Ur Place

Ur Place is a monochromatic homewares store that specialises in Australian-made goods. Owner Kathryn Whitwell started her own business doing interior styling while studying a Bachelor of Visual Arts.

Whitwell stocks local brands such as Ahoy Trader (ceramic tiles and planter boxes handmade in Byron Bay); Zakkia (kitchen utensils); and Pony Rider (printed cushions and towels) as well as fair-trade and sustainable brands from around the world. Her goal is to teach consumers they don’t necessarily need colour in their home; they can instead style with textures.

All the store’s stock is neutral and monochrome. Whitwell describes the philosophy behind this decision as being like the logic behind the little black dress: you need to get the basics right, then you can add flair. She also believes monochrome is more sustainable because it won’t go out of style.

The shop is a former solicitor’s office. Underneath 30 years of multiple renovations she found several sheets of wallpaper and a layer of green carpet on the walls. All of this has been hand-steamed off to reveal brick walls. All display furniture has been designed and built from scratch. The black plywood flooring required five coats of paint, all hand-sanded in-between.