About Willow & Seed

Hey there, I'm Nareeda!! Interior Designer/Decorator and maker of Willow & Seed products, here to share my love of art, nature and passion for Interiors. I currently service Melbourne and it’s outer suburbs and provide an E-Design service nationwide.

My unrelenting desire to create was sparked at an early age by my Mum and Dad, where I absorbed all of their "self-taught" knowledge - Mum as a seamstress and Dad as a woodworker. Needless to say it has been in my blood from day dot and I love to have a go at anything... even if it means going out and learning a new skill just to get the end result I'm looking for!! Money can't buy the feeling of pride and satisfaction you get from making something from scratch with your own hands. I love it!

Willow & Seed was initially born from the desire for a rustic feature light in my own home (which at the time I couldn’t afford) and being the die-hard crafter/DIY'er/Artist that I am, I decided I was going to make it myself - so I did just that. After making my first piece I had so much positive feedback that I decided to take it to the next level. Through many long hours of research, designing and prototyping, I made an important and game-changing discovery. I stumbled across a widespread environmental issue that was recognised by few in our community but was prevalent enough for the council to have massive involvement in its eradication. The issue was that of the Willow trees that occupy our riverbanks and lakes.  These trees were once foreign to Australia but were planted by European settlers in the 1860's not only for its aesthetically pleasing values, but mainly for the stabilisation and prevention of erosion of the riverbanks which started to occur due to the clearing of riverside and catchment vegetation. However, as a result of planting this foreign species, the invasive roots now choke our waterways and reduce habitat for fish and Platypus, which has seen them being added to the long list of 'Noxious Weeds' that plague Victoria, Australia.
Recognising this as a major obstacle, I became more determined than ever to move forward with this newly found information because this was a situation I couldn't ignore. So, I set out to acquire my 'Noxious Weed Permit' and immediately began working with the council and rural farmers to make use of this commodity and turn a negative into a positive. Having the permit allowed me not only to responsibly harvest and store the Willow branches for weaving, but it also enabled me to build a greater appreciation for recycling and re-using in the wider community.  I have loved the journey of making these pendant lights but in the process it sparked a bigger love and appreciation for interiors as a result. It gave me a better understanding about sustainability and how one person or one family can make a difference to what our world could look like moving forward. Therefore, I now have a new desire… It is to help and encourage others to make sustainable choices in their home for a better future for our loved ones because let’s face it, every little bit is going to help.