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1. Capsule wardrobe

I know this term is thrown around a lot but investing in quality over quantity for clothing has truly helped me when navigating small closets. It also forces you to really LOVE every piece in your wardrobe, wear them a lot and assess from a ‘cost per wear’ perspective.

Another tip is to completely switch out your wardrobe for each season, storing your winter clothes separately in plastic tubs during summer when they won’t be touched. This helps open up hanging space so that you can really see everything you own and not have everything squished together causing a stale smell. Investing in clothes will actually make you want to take good care of them too! I use mesh wash bags for all of my favourite pieces, only wash with cold water and dry dark colours inside to avoid fading. See some of my favourite brands here.

1. Hidden storage

Small homes and a lack of storage often go hand in hand. However, buying additional cabinets, sideboards or wardrobes will only decrease the available floor space in your home, making everything else feel more cramped. Things like gas lift beds, bench seats or hollow ottomans are perfect for hidden storage. This is where I like to store extra cushions, throws, blankets, home decor, unopened beauty products or winter coats. Some of my picks:

• Eva Delve Bed with additional Kino Storage Drawer.

• Trit House Tama Storage Bed

• Castlery Hollow Ottoman

• Adairs Blanket Box

• Ikea Jattebo Sofa

• Koala Wanda Sofa Bed

1. Mirrors

Introduce more mirrors specifically across from light sources like a large window or doorway for brighter reflections. They are also great in tight entryways to open up the space. I am looking to mount a large grid floor mirror soon above my dining area as it’s a small little corner that could definitely benefit from this vibe.

1. Monthly audit

There’s nothing like a spring clean (every month) for keeping your belongings in check. I love doing this regularly and changing around my decor, donating clothes or selling pieces on Facebook marketplace. It actually gives me a whole new lease on life creates space for new inspiration too.

While being in a smaller space is sometimes challenging, it actually forces us to evaluate every item we own and keep only what’s important. Also, we aren’t just saving things for a special occasion, get out that fancy dinnerware and use it often otherwise it’s simply taking up space and collecting dust.

1. Floor to ceiling S-fold curtains

This has truly made SUCH a difference in the overall appearance of each room and in lengthening the walls. Especially in old apartments, the windows and sliding doors can tend to feel very boxy (and the ceilings are standard height), so any improvement in this area is welcomed! Mine are from Freedom, I chose the Bardwell sheers for the living room in the shade natural which are gorgeous, in the bedrooms I went with the Marlow range in the shade sand which admittedly have a much more grey undertone. I did have them professionally hemmed and installed by a local company.

1. Built-in clothesline

Recently we installed these wall mounted drying racks discreetly in our sunroom and it has been amazing no longer needing a bulky collapsable washing line which would take up half of our spare bedroom. As somebody who is constantly doing laundry, this was often an obstacle I was facing and felt overwhelmed by the sight of drying clothes everywhere. If you have enough room they would also be perfect for inside your laundry or bathroom as they fold down to essentially nothing.

1. Ground the space with rugs

There’s something about seeing the exposed floor connecting your kitchen, dining and living space that just visually looks unfinished and cluttered. Once you place a rug down, it’s like you are intentionally grounding each room and creating a defined separation. A bigger rug will always look more chic and considered, make sure your surrounding furniture can physically sit on the rug or at the very least touch the edges. Here’s some of my favourite rug picks lately.

1. Measure properly

My last tip (that I have certainly learned the hard way) is to make sure that you actually measure the furniture pieces you’re bringing in. In a tight space, the room for error is minimal, map this out with tape if you have to. I have wasted so much money over the years buying rugs that are too small, sofa beds that are too wide and entertainment units that aren’t quite long enough. The same goes for art which can make a hugely positive impact on a room but if the dimensions aren’t suitable, everything will feel off.

This is still a trial and error process but I hope some of these points can help if you’re also struggling to live a design forward life in a smaller home.

My next challenge is hopefully getting some drawings done for custom built-in cabinetry to hide our robot vacuum dock and future kitty litter. Any suggestions for these? xx

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The first one is pink & grey, very millennial of me, but this is having a comeback! It feels super dreamy, ethereal and even futuristic? Every year Dulux comes out with a colour forecast for the year ahead to discuss trends in paint, decor, furniture and beyond. For 2026, one of the forecast palettes was actually called ethereal and has very similar tones, see here. Since grey can border on blue, I think this colour scheme goes so nicely with that teal & cream rug too.

The second one is olive & burgundy and no, it isn’t giving Christmas! I think it’s important to play with the depth of tones here so that it feels really intentional and rich. I always love taking inspiration from the 1970s and this is just feels really cosy, imagine a basement bar or games room in this vibe.

Lastly, I absolutely adore lavender & chocolate. I actually built my entire small coffee business around these colours, see here. There's something about this combination that feels both romantic and soft, yet bold and grounded. It strikes the perfect balance between feminine and masculine.

While I was looking through Pantone colours for these mockups, I came across a Spotify playlist which embodies the vibes of Cloud Dancer, the 2026 colour of the year, and thought this was so cute!

Which colour combinations have you been loving at home lately? xx

Hello! Think of this newsletter as a monthly collection of everything I’ve been loving, creating and saving. This is going to be jumping all over the place but there’s no better place to share EVERYTHING with you in detail, these links & styling tips won’t be shared anywhere else. I’m so glad you’re here. 🤍

June has been such an amazing month, not only because Australian winter is perfection but I am finding so many new food spots around Brisbane, making progress on the styling of our apartment, meeting likeminded people in my creative industry and even thinking about getting a pet!

Firstly let’s talk about what I’ve been eating and drinking (a highlight of every month for me).

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Scent is such a personal thing, that’s why it feels special. Have you ever walked into somebody’s house and the air just feels thick? Like they don’t open a window or properly clean down surfaces? Because same. However, when you walk into a space that feels fresh, nostalgic or cosy it sticks in your mind forever.

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1. Basic cleaning steps

So to start, let’s talk about my favourite basic ways to clean each week so that we have a good baseline for actually introducing fragrance into our home.

The most important thing is to air out our space, open windows, doors, turn on the fan and air conditioning otherwise everything starts to feel stale. Next, you absolutely must keep on top of the dust. If you’re like me and love new bedding, rugs and lots of soft furnishings, you will need to dust more often as these produce a lot of fluff. My products for dusting are here and here. If you have never used the Scrub Daddy damp duster before, I was also skeptical at first but it’s life changing for the bathroom and afterwards I just wash it with some antibacterial soap.

