Cose Ipenema on Collins Street has made a shiny silver Christmas wreath from a tangle of wire coat hangers.
Wired
Something old, something new
At long last Canberra has a new airport. I spotted these shiny new 'gas bottle' lights at Hudson's Coffee on my way home last week. I wonder if the designer took their inspiration from Joost Bakker who made a whole lot of bowls from recycled old gas bottles for his Greenhouse restaurant on St Georges Terrace in Perth?
30 Mill
30 Mill is not the lotto jackpot this week but I think James Laskie, the owner of this new coffee spot in a leafy Malvern Street, has picked the winning numbers. A barista who has served his share of espresso at local cafes (Woodstock and Treat), James has gone out on his own armed with a shiny silver Synesso Cyncra, a service attitude, a simple fit out (built entirely by himself and his Dad) and a small quality menu to support the coffee. As a general rule if BFF likes the coffee, I don't... if I like it, he doesn't... tedious really. We joined James for lunch and a chat yesterday and we both liked the coffee (that has got to be a first). Serving a Five Senses single origin house blend, the name 30 mill refers to a single shot of coffee. As of today, he's been open for one whole week and is already doing a decent number of kilos. You can find James and his Synesso at 66 Milton Pde Malvern (opposite Tooronga Station).
Neat as a Nippy
A skilled front of house person is of equal importance to the food and furnishings.
I snapped these French waiters on the Rue St Honore in Paris and discovered The Perfect Nippy leafing through "The Art of Looking Sideways" (Phaidon). According to the book, Lyons Cornerhouses were an extensive chain of teashops in the UK founded at the turn of the previous century and closed down during the swinging sixties. The Lyon's waitress, or 'Nippy' as she was known, was formally dressed and Lyon's worked extremely hard to maintain the dress code as expressed in this instruction issued to its staff in 1937.
If only such attention to detail was applied to the middle ground dining scene here in Australia. Whilst the casual uniform category has been reinvented by the likes of Cargo Crew there is a long way to go with regard to the service skills of those wearing the designer garb.
Seine style from Sydney
Of course you think I spotted this in Paris, but Non, it's not true. Attik 72 is a Sydney based biz making all things French and fabulous. If you've got a retailer needing a last minute Christmas window clue this decal will set you back A$120 ... a big effect for a bargain price. Via Design Sponge.
Pudding with floral overtones
Fleur McHarg has got into the swing of Christmas with colourful windows of pop coloured puddings and perfect blooms.
Panda to my sense of fun
Italian jewellery brand Dodo teamed up with designer Paolo Navone to create a panda-themed shop to celebrate their 15th anniversary. A counter made from 9000 blocks of black and white Lego, wallpaper of a panda practising t’ai chi (hilarious) and enormous light bulbs featuring a smiling face (the thing that caught my eye as I walked by). Dodo chose the Panda theme to celebrate their association with WWF Italia, to whom they donate a % of sales on a regular basis. This is a pop up Panda open until the end of the year.
