Embracing winter at home

WORDS JENNIFER ENNION

SNUGGLE SEASON IS UPON US, WHERE WEEKENDS ARE BEST PASSED CURLED UP ON COUCHES WATCHING THE WIND SHAKING BACKYARD EUCALYPTS AND LISTENING TO RAIN RAPPING ON KITCHEN WINDOWS. IT’S A TIME TO EMBRACE THE COMFORT OF HOME – BAKING, CREATING, PLAYING – AND TO ADD EXTRA WARMTH TO ROOMS. WITH THAT IN MIND, HERE ARE SOME OF OUR FAVOURITE CENTRAL COAST STORES TO STYLE COSY CORNERS IN YOUR HOME.

WEEKENDS STORE, AVOCA BEACH

Opened in February, Weekends Store in Avoca is a very welcome addition to the Coast’s boutiques market. Step inside and it’s immediately apparent owner Alison Daley has a background in design and product development. You’ll find a beautiful collection of clothing, books and general homewares, but for winter we’re in love with her range of linen cushions in natural colours.

‘They’re all heavy-weighted French linen and you can feel the quality,’ Alison says. ‘They’ve all been stone-washed, so they’re nice and soft, and they’re feather filled … once you go feather, you can never go back.’

Weekends Store also stocks a lovely selection of cushions block-printed by hand in India, as well as woven picnic rugs and linen duvets.

168 Avoca Dr, Avoca Beach instagram.com/weekends__store

THREE DONKEYS HOME, WAMBERAL

Known for its French provincial style, you can always count on finding something fabulous at Three Donkeys Home in Wamberal. The store has vintage charm, thanks to the beautiful array of baskets and dried flowers usually on its doorstep. This winter, head indoors to find a new range of linen tea towels in classic stone hues, as well as new 100 per cent cotton hand-knitted face washers and hand towels in musk, grey and mustard – perfect for updating your country-style kitchen.

1/2 Ghersi Ave, Wamberal instagram.com/threedonkeyshome

DRIFT HOME AND LIVING, FORRESTERS BEACH

As the name suggests, Drift is all about embracing life by the sea and inside you’ll discover plenty of ocean treasures, including shells and sea-themed artwork. But there are also soft furnishings to help create cosy spaces for the cooler months. We particularly love the macrame jute wall hangings, handwoven in Bangladesh, for statement pieces in entry halls and lounge rooms. There are also unique handwoven and organically-dyed palm baskets inspired by the traditions of tribes in Zimbabwe.

Shop 1, 15-17 Forresters Beach Rd, Forresters Beach @driftdesign

ADAIRS, ERINA FAIR

If you prefer mainstream contemporary home furnishings, there is a lot to choose from in the large Adairs store at Erina Fair. With a huge range of quilts, bed sheets, cushions and throws, you could find yourself happily lost in the collection. Give your bedroom a spruce up with retro prints in rainforest greens and desert oranges. If you prefer neutrals, there are also plenty of throws, rugs and manchester in colours such as ‘Aspen snow’, oatmeal and sand.

Shop T236, Erina Fair Shopping Centre, Terrigal Dr, Erina instagram.com/adairs BED BATH N’ TABLE, ERINA FAIR

This season, Bed Bath N’ Table is embracing floral flannelettes with Australiana-inspired quilts and sheets, with details such as hand-painted koalas and echidnas. Patterns include cottage flowers, with a focus on colours such as peach, blush, sage and mustard. If your kids have been begging you for an ‘oodie’, the store also has a range of ‘hooded sherpas’ in fun designs – great for winter slumber parties.

Shop T234/235. Erina Fair Shopping Centre, Terrigal Dr, Erina instagram.com/bedbathntable