Once the dust is cleared, then we can start scrubbing. Personally, I love to use mostly fragrance free cleaning products to protect my super sensitive skin, but please still wear gloves! For the bathroom sink and shower I use the Koh foaming cleaner which is nicely concentrated, leave it for a few minutes before washing away to let it do it’s thing. Most of the other surfaces will be cleaned with Koh universal cleaner, I love the continuous spray bottle it comes with too.

For superficial daily cleans when something needs a quick touch up, I’ll use the Al.ive home cleaning kit because I actually enjoy the scent of these, the glass cleaner is my favourite. I might note that I don’t use these traditional spray cleaners on any natural stone surfaces, I usually just clean with a gentle soap mix or warm water on a microfibre cloth.

Keeping the floors clean is also essential, this is definitely something that people will notice when they visit your home. I use the Dyson V15 cordless vacuum for those deeper manual cleans which is very powerful and has a long battery life. Most days when I leave the house (for my pistachio matcha) I will setup the Dyson robot vacuum to vacuum and mop. My tip is to put a small amount of antibacterial liquid (like Dettol) into the clean task reservoir for the robot, and not soap, which sanitises the floors and leaves them feeling really nice underfoot without any sticky residue.

To summarise:

• Vacuum/mop daily with a robot

• Wash sheets once a week

• Change towels every 3 days

• Deep clean using Koh once a week (shower, sinks)

• Surface cleans daily using Al.ive for freshness

• Dust every few days using a cloth or swiffer

Cleaning is a never ending maintenance.

2. How to layer fragrance

Now that everything is actually clean, we can get into the fun details.

Something that brings me SO much joy is a luxury hand soap. For the price, I feel like it’s totally worth it to have that indulgent experience every time you wash your hands with a lingering scent. I also feel like I have tried every soap under the sun and can report on a few that have truly blown me away, the Ouai Dean Street wash + lotion duo is amazing. It has little exfoliating beads in the soap and a little goes a long way. Another brand I love is Ikkari, their green mandarin & neroli hand wash is divine and the big glass bottle is a statement on your sink. Ikkari is definitely more earthy, similar to Aesop and less like a perfume.

A detail which I feel is often overlooked is the washing detergent we use. My favourite one is actually from Aldi, the smell is so delicious, it lingers on my clothes and sheets for days but not in an overpowering way. It is also super affordable! The packaging is not aesthetic but sometimes it’s what the inside that counts and you can always decant it into a nicer container. Another great brand to check out is Dirt for their clean minimal look and formulas.

If you have a toilet room separate to your main bathroom (always my preference for hygiene), I like to have a range of room sprays and a diffuser inside. Recently, I have been using the Cherry Bomb range from Moss Fragrances and it does an amazing job, the scent is strong but I do like this for a toilet room. The room spray which I always go back to is Ginger by Diptyque. It smells earthy like ginger root and a little goes a long way, the glass bottle on display is also stunning. Another option is the Zenn Design Signature Scent which also comes in a chic glass bottle with a gorgeous burgundy label. It is a classic santal scent with added vanilla and musk notes which I also use on my lounge cushions.

If you love supporting small Australian businesses, Celia Loves has a gorgeous range of soy candles with adorable packaging. I am fussy about what my candles are made from and also encourage you to buy soy where you can so that you aren’t inhaling paraffin fumes all day long. Paraffin candles are usually cheaper for brands to make but they do produce more soot when burned.

To summarise:

• Luxury hand soap in the bathroom

• Personalise your detergent for a lasting scent on clothes and bedding

• Diffuser in the toilet room

• Soy candles

• Room sprays for cushions and soft furnishings

That’s it! It may seem like a lot of effort but I enjoy the ritual of combining these cleaning tools and scents so that my home can feel fresh. Let me know if you have any favourites I should know about? Always in the market for a new hand soap!

My husband Tom & I have recently bought an older apartment in Brisbane which we are now looking to renovate and style. Luckily, the unit had new floors installed before we moved in and a fresh coat of paint (which we will soon be changing anyway). When we were searching for a place to buy, our priority was a solid brick construction with minimal strata fees and north facing for plenty of natural light. This does come with it’s own challenges for decorating, masonry work is tricky for drilling and patching paint chips!

I am not sure what you would call my interior design style because I don’t think it fits into only one category but I love vintage elements, 1970s textures/colours and eclectic decor. Follow my Pinterest for more inspo. The above mood board is what I created when we moved in around 2 months ago, building around some furniture that we already owned. The main new additions consisted of:

Interior Secrets Walnut Entertainment Unit to introduce some deeper tones and a contrasting rectangular shape. The lounge and sideboard have more curves so it’s balanced.

Zepplyn 3 Seater Sofa we had this same sofa at our last apartment but in the modular version and needed to downsize in the new space. I loved the olive colour and velvet fabric so much that I wanted to keep everything else the same.

Sheer S-Fold Curtain to soften the space and diffuse the direct light. These are in the shade natural and we also got the blockout option and strategically placed these behind the sheers. I believe more traditionally the sheers are placed at the back but in this case they look nicer at the front as the blockouts are very bulky and crease easily. I might change these in the future to a more high end pure linen fabrication or coloured option once we settle in.

Leno Lounge Chair I fell in love with the mustard colour (Fenugreek) and it is SO comfortable! It also comes in a gorgeous beige/taupe hue called Clove.

Prism Floor Lamp this is still on pre-order, hopefully arriving within the next month. It is huge/heavy in person and such a statement for the room.

Flutter Stone Coffee Table in the colour desert rose/tide pool. Pink & grey is one of my favourite colour combinations. This is a gorgeous piece that weighs over 100 kg so you can imagine how difficult it was to get upstairs and into our apartment, but so worth it!

The rest of my furniture is linked here.

Now, for decor, it is important to diversify with not only colour but material. At the moment I’m loving book ends, glass bricks, metal accents, ceramic lamps and 3D printed decor. The brands I always go back to:

Trit House for unique finds with a large range of both Australian and International designers.

MCM House is a little more high end but have really great staples like the burgundy ceramic lamp which I will have for many years to come.

