Nat Wheeler, co-founder of norsu Interiors, is a friendly and familiar face for interiors lovers across Australia. Since opening the Melbourne-based norsu store with her best friend Kristy Sadlier in 2013, the duo’s curated collection of art and homewares has gone from strength to strength.

Many of us followed along in 2018 as Nat renovated her original 1920s Californian bungalow, generously sharing clever tips for confidently selecting finishes and creating a luxe look on a budget. Fast forward to today, and norsuHOME 2.0 is complete — a stunning ‘forever home’ extension and renovation, now including a backyard designed for entertaining, relaxation, and year-round enjoyment.

As the home extended into the original garden footprint, maximising the remaining outdoor space became key for this backyard-loving family. We were thrilled to collaborate with Nat and her family to bring their vision for a pool and entertainer’s zone to life.

“We have always dreamt of having a pool for the kids. As a family who loves the warmer weather, we spend almost every waking moment outdoors in summer. Having a pool has truly elevated our lifestyle to a whole new level. ”

1. Tell us what inspired you to re-renovate your home?

We absolutely loved our original norsuHOME, and made so many wonderful memories there over the past five years. But as our children continued to grow, we found ourselves in desperate need of more space. The last renovation was more cosmetic – we kept the original footprint of the home and, while I loved all of the beautiful fittings and fixtures we used, sadly at the end of the day, there was only one bathroom. Trust me, sharing the mirror with a “Mr Winston and Frank Green” obsessed daughter had its challenges (please send help!).

2. What were your non-negotiables this time around?

We’ve always loved having friends and family over – we have a definite open-door policy (the more the merrier, I say!). So having a generous open-plan living space was a non-negotiable... it’s now the true hub of our home. Being a massive fan of high cathedral ceilings, we incorporated them into the design — our ceilings are nearly five metres high!

Space was another big one — creating a separate zone for our children (Annabel, now 14, and Harvey, 11) to enjoy time with their friends was a must. And yes, we may have overindulged with an area just for the grown-ups, complete with a bar and cellar.

Although we extended into the original backyard, we were determined to retain a good amount of usable outdoor space. We spend so much time outside, and we’re so pleased we now have a dedicated space where Harvey can still kick the footy, plus an incredible entertaining area for our big extended family. For this reason, we brought on Mint Pool + Landscape Design. With limited space left to work with, we knew we needed the best in the business – and their creative flair has absolutely delivered.

3. Are there any challenges you faced last reno that you’ve learnt from and avoided this time around?

I’m not going to lie — the scope of our last cosmetic reno grew and grew (and I may or may not have been to blame). We started small, and because we needed to move quickly, we brought on tradies we hadn’t worked with before. Not only were they understandably frustrated with my constant changes, but I hadn’t stopped to ask whether we were a good fit. Honestly, if you wouldn’t want to have a drink with your builder, trust your gut — they’re probably not the right team for you.

This time around, we took the time to get it right. It was worth waiting six months to lock in the A-team — and wow, did they deliver.

4. Tell us about your design and build team. Why did you choose them?

Each member of our team came together in their own beautiful, serendipitous way.

After falling in love with the design of a holiday rental in Flinders, I tracked down the architect and designer — Matt from Herbert & Howes. On the drive home, Dan and I also rang our favourite builder, Matt Woods, who we’d worked with before. He wasn’t building anymore, but after hearing about the project (and teaming up with Simon from The Carbonist), he agreed to come out of retirement. When Matt suggested his friend as the architect and it turned out to be Herbert & Howes, we knew it was meant to be.

Add in our incredible norsu Design team, and I couldn’t be happier. Our skills have come so far since the first norsuHOME, and having Loz on the interiors has been a dream. I’m getting a firsthand look at what our lucky clients experience — and let me tell you, it’s impressive.

And of course, the amazing team at MINT. As I said earlier, the outdoor area was tricky. We know interiors, but we’re definitely not landscape experts. Trust me: invest in the right people. The result speaks for itself.

5. Who or what inspires your style?

Where do I start? I love scrolling Instagram and Pinterest for ideas. I still buy interior magazines every month (a hot bath and a good mag — heaven!). And I feel endlessly lucky to be surrounded by the norsu Design team every day. Loz and the team are always discovering new things — we’re constantly sending each other links and inspiration.

“I almost (who am I kidding, I did) cried when Darin brought the printed renders and plans into our office. They were honestly the best renders I’d ever seen — and now, looking at the finished garden, I can say with my hand on my heart, the real thing is even better.”

7. Do you remember your first impression of the landscape renders?

WOW WOW WOW. I almost (who am I kidding — I did) cry when Darin brought the renders and plans into our office. It was the first time things really felt real. Our whole team squealed like kids at Christmas.

They were honestly the best renders I’d ever seen — and now, looking at the finished garden, I can say with my hand on my heart, the real thing is even better.

8. What excited you most about your new outdoors area – and how does it feel now it’s complete?

It had to be the pool. We’ve always dreamed of having a pool for the kids — we’re a family who loves the warmer months and practically lives outside in summer. And now that it’s complete, I can honestly say: it has changed our lives.

The kids are constantly outside swimming with their friends, we’re entertaining more than ever, and it just feels like us. We’ve also got those beautiful curves in the built-in BBQ and pops of colour throughout the garden, which still make me smile every time I step outside.