The Brooklyn Deli showcases its Gingerbread

Stirred by the cleverly constructed gingerbread car in a window display for the US store Anthropologie, we want to retain our gingerbread-esque focus while shifting our gaze locally. Very local in fact. The popular Brooklyn Deli in Wellington is but a short walk from our house.  With its welcoming rustic interior coupled with a wonderfully diverse menu and friendly staff, the eatery is a fixed feature of our weekly routine.  Of added attraction is the eye-catching and mouth-watering display of gingerbread available for sale.  Created by the skilled hands of Brooklyn Deli owners and Austrian expatriates Herwig and Theresa Maingast, their gingerbread range has become a wholesale product under the Hansel and Gretel name.

Inspiration behind the gingerbread can be traced back to the ancestral home of Theresa  - Lake Mondsee ("Moon Lake") not far from the famous Austrian city of Salzburg.  On entry to the Brooklyn Deli, patrons are greeted by a large photo (see above) of the picturesque lake, its surrounds famous for hosting a number of scenes in the movie " The Sound of Music."  Baking prowess runs strong in Theresa's family.  Her grandmother was well known within the Lake Mondsee community as a baker of considerable repute and Theresa today remains faithful to her grandmother's original gingerbread recipe.  Indeed, the Brooklyn Deli menu includes a number of culinary treats from the owners home country.

One of the design challenges for the interior was covering a rather large and bland wall.  With her design background, Theresa rose to the challenge and the result is a striking sliced timber feature wall.

Photographs by Charlotte Minty and words by Craig Greaves.

Loretta, Wellington

Congratulations to Wellington eatery, Loretta for being named Urbis Best Restaurant Interior 2014. Since Loretta opened in May last year, I have eaten there often and enjoy the space very much - I think it's something to do with all the lovely pale timber! It was also selected last year by Vogue as a place to visit in the capital city - what a couple of great recognitions!
The interior, like its food, is clean  and honest as well as relaxed and casual. The client, the successful team behind Floriditas, worked with Parsonson Architects (who conveniently have an office above the eatery) and were inspired by California's mid century architecture, specifically Schaffer House by John Lautner which appeared in the 2009 movie, A Single Man. They were also keen to focus on the natural and earthy pottery by Paul Melser, which is on display along the northern wall as well as the crockery the diners eat from. Read more about Loretta and the successful design process here.

Photographs by Jeff Brass.

Odette's Eatery, Auckland

Spotted this morning on Home NZ is this chic new restaurant called Odette's Eatery, located at the popular CityWorks Depot, a creative hospitality hub in Auckland.
A design collaboration between the seasoned restaurant owners and the team from Cheshire Architects, the result is a warm, beautiful and easy going interior. Read the interview with Clare van Den Berg here to find out how these stunning spaces came about.

Photographs via Home New Zealand.

Polperro Winery by Hecker Guthrie

Spotted on Yellowtrace (a great and up to date online design publication) is this lovely project, the Polperro Winery, which was designed by the much admired Melbourne firm, Hecker Guthrie. Located in Red Hill, Victoria, the interiors were inspired by artist Rebekah Stuart and her paintings, which can be seen throughout the spaces. Read here for more insights about the stylish project.

Photographs by Shannon McGrath via Yellowtrace.

Bills Hawaii

I've yet to visit the original Bills restaurant in Sydney, however I can say I have enjoyed food by Bill Granger through his recipe books and it is delicious.
Check out his latest new restaurant, Bills Hawaii in Waikiki - it carries on the same qualities that all of Bill Granger's restaurant have - sunny, easy going and generous. With the beach bar on the lower level and the dining upstairs, these interiors reflect the relaxed island vibe of Honolulu so well.

Photographs by Mikkel Vang.

Restaurant in Norway

Here are some beautiful photographs of beautiful timber furniture to finish off a busy week. This interior is at Lysverket, a restaurant in Bergen, Norway and it has been furnished with lovely pieces by Danish company, Kobenhavns Mobelsnedkeri. Enjoy.

Photographs by Line Klein.

Ruyi by Hecker Guthrie

Check out this new restaurant - it is called Ruyi, a dumpling and wine bar that has recently opened their doors in Melbourne, Australia.
Ruyi means 'as you wish' and was beautifully designed by the clever Hecker Guthrie, a Melbourne design firm that turns everything they touch into design gold.
I really like their approach here of simplicity and earthiness to their design - they mentioned that dumplings themselves are simple fare so the fit-out compliments this well.
While this is a new and modern fit out, I can't help but be reminded of details from my childhood (I was a child of the 70's) - like the pottery, the tiles and other details - is that the same for you? I think these details work beautifully with the light coloured timber and modern details.

Photographs by Shannon McGrath via yellowtrace.

Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel

Check out the cool Beach Club at Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel, Sydney. Recently refurbished, I'm loving the fresh and retro aqua colour they've used throughout as well as the overall super relaxed vibe. Getting in the mood for summer!

Top Deck Bar

The view

The new kitchen

Seafood station

Beach Club Bar

Coffee station

Photographs via Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel.