After a decade working in HR and administration, Adelaide’s Melissa Wandless was seeking a more flexible career after entering a new phase of life. “I wanted a job that allowed me to look after my daughter and not just cross paths with my husband on the weekend,” says Melissa, who has since launched a collection of vintage inspired timber serving boards under the brand IvyAliceVintage.
With a creative streak and penchant for renovations and DIY projects, Melissa’s journey into design was something of a natural progression. Transitioning from the corporate sphere, Melissa found solace and excitement in crafting handmade boards from locally sourced, reclaimed timber. “After working in HR and studying personal training I realised that the only thing that remained constant was my passion for design,” says Melissa who has undertaken plenty of DIY renovations over the years and isn’t afraid to pick up the tools.
But when did inspiration exactly strike? “Late one night whilst scrolling through Pinterest I saw a kitchen with a rail of timber boards hanging and I thought ‘how hard could that be?’ And after searching high and low for vintage boards at an acceptable price and that you can actually use, I had an ‘a-ha’ moment and thought this is it!”
IvyAliceVintage offers a range of vintage-inspired, rustic kitchen décor, with each piece meticulously handcrafted from reclaimed Baltic Pine, Oregon and Australian hardwoods like Tasmanian Oak and Victorian Ash. Much of the timber is sourced from Adelaide salvage yards. “I have also on the occasion made boards for customers taken from timber on their own property,” says Melissa who accepts custom jobs too. The craftsmanship behind each piece is evident with the average serving board taking two-to-three days to create and the butcher’s blocks taking four-to-six weeks.
As for inspiration, Melissa finds it everywhere including in the Australian and European countryside, new and old farmhouses and cottage homes, whimsical gardens, paintings, textiles and homely cooking and baking. “I’m also inspired by interior designers and homes that focus on quality, texture and character and of course Pinterest.”
Melissa’s top five cheese board styling tips
- Less is more – don’t overcrowd a board.
- Use a variety of colours and textures, blueberries, pears, different cheeses, dark and light crackers with nuts.
- If using a greasy or fatty food, always line it underneath with brown paper.
- Lay the food out organically and try not to pile it together in groups.
- Use quality cutlery – I’m a fan of antique cheese knifes and serve boards with knives in the cheese piercing it upright. It not only looks good and adds height, it also ensures minimal cutlery sliding when transporting the board.
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