About Harborside

I grew up watching my mother set a table like it meant something. Platters carried in from the kitchen, linen pressed, everything arranged before anyone sat down. She learned that from her mother, who brought it from Lebanon when she arrived in Melbourne in 1974 with two suitcases and a habit of making a meal feel like an occasion. I didn't think about any of that for a long time. I was too busy billing hours at a corporate advisory firm in Sydney's CBD, commuting from Pyrmont, and telling myself the work would start to feel worth it soon.

It didn't. By 2019 I was ten years into financial services consulting, earning well, and genuinely dreading Mondays in a way I couldn't explain to anyone around me without sounding ungrateful. I wasn't burned out dramatically. It was quieter than that. I just noticed one afternoon that I couldn't remember the last time I'd made something with my hands. That same week I drove down to the Mornington Peninsula for a long weekend, walked through the Red Hill Market on a Saturday morning, and bought a handmade ceramic bowl from a woman who'd fired it herself in a kiln behind her house in Merricks. I drove home thinking about that bowl the whole way.

— Good things for the table and the house. — Charbel, Charbel Chalouhi

Our team

• Brigitte Nasser — Operations and Fulfilment Lead: Brigitte joined Harborside in early 2022 after running the stockroom and dispatch side of a homewares wholesaler in Dandenong for six years. She manages inbound freight, warehouse organisation at the Rosebud workshop, and makes sure orders leave on time, which they do at a rate that keeps the reviews clean. She also negotiated the current freight arrangement with a Frankston-based courier that cut average dispatch costs by about 11 percent.
• Dariusz Kwan — Digital and E-Commerce Manager: Dariusz came on board in mid-2023 after freelancing for several small Melbourne retailers through a contact at a Fitzroy-based digital agency. He looks after the Shopify store, email marketing, and the product photography workflow, including coordinating shoot days at a rented studio space in Mornington. Before freelancing he spent four years at a mid-size retailer in Richmond handling their online catalogue, so he knew stock management software before Charbel had to explain it.
• Yolande Ferreira — Customer Service and Trade Accounts: Yolande handles all inbound customer enquiries, wholesale account relationships, and the small but growing trade program that supplies independent retailers across the Peninsula and into inner Melbourne. She moved from Cape Town to Frankston in 2018 and spent several years in retail management at a homewares store in Mornington before a mutual acquaintance introduced her to Charbel at the 2023 Red Hill Market. She works three days a week from home and one from the workshop.

Frequently asked questions

How long will my order take to arrive?

Standard delivery takes 3–8 business days depending on your location, and express typically arrives in 1–3 business days. Remote or regional areas may take a few days longer. You'll get a tracking link by email once your order ships.

Do you offer free shipping?

Yes. Orders over $120 AUD qualify for free standard shipping Australia-wide. Orders under that threshold are charged a flat rate of $9.95 for standard or $14.95 for express.

Can I return something if I change my mind?

Yes, we accept change-of-mind returns within 30 days of delivery, provided the item is unused and in its original packaging. Return postage is at your cost for change-of-mind returns. Faulty or damaged items are handled differently — see our full Returns Policy.

How do I care for the linen bedsheets?

Machine wash on a gentle cold cycle with a mild detergent, and tumble dry on low or line dry in the shade. Avoid bleach and fabric softeners, as these break down the linen fibres over time. The fabric will soften naturally with each wash.

What materials are used in the ceramic dinner service?

The Saltwater Ceramic Dinner Service is made from stoneware clay fired at high temperature, giving it a dense, durable finish. The glaze is food-safe and free from lead and cadmium. Pieces are dishwasher-safe on a normal cycle, though hand washing will extend the life of the finish.

Do you do custom or personalised orders?

We don't offer personalisation on individual retail orders at this stage. If you're after something specific for a large event or commercial fit-out, get in touch at hello@harborsidegoods.com and Charbel can discuss what's possible.

Do you offer wholesale or trade pricing?

Yes, wholesale accounts are available for retailers, interior designers, and hospitality businesses. Email wholesale@harborsidegoods.com with your business details and a brief description of what you're looking for, and we'll send through our trade price list.

Can I add gift wrapping to my order?

Gift wrapping is available at checkout for $6.50 per order. We use recycled kraft paper and a simple card — you can add a short message during checkout. Gift wrapping is not available on oversized items like the pendant lamp.

Customer reviews

• 5/5 “Exactly what I was hoping for” Ordered the Riviera Coastal Linen Bedsheet Set in Oatmeal on a Tuesday and it arrived by Thursday, which I wasn't expecting at all. The fabric is noticeably heavier than the supermarket linen I'd been using — it feels like it'll last. Already washed it twice and it's held up perfectly.
• 4/5 “Great platter, packaging could be better” The Maritime Marble Serving Platter is a solid piece — heavier than I expected from the photos, which I actually like. It arrived with one corner of the box slightly dented, though the platter itself was fine. Would've appreciated more padding around something this size.
• 5/5 “Dinner set is genuinely good” Bought the Saltwater Ceramic Dinner Service for a house move and it's been on the table every night since. The slate colour looks even better in person than on screen. Dishwasher safe as advertised — ran it through about fifteen cycles now with no issues.
• 4/5 “Good quality, took a bit longer to WA” The Driftwood Cotton Table Runner is well made and the natural colour works with pretty much everything on our table. Shipping to Perth took about nine business days on standard, so just factor that in if you're on the west coast. No complaints about the product itself.
• 5/5 “The pendant lamp is stunning” The Harborview Recycled Glass Pendant Lamp in Cognac arrived well packed and the colour is exactly as shown. Had an electrician install it over our dining table and the warm glow it throws is really something. Good communication from the team when I had a question about the cord length before ordering.
• 5/5 “Linen sheets — worth the price” I was hesitant about spending $89.95 on a sheet set online without seeing them first, but they're genuinely good. They arrived quickly even to Hobart, and the oatmeal colour is a proper neutral — not too warm, not too grey. Will be ordering pillowcases if they stock them.

From the journal

• The Geelong detour that changed how we source linen — I drove three hours for a meeting that lasted forty minutes, and somehow it was the best decision I made all year.
• How I actually set the table for a long December lunch — There's a version of table setting that looks good in photos and a version that survives six hours of people actually eating, and they're not the same thing.
• Shooting product photos in a Mornington winter without a studio — I've spent about four thousand dollars on lighting equipment I almost never use because the best light here costs nothing and disappears by two in the afternoon.
• What April on the peninsula does to how you work — The tourist traffic drops off after Easter and the peninsula goes quiet in a way that took me two years to stop resisting.