2022 - Its a wrap!
A year in review
I'm writing this as I watch the snow fall outside of the window of the house my children and I are staying in during our trip to BC and Kelowna. It's a far cry from the 30 degree temperatures back home but this time away has been a welcome reprieve from the day to day life of a single parent, carer and sole trader. It has also given me time to reflect - something you don't always do when you are in the thick of life.
This year has seen many milestones for Brinnie T as we continued to grow whilst watching the Pandemic move slowly behind us.
January saw Brinnie T Design secure Best of Houzz (Service) for the 6th year running. This award is based on reviews provided by clients after their project and I'm blessed to have worked with some amazing clients - some of whom I continue to work with as we embark on new projects together.
Sharon joined us in January - the first full time member of the team and hard to believe it's been nearly a year already! Sharon moved from a career in real estate and body corporate management with a desire to work in a more creative field and whilst starting off in the shop, has since signed up to do her Diploma of Interior Design and has taken on Project Co-ordinator in our new Design Studio.
Lynelle has also come on board working with Suzie in the shop - if you are looking for something special for yourself, your home or as a gift, drop into Brinnie T Home (www.brinniethome.com.au) and say hi to the girls!! They're always more than happy to help in any way.
Having added a wee bit of retail to the studio on the main street of Cowes, it turned out that I REALLY like retail, and as such, overtook the studio space leaving me to dedicate the space as a gift shop and to find a new home for the design. Sometimes, the universe leads and you follow - in this case, it led us to a beautiful synergy with Youki's Shed. My son had been playing music with Youki for some time and Youki's Shed is a space open to sharing the joy of music and jamming together no matter your ability - physically, musically or otherwise. So together we share space in The Concourse - Youki's Shed in the back and Brinnie T in the front. One of my passions is to provide interior solutions for differently abled persons, in a way that fits with their aesthetic rather than looking institutionalised.
We are so delighted in our new space and even more so to be able to offer our community access to a Regional Design Hub. From fabrics and wallpapers, through to vanities, taps, basins and tiles.... We feature other Australian businesses such as Eight Quarters, Nero Tapware and Australian Designer Products. Clients visiting our studio can pull full mood boards and selections including cabinetry colours by Polytec and Laminex, a multitude of stone and porcelain solutions, wall finishes, flooring solutions and drapery.... With our focus on accessibility, we also showcase Avail designs - beautifully finished supports in both a modern and classical range.
In 2020, I participated in The Good Incubator program - a government funded initiative for persons with a disability looking to create or grow their business. This year, I was invited to sit on the panel for the same program which is set to run again in 2023. At the same time, as a result of my initial participation, I was contacted by Monash University and was asked to take part in a VR filming for material that will be provided to ASD teens in years 7 to 9 allowing them to learn about pitching themselves whether for a job interview or pitching their own business ideas.
Continuing a focus on 'disability' or diversity, and having been a finalist in both the Gippsland and Bass Coast Business Awards in 2021, Brinnie T once again applied for the Bass Coast Business Awards but this time in the area of our strength - Access, Inclusion and Equity. We won! (Thank you to Westernport Water for sponsoring this award)
We've seen a number of design projects completed this year including but not limited to, 2 full apartment renovations, a stunning disability bathroom complete with wallpaper in the shower and my own bathroom renovation featuring Down the Garden Path - wallpaper by Australian designer Kerrie Brown. Even the smallest glimpse of this room as I walk down my hallway brings me joy. This is what inspires me to encourage my clients out of the status quo.... to discover what it is that brings them joy in their own space and turn that into a reality. You can see my bathroom "Live Life in Full Bloom" on my website and my Houzz page. The other projects we've completed this year will be featured online next year after my beautiful photographer Maria from Vasileff Studio returns from her own break overseas.
With a number of projects ready to start build and others where we are finessing the final details, 2023 is already shaping up to be an amazing year so stay tuned!
Thank you to all of our beautiful clients, customers and friends for supporting and working with us in 2022!
Many blessings to you and your loved ones for a happy, healthy and beautiful year in 2023!
Jx
