Braddon’s Bouji boutique opens for business
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Canberra has a new homewares mecca stocked to the rafters with the biggest designer names—Bouji is now open on Lonsdale Street in Braddon.
Bouji: An American slang term for someone who aspires to beautiful things they can’t really afford.
It’s also the tongue-in-cheek name that Nicole and Dustin Page have chosen for their curated homewares shop opening today on Lonsdale Street in Braddon.
Nicole has had a busy few months. In September she and Dustin bought Rebel Muse and she has focussed her mind on curating designer collections with classic denim and blazer staples for Canberra women who don’t want to dress for the mass market.
Not content to stop there, the couple then recently took over the lease of a prime street-front hexagonal wedge of the Nibu Building–almost directly opposite Rebel Muse. Here, Nicole plans to use her same expert eye to bring exceptional homewares to discerning Canberrans.
Did we mention she also has a full-time and hyper-serious job in IT helping clients with cyber-security?
It’s been a juggle working in two disparate industries but Nicole does not regret following her life-long passion for designer homewares to its natural conclusion. With the exclusive rights to stock Versace and Roberto Cavalli Home in Canberra, Nicole promises that a visit to her shop will be a feast for the senses and a place from which to draw inspiration. Her collections will be representative samples of the latest international ranges and she will rotate new stock in regularly to keep the space fresh.
“I want it to be kind of like an art gallery, always presenting something new to consider.”
Other labels to make the grade include Gucci, Dior, Yves Saint Laurant, Maison Assouline books from London, Seletti homewares from Italy, Lauren Dickinson Clark fine bone china from London, and candles from The Luxuriate.
Bouji will provide an atmosphere where you can look and feel those vital statement pieces for the home, rather than take a risk online.
In fact, it was the experience of wanting to refresh her Mawson home with a new rug and lamps that saw Nicole trawling the internet in search of the perfect pieces.
Applying her dogged business acumen to the task, she eventually found what she wanted by famed Italian homeware provider Seletti. “But it was always a bit of a risk clicking on something rather than actually being able to touch it and see it with my own eyes.”
While Nicole did not originally plan on opening her homewares store so quickly after taking on Rebel Muse, she said the stars aligned when a friend showed her the gallery-like space in Nibu and with support and advice from her closest friends she knew Braddon was the natural fit for the concept.
Bouji will be a place to find unique pieces that elevate a room in the home to something special. It will provide a place to find gifts for people who have everything. And it will be a space in which you can receive expert advice on all things relating to the home. Or even just to dream, “one day I am going to own that”.
“There are a few places in Canberra you can get really unique homewares but I think the city does tend to depend on IKEA and Freedom, and for many that is not ideal.”
“I have always been obsessed by homewares—as well as fashion—and following design trends is my absolute addiction & passion,” says Nicole.
And while the name suggests the prices may be a little exclusive, Nicole promises to include enough accessible pieces to ensure everyone can get in on the Bouji experience.
Bouji opens tonight, Monday 1 April (no joke) at 5:30pm. Bubbles are being served.
the essentials
What: Bouji Homewares & Gifting opening
Where: Nibu Building Braddon
When: Monday to Thursday 10am-5:30pm, Friday 10am-9pm, Saturday 10am-5:30pm Sunday 10am-4pm.
Web: instagram.com/bouji_australia
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