Design & Decorate
The Designory is a trusted authority in Australian design — a leading studio and education platform blending 20 years of industry expertise with modern, practical guidance to help homeowners create timeless, functional homes at every stage of designing, building and decorating. Learn more about The Designory here!
What will this tour entail?
A beautifully curated sourcing and styling adventure in Bali. If you adore interiors, homewares, and discovering unique pieces for your home, this retreat is your dream week away.
The Design & Decorate Retreat blends the sourcing expertise of SallyO with the interior design knowledge of Mel & Cat from The Designory, giving you an immersive and inspiring six-day journey through Bali’s most creative pockets.
This retreat is designed for stylers, decorators, design lovers, home renovators focusing on interiors, and anyone wanting to curate a beautiful, personalised home.
This Retreat Includes:
Beautiful Stay & Welcoming Start
• 5 nights and 6 days in a coastal-style private villa
• Daily villa breakfast prepared for you in-house
Sourcing & Shopping Experiences
• Expert sourcing guide SallyO leads you through her favourite retail and wholesale homewares stores and suppliers
• Access to hidden wholesalers and antique dealers known only to locals and off the beaten track
• Coffee with the manager of one of Bali’s most iconic homewares stores — insider sourcing insights included
• A private in-house shopping night with unique jewellery & clothing
Design, Styling & Learning with Mel
• Daily Design Q&A sessions over breakfast at the villa
• Opt-in Daily Design Workshops tailored to guest interests
• Optional 1:1 Design Intensive sessions with Mel (AUD$595 per session)
• Optional upgrade: pre-retreat design consultation with Mel (AUD$595 per session)
Culture & Inspiration
• Visit to a worldwide award-winning photography gallery, including a meet-and-greet with the acclaimed photographer
• A visit to one of the world’s leading eco-hotels — filled with architectural and interior inspiration and relaxing afternoon by the pool.
• A meaningful visit to the Bali Street Mums Project safe house
Relax & Recharge
• Afternoon massage at one of Bali’s most beautiful spas
• Daily afternoons for relaxation at the Villa or by the pool
Food & Extras
• Dining at Bali’s best cafés and restaurants. (Lunch and Dinner cost is not included)
• (Please allow approx. $75-$120 AUD for eco-resort day pass, plus lunches & dinners), plus $75-$120 a day for lunches & dinners)
• $4,950 AUD — Single Room (Queen)
• $4,650 AUD per person — Twin Room (only 2 twin rooms available)
A message from Mel.
My approach to design has never been about imposing a personal style or telling clients what their home should look like. It begins with understanding how you live, what you need from your home, and how you want it to feel.
During the Bali retreat, this philosophy comes to life in real time — as we source, shop and explore together. Rather than focusing on trends or impulse buys, I help you translate your own brief into thoughtful design decisions, applying proven design principles and real-world experience as we move through each supplier and space.
The result is sourcing with clarity — selecting pieces that genuinely belong in your home, support the way you live, and create spaces that feel considered, personal and enduring..
A message from Sally.
For me, sourcing in Bali has always been about connection — to people, to craftsmanship, and to the stories behind the pieces we bring into our homes. Over the years, I’ve built long-standing relationships with artisans, makers and suppliers across the island, allowing me to offer access to places and processes most people would never find on their own.
During this retreat, my role is to guide you through Bali’s rich sourcing landscape — from iconic suppliers to hidden backstreet workshops — helping you navigate quality, authenticity, and value with confidence. I believe sourcing should feel inspiring, ethical and intentional, and my aim is always to make the experience seamless, enjoyable and deeply rewarding.
Sharing this journey alongside Mel allows us to offer something truly special — combining trusted local knowledge with expert design guidance — so you can source beautiful pieces with clarity and purpose, knowing exactly how they’ll come together in your home.
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The SallyO x The Designory Design Retreat is a collaborative experience designed for people who want more than access to great suppliers — they want clarity, confidence and expert guidance while they source.
While SallyO’s regular sourcing retreats focus on discovering Bali’s incredible artisans, wholesalers and makers, this retreat layers in Melissa Bonney’s design, renovation and interiors expertise — so you’re not just seeing beautiful things, you’re learning how to use them well in your own home, renovation or project.
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Melissa Bonney is the Founder and Creative Director of The Designory, with over 30 years’ experience across property, building design, interiors, project management, brand marketing and human behaviour.
She has:
Designed, renovated and built over 430 homes across Australia
Qualifications in Interior Design, Psychology, Marketing and Real Estate
Led projects from early concept through to construction, fit-out and styling
Worked across residential, commercial and development projects
Owned an interiors retail store - The Design Hunter for 10 years
Developed and run multiple holiday accomodation properties via her brand, Barefoot Escapes
Mel’s philosophy is grounded in function first, beauty second — and longevity always. She believes great design isn’t about trends or impulse buying, but about understanding how people live, move and feel in a space — and making decisions that stand the test of time.
Having Mel alongside you means you’re not sourcing in isolation — you’re shopping with someone who understands how pieces perform in real homes, real builds and real budgets.
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Sally Oulton is the founder of SallyO, and one of Australia’s most respected Bali sourcing specialists. For over a decade, Sally has worked and sourced extensively throughout Bali, building long-standing, trusted relationships with artisans, makers, wholesalers and suppliers across the island. Her deep local knowledge, ethical approach and hands-on experience mean she knows not only where to source, but who to source from — and how to navigate quality, pricing, lead times and logistics with confidence.
Sally’s approach is grounded in connection, integrity and respect for craftsmanship, ensuring every piece sourced has both provenance and purpose.
Having Sally lead the sourcing experience means guests gain access to Bali’s most exceptional suppliers — including many that are not open to the general public — guided by someone who understands the nuances of the local landscape and is deeply invested in delivering meaningful, well-considered outcomes.
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✔ Daily Design Q&A with Mel
Each morning at breakfast, Mel hosts a dedicated one-hour design Q&A, giving you space to:Ask questions specific to your home or project
Sense-check decisions before purchasing
Understand layout, scale, materials and finishes
Avoid costly or impractical choices
✔ Design Context at Every Supplier Visit
At the start of each supplier or store visit, Mel will provide a design overview, covering:How to use products effectively in different types of homes
What works — and what doesn’t — in real-world renovations and builds
How to combine pieces so your home feels cohesive, not cluttered
Common sourcing mistakes and how to avoid them
This ensures every stop is purposeful — not overwhelming.
✔ Personalised 1:1 Support During the Retreat (Optional)
Guests can book optional one-on-one sessions with Mel during the retreat to:Review plans, drawings or ideas
Work through selections and priorities
Get tailored guidance aligned to your budget and timeline
✔ Pre-Retreat 1:1 Planning Session (Optional)
For those wanting to arrive organised and confident, there is also the option to book a pre-retreat design session with Mel to:Clarify scope and goals
Prepare a focused sourcing plan
Align style, budget and expectations
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This retreat is ideal if you want to:
Source for a home, renovation, build or retail project
Make confident decisions while you’re there
Understand why you’re choosing something — not just that you like it
Leave with clarity, not overwhelm
It’s still a sourcing adventure — but one guided by deep experience, thoughtful design philosophy and real-world knowledge.