Mag Nation is my go-to for coffee table books and magazines, this is an affordable way to switch up the vibe more often and seasonally rotate.

Fenton & Fenton for colourful bowls and vases.

Franca Studio is a Brisbane based brand specialising in 3D printed lights which have a gorgeous shimmering finish.

I also recently tried the Moss Fragrances Cherry Bomb diffuser and candle and they are amazing! I love the packaging and the candle is also made from soy wax which is an essential.

The rest of my decor is linked here.

Let’s talk rugs! These are SO important in bringing everything together and also creating a cosy warm space. My current living room rug is the Anya rug in garnet from RJ Living. It is hand-loomed and made from 80% wool and 20% PET meaning it is highly durable but still feels SUPER soft underfoot, I have never had a rug like it!

Even though my living area is modest, I opted for the 250 x 350 cm size to really open up the space and ensure all surrounding furniture can either sit directly on the rug or border it. Home styling is immediately cheapened by a rug that is too small for the space.

Choosing the right rug for a space can feel overwhelming as there are so many options and a large price disparity. I saw an informative video this week all about different rug types and thought I would consolidate the information for you here:

Hand-knotted
The gold standard of rugs which also happen to be the most expensive. Each knot is tied by hand, making these pieces incredibly durable and can last decades.

Hand-loomed
A happy middle ground. These rugs are woven by hand on a loom rather than individually knotted, giving them a unique feel at a more accessible price point.

Flat weave
Lightweight and low-profile, flat weaves are woven rather than knotted, meaning they don’t have a pile. They’re easy to clean and a great choice for high-traffic areas like a hallway or under a dining table.

Tufted
Made by punching strands of wool or other fibres into a backing, these often mimic the look of hand-knotted rugs at a much cheaper price point. However, they can shed a lot and can feel cheaper/synthetic.

Machine-made
The most budget-friendly option. Produced using automated looms, these rugs come in endless colours and patterns and can be a practical choice for rentals or experimenting with a new style before committing to an investment piece. The cons are that they often bunch up underfoot, perhaps better for children’s play rooms or a guest bedroom. These are often marketed as ‘machine washable’ rugs from brands like Double or Ruggable.

Choosing a rug ultimately depends on your lifestyle and budget however if you can, invest in a hand-knotted or hand-loomed rug for longevity (buy nice not twice).

I have rounded up a few of my favourites at different price points here. I have been loving more basic, single colour rugs as they look sophisticated and you won’t get tired of them so easily. They also allow you to be more adventurous with surrounding furniture or art.

So what’s next?! Paint, of course.

As much as I’ve tried to make it work, the current stark white walls are really impeding the final vibe I’m hoping to achieve. They make the space feel a little flat. After colour drenching our bedroom in a beautiful dusty blue (I’ll do a totally separate article on this) I have seen the transformative effect it can have! So stay tuned…

I am also hoping to create a built-in bench seat for our dining space (see inspiration above), as there isn’t much room and this just makes it all feel so much more intentional and cosy. I think this could be a great way to have fun with upholstery and different wood options. Also: a stainless steel dining table? What do we think?

Would love to hear your thoughts, ideas, questions!

xx

1. The idea for Brimm

Welcome! My name is Gabbi, and for the past three years I've been building Brimm, my own cold brew coffee brand, created with the goal of making the best-tasting cold brew concentrate possible (with packaging that's pretty cute too). It has tasting notes of dark chocolate, brown sugar & roasted hazelnuts, the perfect base for any fun drink with no added sugar or flavours.

How did this come about? Let’s go back to 2021, major pandemic lockdowns were underway and I was in the midst of completing my PhD in Chemical Engineering. During this time, lots of coffee was needed and it was also largely trending online (whipped coffee, vanilla cold foam) so it became a hobby of mine. This was also the time that I started creating content on TikTok as a creative outlet from staring at spreadsheets all day.

I love being an early riser but NEED caffeine immediately upon waking up, yearning for something quick and effortless. I might also mention that I have ALWAYS been drink obsessed, loving matcha from an early age and all types of hojicha, chai, coffee and herbal infusions.

Cold brew specifically has, of course, been around for a long time but the concept of ordering this at a cafe with milk or house made syrups was more rare, it is frequently enjoyed black and mostly marketed towards men.

I was completing my studies in Newcastle NSW and one of my favourite cafes there The Autumn Rooms had a menu item which was their signature deconstructed ‘iced latte’ but it used a chocolatey delicious cold brew as the coffee base, served with milk and agave syrup. I thought this tasted so much nicer than ordering a traditional iced latte which comes with the espresso shot dumped over a few ice cubes and milk, turning into a watery mess soon after (with a lot more bitterness).

This then prompted me to try and find the perfect cold brew concentrate for home so that I could whip up fun drinks in the early hours, proving difficult. I eventually found a large 2L plastic container of it at a local coffee roaster, Josie Coffee, and thought surely there are more options, but there wasn’t!

This was where the idea was sparked, I wanted not only an amazing tasting cold brew concentrate for home, but something that felt intentional in its packaging and accessible to all.

Why create a concentrate? Because it’s so easy! One bottle can last you weeks as you only use a single shot (40-80 mL per drink). This also gives you the freedom to dilute with milk if preferred.

But cold brew already exists, what makes Brimm different? You may have noticed that most cold brew brands fall into one of two categories. They’re either sold as ready-to-drink products that have already been diluted with water OR most of the time they’re packaged with bold, masculine branding featuring dark colours, skulls, animals or aggressive imagery.

When I created Brimm, I saw an opportunity to do things differently. I wanted to create a concentrate that gave people the freedom to customise their coffee exactly how they like it, while also building a brand that felt beautiful enough to leave out on display. As someone who appreciates thoughtful design, I couldn’t find a cold brew that felt at home alongside the rest of my kitchen, so I created one.

I also wanted Brimm to feel inclusive and approachable. Coffee should be enjoyed by everyone, not reserved for people who know all the jargon or feel like they're part of an exclusive club. I think parts of the coffee industry can sometimes come across as pretentious or overly serious.

2. Building the brand

By 2023 I was now living in Brisbane and started working with One & Other, a design studio based in northern NSW and Victoria. Together, we developed the brand name Brimm, colour palettes, packaging, stickers, the website and so much more. The One & Other team was integral in developing my favourite parts of the brand and from day one they understood the direction I wanted to go in.

