Cool Cafes

I love a good cafe, and I have my favourites in Hawke's Bay where I go to for meetings, catching up with friends, and relaxing with my family. Good food, coffee and service is paramount, but obviously for me the decor is very important too. Commercial spaces likes cafes, restaurants, offices, and retail shops have the opportunity to be really creative, and you can often be more adventurous than in a residential space. But the thing is, you really need to update them every couple of years, because of the high traffic wear and tear, and also just to keep things fresh. Here are a few I particularly love...

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If you want any help with designing a super cool commercial space in Hawke's Bay, or anywhere in New Zealand, get in touch with Dael & I for design advice.

What's Been Happening...

There's always a lot going on in my life behind the scenes of this blog. I'm always on the look out for great products to use in our Bibby + Brady interiors, often trialling them in my own home before I recommend the same products for clients (tough job, I know!). Sometimes I'm lucky enough to be gifted products too, like these cute little concrete and metallic pots by Zebony Design.

Ebony Harvey, founder of Zebony Design, is a busy mum of two. She creates a range of gorgeous pieces including these pots, which can be used as candle holders or little dishes, maybe pop a little succulent or two in. She also makes these fun, colourful necklaces (see below) - mine looks right at home with my other necklaces, I love it. As well as her website, you can also follow Zebony Design on Instagram.

I love great bedding and my latest purchase was a set of delicious linen sheets in soft grey from Jamie Kay. A great combination with my Kip & Co velvet duvet and pillowcases, the sheets are buttery soft. Definitely only linen sheets for me from now on, and they look even better messy!

Over the weekend Mark and I painted a magnetic stripe on the twins' bedroom wall using Resene Magnetic Magic and a top coat of Resene Knock Out. It runs from ceiling to floor down past the top and bottom bunk, giving the girls somewhere to display their favourite photos and cards. The very cool Zorro Dog postcard is from My Deer Art Shop. I bought the Super Dog poster for the girls' room, because it reminds me of our beautiful Sam. Maaike, the lovely founder of My Deer Art Shop, gifted me a set of the postcards too, which I adore.

When I was in Taupo recently I made a point of dropping into The Storehouse cafe in Runanga Street. Owned by locals, Brad Dellar and Sam King, and Brad's wife Melissa, it's a very cool cafe and shop. My coffee and scone were delicious, and the shop is full of great vintage furniture pieces, art, and amazing homeware. A 'must' if you're visiting Taupo.

Before I finish off this post, here's a very quick sneaky peek of my next project. I'm not going to say anything more at this stage, but keep an eye out for the reveal on the blog soon.

The Student Hotel

I was so excited when I came across The Student Hotel online recently. Located in Amsterdam, it's amazing accommodation for students, interns, researchers, friends and family. It's so refreshing to see a big facility like this with such incredible design throughout. It looks like the perfect home-away-from-home.

The rooms are fully furnished with private en-suites. There are large shared kitchens and a restaurant, and, of course, lots of quiet study areas.

It wouldn't be a student campus without lively communal areas to catch up with friends, watch a movie, shoot some pool, or even work out at the gym.

pics via here

I'm so impressed, I wish there was somewhere like The Student Hotel when I was studying all those years ago! Dael & I are working on a small commercial interior design project at the moment, and I look forward to showing you more soon. After seeing what they've achieved here, I'm itching to sink my teeth into more commercial work where we can really get creative. Watch this space!