Spreading Salubrity
WORDS : Dellaram Vreeland IMAGES : Nat Salloum
Salubrious Living was born from a love of gift giving. Something founder, Steph has always been very partial to and while she had long fostered the dream for starting her own business that would be reflective of her love for sharing beautiful things with the world, it wasn’t until she found herself on maternity leave in 2019 that Steph took the leap into launching this long nurtured desire to create a unique online experience.
In the midst of the drought, Steph Shibble decided to harness her talents and inject a little bit of joy into people’s lives. At the beginning, it was simply a humble means of keeping herself occupied while she was on maternity leave-tapping into her creative energy in order to bring others delight. Little did she know how many people were yearning for some salubrity. “I was really wanting to do something creative from home when my daughter was young, mindful that they’re only really small once,” the mother of two says. “I’d always loved homewares and interiors, so I did a bit of research and started off really small with little gift boxes,” shares Steph.
And so began Salubrious Living - an online interiors and homewares boutique. Initially launching online at the end of 2019, the business started selling special hampers stocking everything from beeswax wraps to organic soap bars and reusable coffee cups. Friends bought gifts for their own friends and family, and Steph started receiving some great feedback about her beautiful products, refined curation, and the little joys she was spreading along the way.
Luckily for Steph, the emergence of her own business happened to align with the meteoric rise of the Buy From The Bush movement. Which led to Steph having her business and products featured across the Buy From The Bush platforms. Giving her business a little boost as well as a hearty dose of encouragement that pushed Steph to continue to grow her venture. “Their page gave me a lot of reach, and I saw a lot of growth in the business as a result.” Steph says. “People were really getting behind and supporting bush-based businesses and I loved being able to share my treasures with so many people early on. That exposure from Buy From the Bush also enabled me to get a feel for what customers were liking and gave my own social media presence a good boost. It’s all grown from there really.”
Fast forward three years and Salubrious Living is a coveted and carefully curated boutique that celebrates makers and supports small businesses while also dedicating itself to the promotion of sustainable living and timeless artistry. Striving to work with products made from natural fibres and fabrics where possible, such as linen totes, hand-loomed towels, handcrafted ceramics, wool blankets, hemp bags, and dupe baskets - Steph says her boutique is inspired by her natural surroundings and the beauty she reaps from life in the country. Steph now runs Salubrious Living full-time from her family property near Narromine, NSW, and her two little ones are often found not far from her side. Steph’s nostalgia from her own childhood, where an appreciation for the beautiful little things in life, like a home cooked meal or a small thoughtful gift was always fostered, is something she has now instilled into the business as well.
A simple scroll through the Salubrious Living Instagram page and website will immediately give you a taste for the brand’s aesthetic - light and bright, basked in neutral tones and spattered with vibrant flora and vivid greenery. And, while she loves selecting stock and curating her store, Steph says it’s the photoshoots and styling sessions with photographer Nat Salloum that serve as the icing on the cake. “Salubrious Living is all about the neutral tones and earthy hues and is inspired by the country landscape, where we live, the beautiful gums and bringing the outside in,” Steph says. “I don’t go to trade shows or stock what’s on-trend or in- season. I try to find pieces that are timeless and made of natural materials - a one-stop shop for pretty pieces and beautiful wares that stand the test of time.” With this ethos, Steph hopes to maintain the tradition of investing in long-lasting quality items. Proposing that you should buy once and buy well and focus on pieces that are classic and timeless. Even though the selections on offer at Salubrious Living are not always Australian made, that’s still a big focus and Steph prides herself on cultivating a brand that is reflective of the modern country woman’s desire as well as aspirations for supporting local and quality makers.
“My vision has always been to inspire you to live well and love the home you live in. Life is so busy and whether you’re a mother or not, whether you have a busy job or a busy life, when you get home, you want your home to be a nice place to be and to be warm and welcoming and inviting. I want you to walk into a space that brings you joy, or receive something in the mail that will bring meaning and comfort so you can find a moment to yourself in the chaos.”
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