At the beginning of 2024, I decided to take the leap and work for myself full-time as a content creator. It felt both exciting and like a natural progression after years of sharing snippets of my life online.

Suddenly, my days were spent filming aesthetic moments from my home, travels and everyday routines, while my evenings became dedicated to building Brimm. It was also important to me that I was creating a product that integrated seamlessly into my own content and was something that I would actually use every day. I think this authenticity is obvious to your audience when you create something that you yourself are the target demographic for.

During most of 2024 I was sampling many different cold brew coffee blends at various concentrations to decide on our final product. I knew I wanted the tasting notes of the coffee to be something that would suit a lot of different recipes, a nutty, chocolatey base as opposed to something fruity, which also lends itself better to milk based drinks.

What I didn't anticipate was how many moving pieces existed behind a bottle of coffee. I was now learning about food safety regulations, independent testing, packaging lead times, freight costs and minimum order quantities. This became very overwhelming but also rewarding. Thankfully, I didn't have to figure it all out on my own, I connected with a handful of incredibly talented coffee experts who helped shape Brimm into what it is today. Their guidance was invaluable throughout the development process, and Brimm is now proudly roasted and brewed in Melbourne, Victoria.

Even as a small business, the coffee brewing process is no small feat. Every production run requires a minimum order quantity of thousands of litres, with each bottle undergoing pasteurisation to ensure safety and consistency. This also means every element of the packaging has to withstand this process without compromising quality (no gorgeous paper labels allowed)! To provide further peace of mind, every batch is independently laboratory tested for contaminants before it ever reaches your kitchen counter. The pretty packaging was important, but so was the substance behind it. Every decision was made with the intention of creating a brand that people could genuinely trust.

Once the coffee went into production and I had approved the label, bottle, lid and the brew itself, things suddenly started to feel real (and very scary). For so long, Brimm had solely existed in mood boards, spreadsheets and my notes app. It was now becoming an actual product that people would buy and form opinions about.

Anyone who knows me won’t be surprised to hear that I had very strong opinions about the insulated tumblers I was planning to sell alongside Brimm cold brew concentrate. Enter: Lovely Lilac and Dreamy Cream. These insulated tumblers spent close to a year in development, with countless samples being made and going back and forth with suppliers. I wanted a lid that was easy to clean, double-wall insulation that actually worked, a powder-coated finish and a 500 mL size that could accommodate lots of ice! We finally got there in the end.

Brimm is operated out of a humble storage unit in Brisbane. This keeps overheads low and allows me to reinvest as much as possible back into the business. Pallets of stock make the journey up from Victoria to Queensland, finding their way into this little unit where every order will be fulfilled by me.

To bring Brimm to life visually, I worked with Zac Damiani in Melbourne on our initial website and launch imagery and I couldn't have been happier with the result. Zac specialises in beautiful macro food and beauty photography with a distinctly high-end feel.

3. Launching Brimm

Hitting publish on the website in early 2025 was equal parts exciting and sickening. After years of development, there was suddenly nowhere left to hide. I remember refreshing Shopify every few minutes, wondering if anyone beyond my immediate family would actually buy Brimm. I had been teasing the launch on my social profiles for the weeks prior which definitely helped in gaining traction.

At this point, I had literally no idea what I was doing in terms of packing orders, printing labels, using Shopify, writing thank you notes…the list goes on. Everything was learnt on the spot after the orders started rolling in. I was in disbelief at the initial support and felt so grateful that my community understood the vision. We launched on a Friday and over the weekend around 200 orders came through, this may not seem like a lot to most but I was stoked! Then the reality hit: I need to physically pack these orders myself and ensure no breakage during postage.

My husband, Tom, and I spent most of Sunday (and well into the evening) packing every order ready to be sent out first thing Monday morning.

At the time, I couldn’t shake the feeling that Brimm wasn’t quite “there” yet. I did have a mini meltdown in a Coles carpark with Tom that weekend. The perfectionist in me could only focus on everything that wasn’t up to my standards. The first batch of coffee was a little cloudier than I had hoped, some of the labels had air bubbles underneath them, the box packaging felt oversized for single-bottle orders and my hex wrap technique definitely needed refining.

But there was a piece of advice that kept reminding myself of: if you wait to launch your business when everything is finally perfect, you’ve launched too late.

Building a business is a process, not a finished product. You learn by doing.

4. Post launch feelings

If you want to feel genuinely euphoric, create a product and then watch people integrate it into their daily lives. I'll never get tired of seeing Brimm styled in your kitchen corners and featured in fun coffee creations. It was never just about selling coffee. It was about creating something that people connected with to inspire your slow mornings and weekend rituals.

If you're ever wondering how else you can support a small business, reviews truly mean the world. Every kind word, thoughtful message and constructive suggestion is read and appreciated more than you know. They not only help other people discover Brimm, but they also provide feedback that helps us continue to improve.

By mid-2025, I had shifted my focus towards wholesale, reaching out to as many retailers as possible that aligned with Brimm’s values and aesthetic. Finding stockists wasn't just about increasing sales. It was about supporting one another and creating opportunities for customers to shop in person. There is something incredibly special about walking into a beautiful local store and spotting a bottle of Brimm on the shelf alongside some of my favourite food and gifts. This is still a work in progress as I’d love to have Brimm stocked (and served) in hundreds of venues nation wide!

While I’m incredibly proud of what Brimm has become, it still feels like we’re just getting started. I’m looking to explore future ideas of artisan syrups, colourful glassware, more merchandise, recipe books and collaborations. We have now included some cute branded hats into our line up of products too.

This process has taught me that there is no final destination where everything suddenly feels complete. Perfection isn’t what people connect with. They connect with enthusiasm and genuine interest in what you’re selling.

The Brimm team still just consists of me (Gabbi) running day-to-day operations and my husband Tom working behind the scenes on logistics and storage unit clean up/pallet organisation ;).

More recently, I've been focusing on evolving Brimm’s visual identity through a fresh wave of brand imagery and content. I worked with photographer Nas Hemmati to capture a new chapter of the brand, leaning into rich textures and a more casual aesthetic you might save to a Pinterest board.

