STORY: LAUREN FORMICA. PHOTOGRAPHY: MEGAN FISHER
Registered nurse and mother-of-two, Meghann Talarico, calls herself an “avid DIY-er” and lover of all things interior design. Her store, Oakridge Designs, is a combination of both passions.
Located in the heart of Tatura, Oakridge Designs is home to an array of beautiful homewares, giftware and its very own chalk painting studio.
“I have always had a passion to create a welcoming home on a budget with DIY projects,” owner Meghann Talarico said.
“My dad was an interior painter, and I grew up learning about painting from him.”
Starting initially as a hobby and relaxation from her part-time job as a nurse, furniture painting soon became a rewarding outlet that allowed Meghann to decorate her home for a fraction of the price.
But her passion for chalk painting, specifically, began when she attended her first chalk painting workshop in 2014.
Now, Meghann runs her own chalk painting workshops, one Saturday a month, and welcomes private group bookings.
Chalk paint is a speciality paint that gives a matte finish and has made its presence known in the home, heightened by the popularity of the distressed time-worn appeal, perfect for that shabby chic, French provincial or Hamptons style.
“I find it empowering to give other women the skills and confidence to be able to refresh their own home as I did for a fraction of the cost of buying new,” Meghann said.
“Especially with the cost of living on the increase, everybody loves a welcoming home without the expense.”
The home she shares with her husband and two daughters is a 116-year-old cottage full of combined provincial and Hamptons-style furniture pieces that she has brought back to life.
“To be able to give your existing furniture a refresh with paint is truly rewarding knowing you did it all yourself and, on a budget.”
In 2021, after outgrowing her home-based studio, Meghann decided it was time to relocate and expand the family-run business.
Oakridge Designs relocated to new premises with the perfect space to continue running workshops, as well as the opportunity to have a boutique home and giftware store all under the one roof.
“This was the perfect combination to be able to merge the love of furniture paint with homewares to completely redecorate homes,” Meghann said.
She said the risk of opening a store in the middle of the pandemic was a “huge leap of faith”, but the support of the local community had made it worth it.
“It's been a pleasure meeting new faces and feel that real sense of common interest with our customers.
“I don't see this as a job because it's a passion of mine to empower others through creativity.”