When Georgia Matthews created a beautiful whimsical-styled setting for her wedding to husband Ben, she never realised it would also spark the beginning of a new small business as well.
“Someone asked me on Facebook who had done the styling for our wedding, and then they asked me to do theirs,” she says. “It has just spread from there, and we just love doing it.”
From there, Georgia, along with her mum Susan, started O Happy Day (ohappyday.com.au), a wedding styling business based in the Adelaide Hills — and there are plans to move into home styling next.
A knack for being crafty helps and Georgia has painted many of her home’s artworks, as well as making a chalkboard and restoring furniture.
“My favourite thing to do at weekends is to rearrange everything, but I do pare it back and will swap things and keep most of my trinkets away.”
AT HOME WITH GEORGIA MATTHEWS
NAME: Georgia Matthews
AGE: 26
WORKLIFE
I’m a new mum. I work in advertising sales as my primary job and have a small business in wedding and interior styling, O Happy Day, ohappy.com.au
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS/BEST KNOWN FOR…
Turning an ex-florist warehouse into a cafe in a month.
I’VE LIVED IN MY HOME FOR…
Five years.
MY HOME IS…
A country cottage, lovingly named Pear Cottage.
I LIVE WITH …
My graphic designer husband (he’s very handy around the house) and my 11-month-old daughter Elliot.
I LOVE MY HOME BECAUSE...
It’s our sanctuary. We bought this home the week of our wedding and it’s the first place my husband and I have lived in together. We’ve filled it with our favourite things, collected from all over. From hard rubbish to hand me downs, almost everything is restored or refreshed in some way and everything has a story.
BUT I STILL NEED TO…
Next on the list is the laundry and bathroom, and our bedroom, and finish painting the exterior and get around to the never ending job of gardening (gosh, that sounds like a lot…)
MY DECORATING STYLE IS…
Farmhouse with a touch of rustic.
FAVOURITE ROOM
Probably the kitchen, because it’s the most recent thing we’ve done and undergone the biggest transformation.
RECENT PURCHASE
A new couch and six little white pears.
I COLLECT…
Decorative pears and wooden boards.
HOME FAVOURITES
– “John’s cupboard”: Our hairdresser, John gave us this old cupboard that we just love. It’s worn and slightly falling apart but has history and texture and it’s my favourite.
– Pears: I love the shape and form of pears and I’ve collected quite a few over time. Including one I hand carved from a fallen tree log and used a vintage crowbar as a stalk.
– Fireplace: There’s nothing like a wood fire to cosy up in winter.
MORE NEWS
The Adelaide Hills home everyone wanted
Amazing loos with views
Inside a wine merchant’s own dream cellar
I COULDN’T LIVE WITHOUT…
My shoe collection.
WHEN I GET HOME AT NIGHT…
I have family time with my husband and our baby, and watch my husband cook a delicious meal. Thank goodness he loves cooking!
AT WEEKENDS I LIKE TO…
Relax at home, moving things around and refreshing the place with fresh greenery from the garden.
MY FIRST CAR WAS…
A turquoise Peugeot named Shrek.
I LIKE TO LISTEN TO…
C3 Music.
AT THE MOMENT I AM READING…
Lots of children’s books. Where is the Green Sheep? is a favourite at the moment. For myself, Home Body by Joanna Gaines.
CLEAN FREAK OR MESSY BESSIE?
Somewhere in-between.
ON MY WISH LIST IS…
Acreage. Rolling hills and paddocks with a couple of cows, sheep and chickens.
WHEN I’M HOME I LIKE TO COOK…
Thankfully my husband is the cook of our household. Brownies and baby food are about as far as I go.
FAV CAFÉ/ RESTAURANT/ BAR
Fred Eatery, in Aldgate, and Lost in a Forest, in Uraidla, are up there in my favourites at the moment.
IN MY GARDEN I HAVE…
Lots of weeds.
WHEN I WAS A CHILD I WANTED TO BE…
A wedding planner. After watching the movie The Wedding Planner that’s all I wanted to do. After doing some work experience in event planning, I decided styling was much more my thing!
FAVOURITE SA HOLIDAY SPOT/OR ACTIVITY
McLaren Vale
DREAM HOLIDAY DESTINATION
Canada
SOMETHING YOU WANT TO ACHIEVE IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS?
I’d love to own some semirural acreage, have another child, and be helping people make their homes beautiful.
MY NEIGHBOURS ARE…
We have great neighbours. They keep to themselves but are always there when we need them.
IF I COULD AFFORD IT I WOULD LIVE…
Piccadilly or Balhannah.
HOME MEANS…
Home is my favourite place to be. It’s where I’m most comfortable, the most ‘me’ and around the most important people in my life.
ohappyday.com.au