At the same time, working with the girls at Major Mode has allowed me to strengthen our social presence by telling the story of Brimm in a playful way with retro style recipe book pages and curated mood boards.

Thank you for following along, whether you’ve been here since the very first launch, picked up a bottle from one of our stockists, left a review or continue to be a silent follower, I love you all! If you’re a regular customer who comes back each month to order a four bottle bundle, I notice you and immediately recognise your name <3.

And if you’re sitting on an idea of your own, waiting until you feel ready to begin, consider this your sign. Start before you’re ready because your first version won’t be perfect.

This is just the beginning of Brimm! xx

I mean let’s be real, I do this all year BUT it feels extra special when it’s cold outside especially trying more hot drinks like masala chai, cappuccinos and every type of tea. My favourite bakeries in Brisbane are:

• Bella & Tortie (Stafford) they have a rotating menu which keeps things so exciting, follow their Instagram and stay up to date — they post the menu every Thursday.

• Jocelyn’s Provisions (multiple locations) try their iconic lamingtons or cakes.

• Time & Temp (Albion) for their cardamom buns.

• Idle (New Farm) I love their choc chip wattleseed OR miso macadamia cookie and also their euro plate breakfast.

• Lune (CBD & Southbank) their quality is always amazing.

My favourite cafes for a fun drink in Brisbane are:

• Kin (Teneriffe) for their pistachio matcha and monthly matcha specials.

• Brimm (my own brand!) for perfect cold brew coffee at home, the base of any drink (espresso martinis, smoothies too!).

• Green Cup for their HB skin glaze smoothie.

• Speed Dial (Newstead) for their earl grey matcha and vanilla bean cold foam.

• Snug (Coorparoo) for their iced hojicha.

• Mountain River Patisserie (Runcorn) for their strawberry matcha.

• Single O (Newstead) for their new banana bread cold brew.

• Kimino (Ashgrove) for their iced matcha latte.

• Supernice (Bowen Hills) for their classic iced matcha latte.

2. Waking up early and putting on a curated playlist.

I love creating playlists for every season and type of mood, this is the one I have been loving lately during my morning routine:

3. Making the bed with a range of fabrics (velvet, bamboo, silk, cotton).

This is one of my favourite things to do when I am choosing a weekly bedding combination, here have been some of my recent favourites:

Check out the brands Hommey, Sleep Ins, Kip & Co, Bonnie & Neil. Links to all of my bedding here.

4. The weekly reset.

My entire week is thrown off if I don’t prioritise these things:

• Fresh sheets weekly, I usually change them on Friday so that I can enjoy my time over the weekend.

• Restocking the fridge, I do a grocery order delivered straight to my door for everyday basics (milk, paper towels, snacks, pantry items) and then head to Harris Farm (or similar) to pick up some better quality fruit and speciality items such as sourdough crumpets, cultured butter and vanilla bean extract.

• Content planning, I create a rough schedule for the week ahead on what I would like to create so that each morning can be dedicated to filming content and not hours spent thinking.

• Clean floors, this is something that I do almost daily using a robot vacuum (who I have named Lady). Lady also has the ability to mop so this ensures everything stays fresh and sanitised.

• Laundry is something I also try to do daily (or as required) because I hate having to put away a huge basket of clothes at the end of the week. P.S. go and buy the Aldi laundry detergent, it is so affordable and smells divine — the sanitiser is good too!

• Everything needs a home. Since buying our first ever apartment a few months ago, I am trying to prioritise finding a spot for absolutely everything. This ensures that random items aren’t left around on my dining table, bed, bathroom vanity etc and can be quickly returned to their home to reduce clutter.

• Fresh flowers, this is something that instantly elevates the vibe of your home. I like to visit Avalon Florals in New Farm and just getting a small selection of whatever is in season (this is usually around $40-50). It doesn’t have to be a grand arrangement to make a statement on your coffee table or otherwise.

5. Going to the cinema more often.

One of my favourite activities in the world! If you are a horror/thriller fan like me, we have been blessed in 2026 with so many great releases, here are some that I have enjoyed:

• Widow’s Bay (TV Series)

• Backrooms

• Obsession

• Ready or Not 2

• Send Help

• Hokum

• 28 Years Later

I am also really looking forward to the new instalment of Resident Evil! These are the perfect movies to watch on a gloomy day during winter. If this isn’t your vibe, going to the cinema to see anything always lifts my mood and is a great way to forcefully get off your phone for a few hours.

I hope this has inspired you to have a few rituals you can repeat daily/weekly going into the cooler months. I love being intentional with my routines and finding something to enjoy every single day.

We flew to Incheon International Airport with Korean Air (a day flight) direct from Brisbane and this was so comfortable! The food/hygiene on this airline is great and everyone is so helpful. note: If you fly Jetstar you will need to get a train from one terminal to another when arriving/departing which takes a little longer. The immigration process is pretty quick.

We caught an uber from the airport directly to our hotel, while the limousine bus or train is often recommended, I found the uber option most convenient as it wasn’t rush hour and it is also quite cheap (around 50 AUD for a 1-1.5 hour drive). If you want to get public transport you can arrange tickets at the airport but I would have some cash ready to go in case you need it to pay for a T-money card.

Once we arrived into Seoul, we checked into the Mercure Ambassador Seoul Hongdae and then went out for dinner in Yeonnam-dong (a nearby neighbourhood). We tried Oiji Restaurant and it was one of the best meals on our entire trip! We ordered: the potato pancake, fried eggplant and beef bulgogi tteokbokki.

To get around you will need to use Naver Maps (Google Maps doesn’t work) and it just takes a little getting used to. It’s not as easy to search keywords like ‘matcha’ but you can search more generic ones like ‘bar’.

Day 1: Exploring Yeonnam & Gangnam

We started every morning the same way, with a banana milk iced latte from any convenience store.

I didn’t know it yet but Yeonnam became one of my favourite neighbourhoods from the entire trip! It has so many nice walking trails, alleyways, cafes and wine bars.

On the first day we strolled from our Hongdae hotel at about 10am (nothing opens super early in Seoul like in Australia so be prepared to start your day a little later) and immediately smelled the famous salt bread. Salt bread tastes like a combination of brioche bread and a croissant but even more buttery — perfection. If you are going to try it I recommend getting it from 🥐 Jayeondo (Yeonnam) as it is my favourite and popular for a reason. They bake them fresh and you can only purchase them in a set of 4 for ~12 AUD.

