Our home is functional for the family, but filled with pieces we love...
We teach the kids to respect our things, rather than make any areas out of bounds. We use every room. Clutter stresses me out so I try keep some cupboards and shelves clear in our main living room for when I just need the toys and gear out of sight for a few hours at the end of the day.
I’ve always loved interiors...
I’ve been restyling my surroundings for as long as I can remember. I really enjoy creating spaces that are comfortable, functional and visually appealing.
Starting CULTIVER has been a great thing to do as a mother...
I think I would have moved out of finance eventually even if I didn’t have kids. Although in some ways, it is harder than a job that I can leave behind at the end of every day, mostly I feel like I have the best of both worlds: being with my kids and working in something I love.
I like the girls’ rooms to be uncluttered and soft-looking...
The Stokke cot we have used for both of them is actually a beautiful piece of furniture that has been easy to decorate around in the nursery. When we were planning Maya’s room after she moved out of the nursery, we made sure to include both closed and open storage – she loves seeing her toys and books on the open shelves and being able to get them herself. And I can hide the plastic things I don’t want to see all the time!
Our Bugaboo chameleon has been a great pram for us...
It’s still in good shape after 3.5 years and on baby number two. It handles well and looks really comfortable. This time around, we’ve used a grey sheepskin liner, which made it extra snug. The Stokke high chair we started using when Maya was a year old is still used every day and I like the way it fits in with our family table. We were given a moses basket from Kido Store that was invaluable in the first weeks, it allowed us to move sleeping babies around and have them in our room for a couple of weeks as newborns.
CULTIVER is all about cultivating the good life...
We aim to offer luxurious versions of everyday items that are accessible price wise; hence they don’t feel too precious to use everyday. We try and differentiate ourselves through customer service. Our CULTIVER bed linen in single and king single has been really popular for kids’ bedrooms. I don’t think there is a lot of choice in good quality bedding for kids. We love selling a product that looks as good as it functions.
Not everyone can sleep during the day, but I can nap anytime...
As soon as the adrenaline wore off after a few weeks, I would catch extra sleep during the day when I could. I found it really important for breastfeeding the second time around. I’ve learned to stop myself sometimes from doing that last load of laundry at night or sitting at the computer when the kids are asleep; if I wait for everything to be ‘done’, I would never get as much rest as I need – or have any time with my husband.
We swaddled Maya until she was six months old and that was an important part of her sleep routine...
Katarina fought the swaddle so we abandoned it at six weeks and it turns out she prefers sleeping on her stomach. We kept them both in a moses basket for their daytime naps for the first couple of months, and had it out in the living area so they would get used to sleeping through noise and light. We luckily never needed sleep training, but if I had multiple wake ups a night regularly past twelve weeks, I definitely would have. To me, sleep is the foundation for everything running smoothly so it’s worth investing in getting it right.
My advice to a first time mother is to take their time getting out and about with a newborn...
Stay in that bubble at home for a good while to recuperate and rest, and learn the day’s rhythms, otherwise things can get overwhelming very quickly. Later on, it’s helpful to know that babies go through all kinds of challenges, but they usually are very short phases. If you’re despairing about unsettled periods or night waking, try and remember it will likely resolve itself in a week or two.
The hardest thing about being a Mum in the early years is the loss of spontaneity and ability to travel...
The huge production it takes to get out the door for any outing, and the weeks of planning and organisation for overseas trips. The best part about being a Mum for me is the cuddles and being able to watch them learn about and be excited by the world. I would like to teach my children to be kind, independent, respectful and joyful.
I mostly wear jeans – my current favourites are Frame Denim – and a striped top or blouse or a dress...
I love J Crew for basics, Isabel Marant biker boots are the perfect practical heel for running around in winter, and in summer I like K. Jacques sandals and sneakers like Bensimon or Tretorn. I shop mainly online: Shopbop is my go to. I buy the girls’ clothes at Country Road, Seed, Crewcuts and Purebaby.
My own children respond well to structure...
I followed the Save our Sleep by Tizzy Hall routine loosely and especially the second time have had to build a lot of flex into it to accommodate our lifestyle. However, I find it useful to have a frame of reference to work from, and it helped me a lot to feel more in control of my day.
