hamimi, made by hand in morocco

a couple of weeks back i visited south bank & whilst parking i came across hamimi...a 'pop up shop' that closed last sunday...don't worry though you have not missed this wonderful shop full of moroccan treasures as they will be opening a permanent store at the end of august at 895 stanley street, east brisbane.  i met alex who runs the store...he told me his interior designer & artist sister lives in morocco...she has a fabulous eye for colour, design & style...check out her tables she has designed with tile tops - absolutely gorgeous & timeless!  i love everything the shop had!  if it wasn't for my pending move to melbourne i would have wanted to have one of everything!  i am still day dreaming about the rugs!  contact alex in the meantime if you see anything that you must have before their permanent store opens alex@hamimi.com.au

hamptons home living, 180 latrobe tce, paddington

hamptons hm living has come up several times...friends mentioned it, i saw various tweets regarding it & the concept was something that sounded great to me...a store combining beautiful homewares & a cafe.  i met & chatted with luke & his wife tania recently at their store...took plenty of pictures (as you can see).  i thoroughly enjoyed my lunch (daily special of - roast pork w crackling, sliced apple, tangy dressing, lettuce on leavain baguette) + my st ali latte was great...ruby loved her bircher muesli & eve settled for the french fries which she happily munched on.  we sat at the communal table & my seated neighbour had the baked eggs in terracotta which looked fabulous!...u can also buy the pots in the store.

chef andrew signorini is young, keen & came from being head chef at the jetty.  luke said that hamptons food is about simple dishes done well.  my pork baguette was exactly that...simple, good ingredients & done well!  i am still thinking about that crackling!

luke said that the cafe and the store combined are about providing quality & beauty.  The inspiration for the interiors are all tania's.  tania's inspirations are definitely hamptons, but she has favourite designers of the moment in fashion & interiors (alexander mcqueen, kelly wearstler, greg natale, rodarte & chanel).

luke & tania moved home to brisbane in jan this year after 11 yrs of living in melbourne & running restaurants in the cbd.  after 3 mths they settled on 180 latrobe tce (an old queenslander in paddington)...here, they have & are pursuing their dreams, whilst having a life & working together.

blake & taylor, 11 latrobe tce, paddington

i was introduced to blake & taylor by my friend roz macallan.  we met for a light lunch & a general fossick a little while back & i have been meaning to blog this gorgeous business but time has been spinning by!  blake & taylor is a unique shop specialising in new & recycled furniture & homewares along with an in-store cafe serving savouries, sweet treats, veneziano coffee & tea drop tea.  i was told that stock arrives often...the store has so many beautiful pieces/items/old & new...i bought some gorgeous oatmeal linen napkins & use them all the time!

visit blake & taylor's website for more details including their high tea special.

natural habitat interiors & design, nicolle foster.....my clever big sister!

when the devastating floods ravaged parts of queensland recently i had an extended stay at my sisters home in coffs harbour due to the roads home to brisbane being closed.....i decided to feature my clever sister on my blog as what she has achieved & created over her 20yrs in her industry is very inspiring to me.  she calls me when it comes to menus & i call her when it comes to choices in colours, rug selections, positioning of furniture....and anything associated to interiors....her suggestions are always spot on!  pictures are of her beautiful home situated @ the coffs harbour jetty.

http://www.naturalhabitat.com.au/

http://www.habitatharvest.blogspot.com/

drift, mintee st, point lookout, nth stradbroke

have you ever walked into a shop & loved everything?  Drift is a gorgeous store & has me so inspired.  on our recent holiday to stradbroke i visited the store 3 times....also buying my birthday present there!  jennie (long time resident of the island) opened the shop & sources handmade treasures, art, gift & jewellery from locals & afar......i have used plenty of the pics for you to see as the shop is so unique.  also the shop has amazing views of the coral sea.....jennie is living the good life!