We then walked around in the winter sun for an hour or so before making our way to🍵 Blue Bottle Coffee nearby for a matcha. There are also lots of cute photo booths around so we stopped in at 📸 Mono Mansion Photo Booth for a keepsake.

I had my first (of many) trip to 🛍️ Olive Young in Hongdae, this is a large multi level building and I liked the layout.

For dinner we made our way over to Gangnam area and had 🍗 Bhc Chicken which is a large chain. I wanted to explore this area more especially Apgujeong for the shopping but we were getting tired and it was freezing cold. If I had this night again, I would start by visiting the Gentle Monster Flagship Store and then make my way around the surrounding shops. There is also good vintage shopping in this area.

We ended the evening in 🍸 Elements Bar & Kitchen which was such a vibe! They do a lot of experimental cocktails and also serve food too if you wanted to have a date night here.

Day 2: Exploring Seongsu

This day was meant to involve a lot of shopping but I forgot to consider that it was a national holiday so not much was open. We still made our way over to Seongsu by train and ended up tasting some nice food.

After our usual banana milk coffee in the morning, we had our first meal at 🍚 Damsot which is like a pot rice restaurant. It was so comforting and we ordered the eggplant & steak meal options (eggplant was the best).

There is so much to see around this area so it’s easy to get overwhelmed. I saw a lot of people lining up for these 🥚 Meitawang Egg Tarts so I tried one myself and would rate it 7/10, it has a nice crust with sea salt flakes.

If you walk for about 20-30 minutes you will reach 🌳 Seoul Forest which is a relaxing break from shopping. There are lots of nice food/drink spots around this area (try the matcha from Weekend Picnic or Super Matcha).

We strolled back to the main Seongsu shopping strip and had a look in the Double Lovers Flagship Store (eyewear) which I loved. Some other shops to visit: Stand Oil, Margesherwood, Osoi, Olive Young Flagship, Banila Co, Fwee Agit. There is also another location of the 🥐 Jayeondo Salt Bread here if you need your fix (we did).

Take another break in ☕️ Coffee Nap Roasters which is down a quiet alleyway for an iced tea or specialty coffee.

For dinner we made our way back to Hongdae and wanted to try this very popular 🍖 Korean BBQ Yookmong Hongdae Main Store. It was delicious and they cook everything for you.

Day 3: Exploring Yeonnam & Hongdae

Today we decided to hang around Yeonnam again (I love it) and started at 🍵 RYTM Cafe for a hand whisked matcha (with vanilla bean) and a levain cookie. This was one of my favourite cafes, the vibes were beautiful and they open early (around 8-9am). It’s more rare to find hand whisked matcha in South Korea (they seem to like sweeter pre-made versions).

Our first meal of the day was at 🍲 Chang Hwa Dang not too far from the cafe and it’s a small spot where you order on a screen (there was no english option available so it can sometimes be difficult but there was pictures). We tried the tteokbokki, fried dumplings and kimchi fried rice and loved everything!

Make your way back to Hongdae for an afternoon of shopping and start at 🛍️ Clo store. They have some nice more affordable basics. From here, walk the streets surrounding and you will find other cute stationery & clothing stores such as 📒 Object and 🛒 BEOK.

We were in search for an afternoon matcha and came across this amazing tea house on Naver Maps called DONGDONG. It is located back in Yeonnam and up on a rooftop so comes with beautiful views. They hand whisk the matcha here also and had a few premium Japanese options available.

For dinner we tried another large fried chicken chain 🍗 bbq CAFE premium in Hongdae and this was definitely our favourite so far. This is in a super touristy area but it’s fun people watching and they even play k-pop on the large screens inside.

Day 4: Colour Analysis

This day was super busy, we explored Yeonnam (yet again) as there’s lots to see here! Started at 🍵 RYTM Cafe again for a vanilla bean matcha and then made our way over to 🥐 Avek Cheri The Park for their expansive salt bread options. I tried the red bean version which came loaded with slabs of butter, it was unforgettable and reminded me of Kaya toast in Singapore.

If you keep walking beyond Yeonnam (around 15 minutes) you will reach Yeonhui. This is another gorgeous neighbourhood which we ended up exploring more in the days to come. It is more quiet (less touristy) and has quaint alleyways and coffee shops. We popped into 🪞 Mizarmiza Stained Glass Studio and I was in awe.

In the afternoon I had booked into 💖 Vivid Hue Hongdae for a colour analysis. I believe I saw Sophie and she was extremely knowledgeable! I found out I am a cool summer and suit lower saturation. It was really amazing the difference you can see in your complexion when she is draping the coloured fabric. This was around 100 AUD for an hour session, she also goes through hair colour optimisation and makeup selections so I thought it was really worthwhile!

We had a date night starting at 🍸 Tokai Bar for a cocktail (they had so many options and cool interiors) and then ate dinner at 🍝 Kwangya Italian which was literally on the next street over. It may seem strange to eat Italian food in Seoul but they do these fusion options so well, it was really delicious. We ordered the gnocchi in creamy sauce and bolognese ragu.

Nearby this restaurant is a large 💄 Fwee Agit Yeonnam store (beauty products). I had so much fun in here for an hour or so trying out different blush shades (as per my colour analysis — looking for cool tones).

Day 5: Exploring Yeonhui & Trip to Gyeongju

This morning I knew we had to return to Yeonhui to visit 🥯 Cafe Ma (카페 마(MAA)) as this was recommended to me by a friend and it looks divine! Safe to say it more than exceeded our expectations, the music, seating, quality of food and even the bathrooms were all perfect. I ordered the seeded sourdough with fresh tomatoes, parsley and cream cheese with an iced matcha latte on the side. Tom and I also shared the green princess cake which we haven’t stopped thinking about since. Please visit this cafe if you are in the area!

We then made our way back to 🥐 Avek Cheri because I NEEDED another red bean salt bread for the long train ride ahead to Gyeongju. We pre booked KTX tickets (make sure you do this or you may miss out) and sat in first class which was extremely comfortable and not a huge price difference from the regular tickets. It was a 2 hour train ride and then a 10 minute taxi/uber to our 🏡 Sayoosi Hanok Stay.

