beach club

Welcome to another year. Hope you are all enjoying a happy one so far!

A trip to Watson's Bay Beach Club this week inspired a blog post. Not the best time to go, I would recommend a quieter, less crowded week day. 

I've been wanting to see the 2nd stage of the hotel renovation and thought you'd like to see inside too, if you haven't been there already.

This is the Sunset Room. Available for functions and weddings catered for by chef Pete Evans, but open to all at other times. I'm looking forward to coming here for dinner and watching the sun set over the harbour.

I love the casual elegant feel created by the neutral colour scheme. So inspiring with off white panelled walls, linen curtains, oak floors, long timber tables with white and rattan chairs, vintage nautical and natural found objects.

It's all in keeping with the original art deco hotel and suits the area with it's grand old homes and cute weatherboard fishermen's cottages.

Love love love ! these hooks with shells and grain sack bags filled with leaves.

How have you been spending the new year?

kitchen by mike

While I'm on the topic of recycling this week, I thought you'd like a look around Koskela and Kitchen by Mike. They occupy an old industrial warehouse in Sydney's inner city. It's full of inspiring Australian made homewares and furniture using recycled and natural materials.  
I've been here a few times for lunch and a wander around Koskela design centre. This is where Kara Rosenlund's Frankie was parked on her visit to Sydney.

A canteen style eatery with fantastic food and an everchanging menu based on seasonal produce. 'Mike' McEnearney was formerly executive chef at Sydney's Rockpool.

This is a brilliant idea, but not easy to get a good photo of. A window / wall of chalkboard painted herb pots, each labelled with chalk writing. The pots sit in 2 layers of steel mesh. It has it's own irrigation system and trough at the bottom to catch and recycle the water.

 sail bags and bean bags

I love this wine barrel table and rusty recycled gate.  

Great use of recycled pallets 

Styling workshops and kids classes at stylist Megan Morton's The School.

Paper chandelier art

1/85 Dunning St
Rosebery

Happy weekending!

country in the city

It's so good to see so much of the inner city here in Sydney being rejuvenated. This is a great example of that. What used to be a large pie factory in what was a heavy industrial area is now like a country escape.
The Grounds cafe / restaurant is set amongst rambling gardens complete with free range chooks, fresh produce and herbs. I love the huge warehouse building decorated in a mix of industrial and country styles and the covered outdoor area.  
Known for it's coffee, it's a thriving business buzzing with people whatever time of day you go. I've been a few times for brunch with friends and family and have enjoyed good food in a great atmosphere.
These photos were a bit rushed and don't really do it justice. The inside is so beautifully done with white timber glassed in kitchens and vintage bits and pieces all over the place.. a good excuse to go back!

Enjoy your weekend!

The Grounds

7A/2 Huntley St 

Alexandria

harbourside

Yesterday my girl Sophie and I enjoyed a weekday off together. Days like this are few and far between these days with my kids usually out and about busy doing their own thing. 
We headed to beautiful Watson's Bay on Sydney Harbour where you can take your pick of outdoor places to eat seafood with an amazing view, have a swim or catch a ferry to the city. A popular tourist destination which is very crowded on weekends. 
This is the pub with a renovated outdoor area. We love how it's been decorated in a cute nautical style, a bit like The Fish Shop &  Bird & Bear Boathouse. It suits the character of Watson's Bay which was once a sleepy fishing village.

Lots of inspiring ideas .. love the large pebbles, the wine barrel planters & these nautical bouys! I'm definitely adding these to the list of things I want Steve to make.

We liked how the seagull on the lamp post was eyeing off everyone's fish and chips. Probably a well fed permanent resident of the area.
Too many photos for one post.. to be continued next week.

..and after all that talk about fish and chips, the queue began to grow and the day was getting hotter. Fate led us to a cafe in Bondi called Porch & Parlour we'd both been wanting to try, where we shared this yummy all day breakfast for 2.

Cheryl

x

joining
savvy southern style
romantic home

bird & bear boathouse

You've got to love Sydney, not only for it's beaches but for waterside spots like this. I recently stumbled upon this laid back boathouse cafe on a Sydney Harbour marina. 
It's on the edge of one of the most densely populated parts of the city, only a couple of kilometres from the hustle and bustle.

I love the way it's decorated with weathered planters, succulents and rustic boxes of fruit along with the nautical bits and pieces that belong at the marina.
I haven't eaten here, look forward to going back to try it out.
By the way, I would avoid weekends. Like a lot of places in Sydney, weekdays are so much more peaceful & uncrowded.

A simple design for an outdoor table.

Bird & Bear Boathouse

1 Ithace Rd (Beere Park)

Elizabeth Bay

joining
romantic home