Natalie Durham and Kelsey Bogart are two women (mother and daughter) making and selecting spirited jewellery and accessories, holistic body care and soulful home decor. Their personal metal work utilises “old school” metal smith techniques like: brazing and hand forging (they use high heat and many different hammers). They appreciate things made and worked and reworked by hand. They appreciate skill and beauty.

Their work is “slow design”…akin to “slow food” and “slow living”. Quality craftsmanship, sustainability and good vibrations are at the heart of their products and selections. They hope to help make handmade an accessible and meaningful part of your everyday life.

Here, we go behind the brand to find out more…

When did you launch the brand and what was the reason behind it?
We launched the brand (in its current incarnation) in 2016. We needed sanity in a world gone mad.

What’s your background?
Natalie (daughter) – Liberal/fine arts degree. Worked in set design, interior design and jewellery design before launching bsb.

Kelsey (mother) – Small business degree. 40 + years as a sculptress and metal smith.

How many people are involved in the company and what are their roles?
Mostly it’s just the two of us – designing, fabricating, producing, marketing, photographing, book keeping and so on. As we’ve grown we do have a few subcontractors we work with – a website designer/maintenance, graphic designers, metal shape cutters and sometimes other photographers.

What is the hardest challenge you have faced since you started the company?
Balancing business and life – finding a happy medium.

Tell us one fact about you that people wouldn’t know?
Natalie – wants to learn how to surf real waves, but is terrified.

Kelsey – wanted to be a veterinarian when she was a little girl.

2018 is here, where do you plan on taking the brand?
We plan to continue growing it organically, introducing new designs and staying true to our business soul.

To date, what has been the highlight since launching?
Connecting with like-minded/hearted souls through our intentional designs and shared values.

Which city do you feel most at home in, London, Paris or New York?
Paris – both of us.

Three beauty products you can’t leave the house without?
Natalie – Poppy and Someday Gypsy Rose Toner and homemade lip balm

Kelsey – a comb

Style means….?
Letting ones exquisite and unique inner world shine outwardly.

Best thing about London to you?
The friendly, open people.

Statement shoe or statement bag?
Old Gringo Belinda Boots – both of us.

If you had to, what piece of clothing from your wardrobe would you wear everyday?
Anything linen – both of us.

Favourite love song?
Natalie – Tangled Up In Blue (Bob Dylan)

Kelsey – So Long Marianne (Leonard Cohen)

Best place for a coffee?
Peets Coffee – Berkeley California

Most memorable piece of advice given to you?
This too shall pass.

Guilty pleasure?
Natalie – eating a spoon full (or two) of Prash (Sun Potion) with one of our hand forged copper spoons.

Kelsey – Making loud sounds with a hammer (ie: banging on metal).

If you could spend 24 hours in anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Morocco – both of us.

In future, how do you plan on expanding the company?
We will continue searching out and expanding our selection of like-minded products by other artists in our online shop. We also hope to move closer to opening a brick and mortar store front.

Find out more…

Visit our online shop at:

brightstarandbuffalo.com

Follow along on Instagram at:

@brightstarandbuffalo

Author

Northern girl Laura is the epitome of a true entrepreneur. Laura’s spirit for adventure and passion for people blaze through House of Coco. She founded House of Coco in 2014 and has grown it in to an internationally recognised brand whilst having a lot of fun along the way. Travel is in her DNA and she is a true visionary and a global citizen.

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