Time to myself is pretty rare...
It has been a struggle for me as I am someone that needs quite a bit of unstructured time alone to rejuvenate and feel calm. I try to get into bed with a book for half an hour before falling asleep and my husband and I are conscious of giving each other a bit of time to ourselves on the weekend as well as spending time as a family.
I used to feel bad about when I had to take the girls with me for a meeting or even once to our warehouse...
As they get older I’m glad they are seeing me working and will have an example of how it can be done. Before my second daughter was born, I had two days a week when Maya was at daycare that I could work uninterrupted. That worked really well for us, as Maya loves her ‘school’. Since Katarina arrived, I’m relying on her nap times and some ad hoc babysitting and family help to get time on my own for work. It’s a juggle, but worth it for a few months to have the time with Katarina while she is still a baby.
Since Katarina arrived, my work and home life has been pretty busy and chaotic...
It’s taken a while to get used to ‘the new normal’ of always feeling things are unfinished, messy and last minute. Although accepting that allows me to combine a rewarding job with meaningful time with my kids. I typically get up at 6.30am, get through the morning routine and take my elder daughter to preschool, then come home and work for a couple of hours while my youngest naps. Then I give her lunch and spend time with her for a couple of hours before she naps again and I do some more work. I also fit in work at night and have someone here helping with the girls a couple of times a week (my mum and a babysitter). It’s not a neat 9-5 day for me, but because I am passionate about it, I find a way to squeeze work in.
Unfortunately exercise for me is something that gets deprioritised whenever I am busy...
I do manage to walk somewhere most days, but I’d love to be back in the routine of working up a sweat regularly. Running and Pilates are what works best for me in terms of ease, enjoyment and results, and I find if I create a routine around it, it’s easier to stick to. People often tell me to schedule exercise in, but I’ll let work take priority over an ‘exercise appointment’ in the middle of the day.
I love Bioderma cleansing water at night, so simple and really effective at removing make-up including mascara...
I use a clarisonic in the shower a couple of times a week and an Embryolisse moisturiser. My daily makeup is very pared back: NARS tinted moisturiser, Clinique mascara, RMS cream blush; and Clinique’s chubby stick lip crayon in Mega Melon is the perfect everyday shade for me.
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Motherhood often drives women to make a career change. In the case of the inspiring Nicolle Sullivan, founder of Cultiver and mother to Maya Juliet, three and a half years, and Katarina Eve, seven months, having children made her completely re-think her occupation. Shed spent over a decade working in global investment banks. I loved it, but I didnt want to continue after starting a family. After I took a break to have my daughter, I started thinking about trying something new and hatched the idea of Cultiver, she recalls. Founded in 2012, Cultiver was inspired by the idea of everyday luxury and initially started with a range of classic, high quality, linen bedding, and quickly grew into a beautifully edited collection of designer rugs, cushions, candles and more.
Sullivan knew exactly what she wanted to achieve: I wanted to offer the type of products that I had become passionate about shopping online for: high quality, well sourced and well priced. I joke that I had to find an outlet for the years I had spent online shopping. I had no experience in importing, retailing or online business. I just thought Id give it a go until I came to an insurmountable hurdle, and have managed to get where we are now without one so far.
Sullivan and her family live in Sydneys lower north shore in a immaculately decorated home that clearly reflects her love of interiors. Ive always loved interiors, she says. Ive been restyling my surroundings for as long as I can remember. I really enjoy creating spaces that are comfortable, functional and visually appealing.
Motherhood, says Sullivan, has ultimately taught her the true meaning of multitasking. I had no idea! It has also reinforced the importance of having friends and family around, to share the joys and struggles.
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Nicolles little list of loves:
Coffee.
Reading. Everything from blogs to magazines to fiction.
Whale Beach.
Mexican food.
Watching an engrossing television series. I cant wait for House of Cards to start again.
Next Issue – an iPad app that gives you access to 70+ US magazines.
The Jerzy Michalski painting that my husband gave me for my birthday.
Watching my daughters play together.
Wine.
Instagram (@cultiver_goods)
Photography: Julie Adams Words: Georgie Abay
December 2013
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