Meet The Newlywed Design Duo Turning Love Into Light
new light
By Kiri Johnston | 7th November 2025Brisbane newlyweds and budding design duo Chelsea Keim and Aaron Gray are no strangers to turning love into light. Between building a life, a family, and now a brand, Chelsea and Aaron pour their hearts into everything they touch, and their Brisbane-born interiors brand, By Gray, is no different. Inspired by their storybook October wedding at Miss Midgley’s, the couple brings that same modern romance into their first piece, The Edge Lamp. A true labour of love. For our November issue, we chatted with the couple to learn more.
Where did you source materials, and how long did it take from sketch to finished piece?
“We investigated various manufacturers, both onshore and offshore. It became apparent that to make the product an affordable price point, we would have to manufacture offshore. We sketched the design before finding and locking in a manufacturer. Total time from sketch to when we had the product in our hands was about 10 months, almost a year. Quality and reliability were our main values when sourcing a manufacturer, and the one we went with has ticked all of those boxes. We are over the moon with the finished product.”
The lamp feels so considered. Was there a reference or feeling that shaped its design?
“We’ve always been drawn to art and obscure objects, anything that sparks conversation in a home and isn’t the norm. Shapes have always played a role in our inspiration. Funny enough, Aaron designed a photography book 4 years ago and on the cover is a circle and a triangle (shown in the image below). We only realised this after we had designed the lamp, so clearly triangular shapes have always been something we’re drawn to.”
“We’ve also always loved anything mirrored, furniture, sculptures, mirrored walls, etc. So it was a no-brainer for The Edge Lamp to have a mirrored finish for the first drop.”
Who or what inspires you most creatively?
“The 80s & 90s interiors and architecture have always inspired us, both in what we put in our own home and when designing products for By Gray. As an example, the work that Sydney-based Interior Designer Claudia Lambert produces inspires us, the shapes, textures and colours she combines, and how she makes each space feel like you’re walking into a piece of art, is incredible.”
What’s next for By Gray, a full collection, or are you letting this one breathe?
“We’ve already started designing our next iteration of The Edge Lamp (think colour), as well as an entirely new shape/lamp. On top of this, we have also lined up an exciting collaboration piece with someone known in the industry.”
“Eventually, we want there to be more than just lamps offered through By Gray, but given we are a small family-run business funding everything ourselves, this journey will be one of patience and bite-sized pieces, which reflects our ethos of curated products for the consumer, making By Gray feel exclusive.”
Does Brisbane influence your design or creative rhythm?
“Brisbane has proven to be an emerging place for people like us. Typically, in the past, creatives would flock interstate to pursue projects like By Gray. However, Brisbane is bursting with energy, creativity, architecture, fashion and lifestyle that you can’t get in any other state. We felt confident launching such a creative venture in our home city.”
And finally, what do you hope people feel when they live with one of your pieces?
We want our customers to feel a sense of excitement, wonder and uniqueness. We hope our pieces become something that sparks conversation when they have visitors, something they admire every day, and something that elevates their space whenever they see it. By Gray will never be your cookie-cutter homewares brand. We will always ensure our customers have the unique, yet timeless pieces they crave.
Imagery: @florido_weddings