I found this accomodation on Airbnb and it was super close (5 min walk) to the main food/shopping district. After checking in we headed out to explore and find a dinner spot. Since this was a weekend, it was extremely busy in the main area — perhaps do a day trip here from Seoul during the week for a better experience.

We ate at 🍲 Dongri Restaurant for their specialty which is braised short ribs. Most meals in Korea come in a set with all of the side dishes which I love and this was super tasty!

Day 6: Full day in Gyeongju

It was such gorgeous sunny winter weather on this trip! We had prepared the night before by going to the convenience store and stocking up on banana milk and iced coffee pouches for the following morning. This was to save us from going out in the freezing cold super early when we had a proper fridge/freezer available.

After getting ready we went to this new cafe called 🍵 Kiddot just off the main street for a matcha and sandwich/soup combo. The food was OK but the matcha was yummy (definitely very sweet though).

We explored the 🖼️ Oar Contemporary Art Museum for the rest of the morning which was relaxing and I loved so many of the pieces in here. There is a cafe on the ground level and a rooftop which you can walk up onto for better views.

Gyeongju has a lot of historical sights to visit by walking such as 🌉 Woljeonggyo Bridge and ⛰️ Gyeongju Tombs.

The main street of Gyeongju is also well known for its street food options such as Hwangnam-ppang (red bean pastry), 10-Won Bread (Shipwon-ppang, a cheese coin), Hotteok (sweet pancakes) and Tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes). These stalls get very busy but the lines move quickly, we tried most of these things and the cheese coin was actually so delicious!

For dinner we went to a Japanese tempura udon restaurant 🍜 쿠우동 and then ended the evening at 🍸 Oasis Wine & Vinyl Bar. In hindsight we should have just eaten dinner at Oasis also because they had some nice looking dishes. The music/ambience was so enjoyable in here.

Day 7: Gyeongju to Jeonju

Today we were visiting another location in South Korea: Jeonju, which is about 3 hours by bus from Gyeongju. I think if we were planning this trip again we would choose one of these locations to visit and not both due to the extra travel time with luggage OR just do a day trip from Seoul via the fast KTX train.

We woke up in our Gyeongju hanok and started the morning the same way, with a banana milk iced latte. This hanok was so superbly heated and cosy in the winter.

We headed out around 9am and I knew that I needed to try 🥮 Hwangnam-ppang (famous red bean dessert) which is a Gyeongju specialty before leaving. We chose a spot in the main street which was baking them fresh and if you love traditional red bean desserts, this is for you.

Then we made our way over to ☕️ TAK Cafe which seemed to be very busy the day before (I soon realised why), famous for their cardamom buns. We ordered the European style breakfast plate, a cardamom bun, vanilla bean rooibos milk tea and filter coffee. The food was incredible, another spot that I will remember forever and a MUST VISIT if you are in Gyeongju. I wish we visited here more than once!

To catch the bus to Jeonju you simply head to the station and buy a ticket in person, this was very seamless and the large luggage is easily stored at the bottom of the bus. The bus was actually very comfortable with large seats and window coverings. We arrived in Jeonju at around 4pm and checked into our next 🏡 Hanok Stay (also found on Airbnb). This was probably a 15 minute walk from the main shopping/food district but not inconveniently located.

I popped into 🛍️ Somo (handmade bags/accessories) for a little shopping on the way to dinner which was at 🍲 Singaengi for a beef bulgogi bibimbap. Jeonju is the home of bibimbap so this was mostly what we ate the entire time here. The ingredients are very fresh and healthy.

Post dinner we tried soft serve and little frozen mochi from 🍦 Sobok before spending the rest of the evening relaxing at the hanok.

Day 8: Back to Seoul

We only spent 1 night in Jeonju, I think this is enough time to see the sights and try the food options but personally I prefer larger cities and busy holidays. If you are the type of person who prefers relaxing/reading/bath time on holiday and just unwinding then maybe spending more time in these quiet locations would suit you.

In the morning we found this bakery 🥯 도우 베이커리 the next street over from our hanok stay and tried a few different sweets & salt bread options here. It was nice and a calm vibe to sit inside.

Then for lunch after checking out of our hanok, we visited 🍲 Suragan for hot pot bibimbap, similar to the place we visited yesterday but we enjoyed this one more. Jeonju is also famous for their 🥧 PNB bakery choco pie so of course we tried this before getting the KTX train back to Seoul.

We once again chose first class forward facing seats for this journey and booked well in advance to avoid missing out. The train ride was so comfortable and went quickly. For the second part of our Seoul trip we were staying in Myeongdong at Hotel 28. Note: this hotel is quite noisy (not from the street) as they seem to be undergoing some sort of construction inside, they did provide us with ear plugs but we found it annoying at times.

Seoul is honestly huge and takes a long time to get around/explore so I would recommend staying in different neighbourhoods to maximise your exploring potential. Myeongdong is very touristy but a great central location for the train and sights.

Our first dinner here was at 🥩 Wangbijip KBBQ and both of us agreed that the quality was amazing, in our top 5 meals of the trip. They cook all of the meat for you very efficiently and it is so tasty with all of the dipping sauces and sides.

The rest of the evening was spent in the large 🛍️ NYU NYU Wholesale store, I bought some socks, gifts, key rings and cosmetic cases here. The fourth floor is a more curated gift shop which was my favourite part.

Day 9: Insadong & Samcheong

I was so excited to be back in Seoul! So much to explore!

We wanted to visit Insadong today which was a 20 minute walk from our hotel, we started (obviously) at 🥐 Jayeondo salt bread again as there is a location here.

Since we were out and about early, not many of the shops were open yet (this was around 10am) so we decided to try our luck getting into 🍜 Oreno ramen which is a Michelin recommended restaurant only serving two things. We started lining up around 11am and while there was already a lot of people here we only waited 15 minutes or so. We both ordered the standard creamy chicken ramen and it was delicious. It wasn’t mind blowing though so if there is a lot of people and wait times over 1 hour I wouldn’t bother.

We then walked over to Samcheong through Bukchon Hanok Village which took about 30 minutes but you can see some interesting sights on the way. This is another trendy neighbourhood with some cool shops and started at 🍵 Four Stones coffee roasters for a matcha and sweet treat. I visited 🛍️ Born To Stand Out fragrances and 🛍️ Pleats (a bag store).

