This week on Behind the Door I’m meeting with someone who specialises in all the little details, Paula from The Small Things Co. Like so many wedding businesses, The Small Things Co started after Paula and her husband Tom had their own wedding, which Paula styled herself. “We had so many beautiful pieces that we just didn’t want to get rid of” says Paula “and we knew that other people would like them too”. The Small Things Co is located in Melbourne’s trendy inner city suburb of Abbotsford, near lots of fantastic cafes and creative spaces.

The Small Things Co are one of those fantastic businesses that I imagine brides go to for a couple of little things, a wishing well or table numbers maybe, and leave with their entire wedding styled and sorted! There’s a wedding styling service that includes a vast selection of The Small Things Co’s beautiful things including candle holders, cake toppers, drink dispensers, bar carts and signage. Tom also is part of the wedding band Stings Attached and Paula can recommend lots of other great vendors she regularly works with too.

Paula and Tom started The Small Things Co from home and soon filled their double garage, which meant it was time to start looking for a space of their own. “When we found the shop front in Abbotsford we knew it was perfect” says Paula “especially once we found out one of our favourite florists, Flos Botanical, was moving in next door, it seemed meant to be!”.

The store front was the perfect size for product display and a beautiful, intimate meeting space. Paula and Tom installed a floating timber floor, shelves for the styling items and had friends design a custom gold and white tiled shop counter with stools to match. The result is an inspiring space with lots of light from the giant front window, and I can just imagine passers by must love sticky beak as they walk or drive past on busy Johnston St.

At the moment The Small Things Co is open by appointment only, but plans are in place to be open during the day from Thursday-Saturday in the future. You will also see Paula’s work popping up in lots of photoshoots, weddings and even a new venue launch soon. What a clever business and a stunning space!

Photos: The Small Things Co and Martin Maras

Ms Zigzag says: Paula doesn’t know it yet but I’m about to her email her and book an appointment to visit her showroom. I am helping my cousin organise a few elements of her wedding and I can not wait to take her to see Paula and talk wedding style and props. 

About Amelia Waddell of Make Your Day Wedding Styling: I’m a wedding stylist and proud store owner who loves to chat weddings with everyone and anyone! I love to talk shop with other business owners (particularly over some chocolate cake!) and am the first to try and have a sticky beak behind the scenes of any event. My free time is spent ‘investigating’ new cafes, stores and events. Make Your Day Wedding Styling is my creative outlet and I love nothing more than that ten minutes just before the guests enter the wedding reception, it feels like a special sort of magic!