Armed with a new name and a brand new range of rugs, Perth-based Amy Eaton is heading east this month to exhibit at Life Instyle Sydney.
After six years running Happy as Larry, Eaton has renamed the business Oh Happy Home, representing a coming of age for the brand that is focused on creating family-friendly textiles.
“Oh Happy Home is a cheeky nod to Happy as Larry’s younger self and seeks to bring warmth, comfort and of course a little fun to every room in the home,” Eaton explains.
A skilled designer with a fine arts degree, Eaton has always had a passion for textiles and, as a mum of three, is also passionate about designing for the messier aspects of family life. This includes a range of washable rugs that are perfect for kid’s rooms.
“Our rugs are made to last and need to be easy to clean… I believe our cotton washable rugs stand apart in the market—you can pop them in your home washing machine and hang them out to dry.”
The Oh Happy Home range also features textured weaves and all products are handwoven by artisans in India and Nepal. Eaton says it was a challenge to find offshore manufacturers who were committed to ethical production and so she decided to partner with GoodWeave, an organisation that works to eradicate child labour in global supply chains.
“I have been very lucky to work with some incredible artisans who understand what I am trying to create. It has been lovely to work alongside and collaborate with our manufacturers and support them in their creative endeavours too.
“Our very popular texture weaves are a celebration of the weaver and our rugs become an artwork for your floor.”
At Life Instyle Sydney Eaton will launch a new range of metallic cotton weave rugs, perfect for those looking for some extra bling, and says she hopes to connect with homewares stores that focus on children’s and living spaces. Because rugs are too large for some stores to stock, Oh Happy Home also offers swatch kits so customers can place orders.
As a small business, Eaton says Oh Happy Home can’t offer the widest range, but she can guarantee her products will be designed for real families (and their messes).
“We are keen to keep designing small bespoke ranges of rugs. We won’t stock every weave or colour of rugs but what you will find is a select range of rugs for each collection that are made with family in mind.”
By Ruth Cooper