Back in Myeongdong I wanted to spend some time makeup shopping in 💄 Chicor which is Korea’s version of Sephora. They have a lot of beauty options in here and it is less busy/more stocked than Olive Young. I bought some lip products from the brand Heart Percent because they are hypoallergenic and fragrance free (I love them!!).

Dinner was about a 20 minute walk from Myeongdong to 🌮 Oldies Taco, a very popular spot serving a limited menu. This was perfection and we were already planning to come back for round two.

Day 10: Seongsu (again)

I loved this day so much! We wanted to do a Seongsu exploration take two, since the first time we went a lot of shops were closed due to the national holiday.

We caught the train over the Seongsu at around 9am which was so easy from Myeongdong and started the morning at 🥚 MitBord Cafe. This is a danish eatery that had been on my list for a while, it has gorgeous sunny interiors and amazing food too. We ordered the European style breakfast plate, vanilla bean rooibos milk tea and filter coffee again, loved it.

Now onto shopping, we started at the 👜 MARGESHERWOOD flagship store which was stunning! They have recently released their ‘Peanuts’ collection and so everything was styled pink with bold lettering and playful polka dot designs. I ended up buying one of the Boston bags in navy and added a pink charm to the front however this decision was so hard as the options were all gorgeous.

We stopped briefly for more 🥐 Jayeondo salt bread before heading into 💄 Banila Co for more makeup shopping. This was so fun as they had a few free gift promotions and you could even personalise your own cushion foundation by choosing the packaging and additional sticker gems. Honestly just stroll this street for hours and you won’t run out of things to see or do!

Since we were in Seongsu I knew that I wanted to visit 🍧 Rafre Fruit which is a very well known bingsu place. They have a limited menu and only use whatever fruit is in season at the time, luckily for us it was strawberries! This was the best bingsu I have ever eaten and the presentation was stunning.

At this point we were getting tired so we caught the train back to Myeongdong, chilled in the hotel for a while and then finished the night at 🍷 Trois Wine Bar.

Day 11: Samcheong (again)

This was our last full day in Seoul so I wanted to make it count! Ever since I had the strawberry bingsu the day before which they had topped with fresh honeycomb, I needed something similar again. I found this place called 🍯 Dotori Garden which is a cafe inside a gorgeous house, serving creamy yogurt bowls topped with fresh honeycomb. It was amazing and I immediately wanted a second bowl upon finishing the first.

We then strolled over to 🏯 Gyeongbokgung Palace which was about a 20 minute walk and we paid ~3 AUD each to enter. If you are wearing a traditional Korean dress (hanbok) you can enter for free.

Lunch was nearby at 🍲 Mukshidonna for tteokbokki and this might have been my favourite meal from the entire trip. It is simmered in front of you on the table and you can select what you want inside (glass noodles, fried seaweed, cheese, sausage) which I like. So cosy and comforting on a winters day!

I knew that I couldn’t leave Seoul without trying the famous 15 step scalp routine so I spent the afternoon at 💇🏼‍♀️Park Jun Beauty Lab Myeongdong. I just found this place online and booked via DM. I had Maru doing the treatment for me and she was amazing — made me feel really comfortable. This spot is good for tourists as their English was good and explained every step thoroughly. I would definitely do this again, it was ~150 - 180 AUD for about 2 hours of treatment and my hair/scalp felt SO clean and soft afterwards.

Our last dinner in Seoul was spent at 🌮 Oldies Taco of course, we needed another fix! Order the big mac taco if you are seated in their venue (the stand up/takeaway venue has a different menu) and you won’t regret it.

I did some last minute shopping at 🛍️ Olive Young to end the night.

Day 12: Yeonhui & flying home

This was the day we were flying out, so we decided to go back to our favourite neighbourhood and cafe (Yeonhui) in the morning. This is about 20 minutes away by train.

We started the morning at 🥯 Cafe Ma (카페 마(MAA)) and I ordered the same as last time: seeded sourdough with cream cheese, parsley and tomato with an iced matcha latte on the side. However this time I also tried their geisha soft serve (it tasted like rosewater with fresh strawberries at the bottom) and it was perfection! We stayed in here for a while enjoying the relaxing ambience.

I was so sad to leave and hopefully will be back to Seoul very soon!

Tips from the trip:

• Do a day trip to other towns using the KTX trains from Seoul instead of staying overnight if you prefer big city culture.

• Visit other towns (Gyeongju/Jeonju) during the week days as they get very crowded on the weekends.

• Get cash out to buy a T money card for public transport at the start of your trip.

• Our favourite accomodation and location to stay was at the Mercure Ambassador in Hongdae due to its proximity to Yeonnam and Yeonhui. The accomodation in Myeongdong was conveniently located but a little noisy.

• Try to organise your trip in neighbourhoods that you want to visit, not sights. You don’t want to be jumping around from one side of Seoul to the other in one day as you will waste a lot of time travelling. On my last trip to Seoul I stayed in Itaewon and this was a great location, close to another trendy shopping neighbourhood called Hannam. This would be my pick over Myeongdong.

• Don’t enter your taxi/uber from the left side passenger door as the driver will tell you off. It is recommended for all passengers to enter from the right side door for safety.

• Download Naver Maps before you go!

I found it so difficult choosing specific songs for our wedding day in June, so these playlists have been carefully curated. Personally, I wanted an instrumental song for walking down the aisle which was either piano or string quartet. I chose Blue Jeans by Lana Del Rey because it felt like it builds up nicely, giving you time to walk and create suspense.

See some of my favourite ceremony songs here:

After the ceremony, you will typically choose around 5 songs which will play while you walk back down the aisle and get started signing paperwork. In our case, we immediately went into pouring a margarita tower so the following songs needed to be upbeat and fun. Here are my song choices for post ceremony and the start of cocktail hour:

Finally, once the sun sets and you transition into a DJ or a dancing playlist, here are my party song selections with a bit of variety for all guests:

Save these for later! xx

I couldn’t narrow down my music taste if I tried, every occasion needs it’s own soundtrack. Lately I have been gravitating towards classic songs from the 70s, 80s & 90s particularly while driving or to wind down in the evenings.

✨ Listen to the playlist here →

Enjoy!

P.S. If you like white noise while you study or work, I have been playing this style of video in the background, it’s so relaxing!