In early 2010, the Australian bedroom furniture market was dominated by the sale of ensembles. Upholstered bedheads were yet to establish themselves as a popular décor choice, however, a small Aussie business was quickly gaining a reputation for quality handmade upholstered furniture, particularly around Sydney where all products are manufactured. We spoke to Kate Hemming, owner of BedNest about all things business and design.
Words: Catherine Falalis
In 2015 BedNest relocated its headquarters to the Sunshine Coast in Queensland.
“Quality has continued to be one of BedNest’s most important brand attributes, along with a high level of service that meets the needs of the higher end of the market,” says Kate.
The business has continued to expand since its humble beginnings and they now regularly service retail and trade clients in all capital cities and regional areas across the country.
“Since 2010, all our upholstered bedroom furniture has been made by the same hands in our Sydney factory,” explains Kate.
“Offering Australian designed and made products that are made to order is extremely important to the integrity of our business, but just as importantly, it supports the industry and development of skills locally.”
“We’re finding that more and more clients are wanting to become part of the process and are seeking out locally manufactured products where they feel assured the quality is superior,” she says.
Kate explains that collaborating with many talented interior designers and decorators on a daily basis, helps to keep the brand across emerging trends.
“What homeowners are seeking is never too far away from our fingertips. There’s no doubt that Instagram and Pinterest have increased the accessibility to styled features and imagery, but it’s hard to beat relaxing with a coffee and one of the main interior magazines for inspiration.”
BedNest make online shopping super easy with their three-step process:
- Select a design
- Select a size
- Choose a fabric
“One of the most important aspects of getting an online retail presence working well is to have a highly intuitive self-service offering. Our 3-step ordering process sits at the heart of this online experience,” says Kate.
However, many of the brand’s clients like to become part of the creative process. Whether this is via an Interior Designer or dealing directly with BedNest, the process will often start with a conversation about the space they are working with, and from there the details around design, size and fabric selection will unfold.
It’s a collaborative and fun process which sees bespoke pieces come to life from conceived designs to creation.
“Some of our simplest designs have proven to withstand the test of time and continually perform well. Designs like our Paddo or Chelsea bedheads are often used with a natural tone or a piped edge to offer a touch of detail,” says Kate.
“For those who like a little more detail our Raffles bedhead with its diamond buttoning provides a more luxurious and traditional option. Richer velvets lend themselves to this design, which appears to be more popular leading into autumn and winter months.”
Designs that have drawn attention more recently include the Willow bedhead, with its raw hemmed edge and the Manhattan bedhead.
As for their favourite collaborations? BedNest have collaborated with a number of clients, but two of their notable designs include the Saratoga and Sunday bed, both of which were created with Briar Stanley of Sunday Collector.
For more information on BedNest, head to their website.