Chocolate Home Tour: The Easiest Design Hack You’ll Ever Try
Posted: 09 October 2025
Just stop overthinking, no, really, that's it.
For Marie and Luke, designing their home was less about following rules and more about discovering what truly mattered along the way, trust, feeling, and simplicity.
Their story is one of small wins, big lessons, and the mindset shifts that shaped a space uniquely theirs. It also happens to be the perfect backdrop to introduce our newest shade, Chocolate.
Q: What’s one thing you want visitors to feel when they walk into your home?
“A sense of the divine, created through the interplay of light and architecture, brings the feeling of connection to nature into the house. A place where you feel welcome, at home and inspired.”
From the very beginning, the vision was clear - the home needed to be more than walls and rooms. It needed to inspire, to welcome, and to connect people to the beauty of the natural world outside.
Styled with our newest shade, Chocolate
Q: What was the biggest design or renovation fail you had, and how did you fix it?
“Our original front glass pivot door was a 3 m feature piece, but the lock mechanism was positioned at the bottom. We never locked it, and during a storm cell while we were away, it blew out completely. We redesigned the front door with a simple, reliable latch system.”
Styled with our French Flax Linen Ruby Lounge Set in Hazelnut
Q: Was there one decision that saved you time, money, or stress during the design process?
“Choosing not to overthink the design and instead trusting that every decision made along the way was the right one. This mindset allowed us to relax, enjoy the process, and stay present. The house was a dream coming true, creating a space for our creativity to express freely and experiment being our own client.
Here’s where the magic lies. The biggest “design hack” wasn’t a material or a trend, it was a simple mindset shift. By letting go of overthinking, they discovered the freedom to enjoy the process and let their creativity lead.
Q: What’s one small DIY project or change that made a huge difference in your home’s look or feel?
A: “We built the house ourselves with my partner being a designer and builder and had lots of helping hands, family and friends, apprentices and carpenters and a workshop where people could learn how to build with hemp. But one standout was transforming what was originally designed to be a set of doors in the living room into a large picture window with a built-in bench seat. It’s now one of our favourite spots to sit, relax, and take in the view. Creating the pond at the entrance added a Beautiful feel with the sound of the water and the light reflections in the house, and a beautiful welcome to cross the water to step into the house.”
Q: What’s your advice for styling a space with a neutral palette, without it feeling flat or beige?
“A neutral palette acts as a calm backdrop that never competes with your décor. It lets colours from flowers, food, fabrics—and even the people in the space—become the vibrant highlights that bring the room to life.”
Neutrals, in this home, aren’t about playing it safe. They’re about giving life and colour for the space to shine.
How did you decide to use hemp as a material for your walls?
“My partner Luke has been building with hemp for over a decade in his sustainable building company Balanced Earth, discovering it to be one of the most versatile and healthy materials available. From sustainability to insulation, breathability, mould resistance, thermal performance, and low conductivity—it ticks every box. Beyond its technical qualities, the experience of living within hemp walls is unique: the natural smell, soft texture, and gentle feel create a comforting, grounding atmosphere. I love the texture and look of it and the creative ways we left the hemp exposed in some areas and added pigments to it to create its own artistic expression.”
Styled in our French Flax Linen Ruby Lounge Set in White
