap, a sink or a light switch, our immediate response was always, "What colours does it come in?"

We're not afraid to mix colours together and we're not concerned about matching at all.

That said, I think with being a maximalist, you really need to find the balance between clutter and good design. Even though we're very much a more-is-more family, editing is still important.

Shop our bath decor here.

For anyone wanting to be a little braver with their interiors, what's your best styling advice?

Always take risks.

One of my favourite things to do is go to art fairs. There was one house tour that really stuck with me where the owner had layered artworks on top of each other. One amazing piece with another just leaning in front of it.

I remember thinking how brave that was, and how it's something I never would have thought of myself. Now, whenever I'm styling my own home, I think about those artworks leaning against each other. It reminds me that there are no rules.

Every home tells a story. Which pieces in yours hold the most meaning?

Probably the artwork and some of the ceramic sculptures.

I've collected many of them over the past 10 or 15 years, and I think art is a really important part of a home. It absolutely sets the tone and the vibe.

I even remember the art that was in my house growing up, and it still has such an emotional trigger for me. I always tell my kids, "You better take the art and put it in your own houses when you're older." They don't think it's cool now, but they'll realise one day. They'll be fighting over it.

Another really special piece is a printer's tray that my late dad made. It sits in our bathroom and is filled with little treasures we've collected over the years.

What do you hope people feel when they step through your front door?

I hope it feels put together, but also a bit random and quirky.

We like little pops of humour. We'll throw Playboy books in amongst our designer coffee table books, or have fake food sitting in the pantry.

I hope people get a sense of taste, but also whimsy and fun.

What's the latest treasure to find a home in your collection?

The most recent thing I've collected is a painting from the Auckland Art Fair.

I love it because it's an abstract face and it's almost sculptural in the way the artist has used so much paint. I'm always drawn to pieces that feel sculptural, even when they're technically paintings.

For anyone dreaming of starting a creative business, what words of wisdom would you share?

Don't get too hung up on having the newest, best, industry-shaking idea.

People can spend years trying to come up with the perfect thing that no one's ever done before. My advice is to take something you genuinely love and just do it well.

It doesn't matter if a million other people are doing it. If you do something well and you genuinely care about it, you've got a chance.

What's your favourite room in the house and why?

The room that gets used the most is what we call the green room.

It's where the kids have sleepovers, so it's frequently covered in children on a Sunday morning. I've had to learn not to be too precious about it. I'm often vacuuming popcorn and chip crumbs, but it's a room that really gets lived in.

When we were designing the house, I don't think we fully realised how much joy it would bring. There are usually bean bags scattered around and the kids are bouncing off the walls. It has a really cosy feel that everyone gravitates towards.

One of my favourite pieces in the room is a tapestry I bought at Sydney Contemporary. I love it because it's a little weird and open to interpretation. You don't quite know if the two robot brothers in it are fighting or kissing, and I like that everyone sees something different. The kids and their friends are always debating it.

The room has evolved a lot over time. We used to have a big glass coffee table in the middle, but it made the space less functional. The kids wanted room for sleepovers and my husband wanted space to wrestle with our son, so I swapped it for a set of Lightly tables that can be moved around easily.

Most recently, I found these flower stools during an Instagram deep dive. The green carpet has always reminded me of grass, so they felt like little flowers growing out of it. The family had mixed feelings, but for now they've stayed.

Shop our lounge decor here.

Quickfire Questions

Coffee or Tea? Hardcore coffee. Tea is basically what you drink when you need to hydrate yourself so you can have more coffee later.

Favourite way to spark creativity when inspiration feels a little flat?
Go to an art fair. It always gets me thinking differently.

What's a recent market treasure you're particularly excited about?
Two tiny ceramic cherubs from Camberwell Market that are currently living in the guest bathroom. Very random. I don't know if they're staying, but that's kind of our approach to design.

Current hobby obsession?
Romantasy. Fourth Wing, A Court of Thorns and Roses. If you haven't read them, read them immediately.