At its core, Zaleta is a story of family, craftsmanship, and connection. Founded by Melissa, Wojtek and Arlan Stainwald, the family have been working in construction on the Sunshine Coast for 30 years, building and shaping homes for over 17 years that reflect not just design excellence, but genuine heart.
Home has always been Melissa and Wojtek’s anchor, and building spaces that offer other families that same sense of belonging feels deeply personal. Together with their son Arlan, also a builder, the family established Zaleta - a name inspired by Wojtek’s Polish heritage meaning quality, a word that perfectly encapsulates the family’s approach to their craft: building with integrity, care, and intention.
Zaleta’s design process begins not with plans, but with conversation. Every project is born from listening - to stories, to emotions, and to the way people live. They design with heart, not just function, often sparked by one small detail, “sometimes inspiration can come from something as simple as a teacup that’s been passed down, or a marble coaster a client brings in, it’s those personal anchors that give a space it’s soul”.
This sensitivity to material and meaning ensures every Zaleta home feels deeply personal. Without intention, a new build can lack soul; it’s the handcrafted, considered details that breathe life into a space. That’s what they care about most.
“Personally myself, I have a very eclectic style, this can seep into my designs. Every Zaleta space offers a small surprise, something that feels personal and authentic” Says Melissa. That deep respect for craft is what drew Zaleta to Nood Co. The Zaleta team’s design embraces the natural variation that comes with honest materials, finding beauty in imperfection. Our Nood Co. basins celebrate that same artistry - proving that quality and soul can coexist beautifully.
One space that perfectly captures this shared aesthetic is Zaleta HQ’s powder room, a small space with a big personality. Collaborating with Druce Davey, Zaleta’s Interior Designer, the design began with love at first sight: our Nood Co. Mill Basin in Musk became the heart of the space, and everything else flowed from that moment. The result is an intimate, grounded interior layered with Taubmans Hazelnut Choc walls, travertine tiles, and the hero rich-hued basin - a palette of warmth, romance, and depth.
For Melissa, inspiration comes from life’s quiet details, from the colour of clay after rain, the way sunlight filters through linen, through to the texture of stone underfoot, it’s all about those moments that guide us. Living on the Sunshine Coast and constantly being inspired by their surroundings provides effortless connection between indoors and out, luxury and relaxation, design and nature.
Her dream home isn’t about perfection; it’s about layers of meaning, the comfort of familiar textures, and spaces that feel both intentional and lived in.
When asked what they admire most about Nood Co., Melissa names courage in design and the willingness to create with authenticity and heart. Every basin feels sculptural and full of personality, embodying the kind of honesty Zaleta seeks in their own work.
Both brands share a belief that design should move people - that it should have a heartbeat. There’s beauty in the human touch, in products that feel made, not manufactured. That’s where authenticity lives. A shared language of craftsmanship, courage, and care where design is personal, and beauty lies in the imperfect.
Credits:
November 14, 2025
Nood Co
