Hot City: Sydney (Part 2)

It’s time for the 2nd part of our look around Sydney! 

Photo by Kamran Baig 

If you missed it, you can read the 1st installment here which showcased Natalie’s choice of the 3 best bars in the city.

Natalie has been living in New South Wales for 2 ½ years and loves a good shopping expedition!  So today we are showcasing her top 4 home products boutiques. 

We’ll be looking at their fantastic product ranges (and in some cases, the merchandising of the products in store) that make these Sydney retailers stand out from the crowd.

From eclectic & exotic to chic & understated, these retailers all have their own unique style. 

First up is a recent discovery by Natalie….

RUBY STAR TRADERS

Karin Gardiner started Ruby Star Traders 17 years ago and is still the sole owner.  Karin, an ex lawyer, has always loved textiles and has travelled extensively allowing her passion to evolve in the wonderful mix of homewares, furniture & stationery that make up the range the company now sells. 

L O V I N G these bright colours & tropical prints!

Where possible they purchase from the traditional craft regions in India, where the products are produced by craftsmen working in traditional workshops. Purchasing in this way means Ruby Star Traders are helping local craftspeople to keep their skills alive, and helping create a steady source of income for families in these regions.

Over 90% of the range is therefore sourced from India, with additional pieces purchased from Nepal, Pakistan and Uzbekistan.

Products are also designed exclusively for Ruby Star in line with current trends. The result is an eclectic and vibrant mix, combining the latest in international designer trends with traditional Indian craftsmanship.

Ruby Star Traders showcases 2 ranges a year and the best way to view the current range is to visit their website www.rubystar.com where you can download the latest catalogue and view their whole product range at your leisure.

The Sydney showroom/retail shop is open to the public and the entire range, together with many one-off and unique pieces, is available for purchase:

Sydney Showroom & Shop address:

10 Bridge Road

Glebe

NSW 2037

Sydney

02-9518-7899

www.rubystar.com

If you’re struggling to decide what to buy our advice is to invest in a Ikat chair or cheer yourself up with a BOP pouffe:

From colourful & decorative we now move to subtle & stylish by visiting…

PAPAYA

Papaya, in Westfield Bondi Junction, is a sanctuary of homeware delights cocooned in a shopping centre where customers can indulge all of their senses.

Papaya was formed with a desire to create an innovative, timeless yet contemporary homewares brand.  Their range of products is simple, pared-down and stylish.  Drawing from nature, Papaya’s products create a harmonious amalgam between the unspoiled beauty of raw materials and the understated clarity of contemporary design.  There is something wonderfully calming and authentic about their product selection.

Papaya produce 2 collections each year – the Spring/Summer collection is launched in August, and the Autumn/Winter collection in early February.  In addition, throughout the year, they introduce unique items chosen for their exceptional design and texture. 

You can view their current catalogues here.

Papaya’s inspiration and motivation is to recapture the soul that exists in all items made with the time honoured skill and the aptitude of experienced hands.  This accounts for the sensual and tactile nature of their products.  Plus, during the development & negotiation stages of production, Papaya takes care in ensuring all workers involved are paid a fair living wage, in line with their belief in the dignity and respect that should be inherent in all forms of trade. 

A company after our own heart!

Let’s take a look at their shop in the Westfield Shopping Centre:

The layout is relaxed, informal but ordered.  It reflects the neutral palette of much of the Papaya product range and creates a welcoming space in which to explore. 

The merchandising is brilliantly done – bringing products together in eclectic combinations that help to show customers how different pieces can work together successfully and inspire their interior design projects:

Papaya is located at:

Shop 5015, 5^th Floor

Westfield Shopping Centre

Bondi Junction

Sydney NSW 2022

Ph 02 9386 9980

www.papaya.com.au

And now for a Master Class in merchandising, we head to…

BECKER MINTY

BECKER MINTY is an eclectic lifestyle concept with stores located in Potts Point and Woollahra.  The first store opened in Potts Point in 2007 with product lines including furniture, art, ceramics, glass, antiques, jewellery, clothing, books, rugs, candles, cushions, lighting and more!

Now you might be thinking “that’s an awful lot of different products to try to bring together under one roof”…but fear not, because what the BECKER MINTY team don’t know about merchandising simply isn’t worth knowing!

Hunter Gatherer Chic!

Y E S

The founding owners and Directors are Christopher Becker and Jason Minty, with James Vaile joining BECKER MINTY as Director and CEO in 2009.  All avid collectors and travellers, they search extensively for unique objects and cultural experiences to celebrate and share with the BECKER MINTY clientele.

I’ve been writing some articles recently, trying to encourage retailers to undertake a degree of product editing on behalf of consumers.  Consumers are looking to retailers to streamline so they don’t feel so overwhelmed, overloaded and confused by the choices that confront them in store.  It’s about helping them to see things more clearly by only offering them great choices rather than just lots of choices.  To do this well you have to really understand your customers because they will only ‘buy into’ this arrangement with retailers they truly trust! 

BECKER MINTY understand this perfectly and have taken great time and care to develop a dialogue with their clientele.

Their ethos is to offer “the best of everything” and everything in each BECKER MINTY store is selected for its quality and uniqueness. Their aim is not to find the least or even the most expensive product of its kind, rather the onus is in the consideration, the quality, the passion and the beauty of each object that they offer. 

Whilst having a Gallery style layout, the stores are approachable, friendly and welcoming, with staff giving information and educating when it is encouraged and respecting those who wish to be left to make discoveries for themselves. 

The BECKER MINTY Flagship Store is open 7 days a week: 10.30am – 6pm

Shop 7 Ikon Building

81 Macleay Street, Potts Point.

NSW 2011

Ph: +61 2 8356 9999  

www.beckerminty.com

If you can’t get to the flagship store then visit the Online Store which has made the BECKER MINTY experience available worldwide.  Hooray!

And if you fancy enjoying BECKER MINTY interior styling whilst sipping champagne (and who wouldn’t!) then head over to Velluto Champagne & Wine Bar found behind a lushly draped black velvet curtain at 7/50 Macleay Street in the heart of Potts Point (entrance at the corner of Baroda St & Fitzroy Gardens):

And as we reach the end of our 2 part look at Sydney let’s close by visiting…

LAZY BONES

The idea for lazybones grew from a desire to offer light cotton sleepwear that didn’t look like something that your Nana would wear!  The product range has blossomed and now includes quirky and vintage inspired sleeping and lounge wear made from lovely, soft, light natural fibres, as well as bedding, cushions, quilts and more!  

As you will see if you download the lazybones catalogues, the model in the Women’s Winter Collection has stolen my dream life….which basically involves wafting about the house in lovely lounge wear looking blissfully happy doing not very much at all (I’d probably waft about with a cocktail…I’m assuming the models martini glass is just out of shot in the catalogue ).  I digress…

lazybones started 10 years ago and was successful from the get-go.  They are now stocked in over 250 stores worldwide and sell to all Anthropologie stores in the U.S. (and the 2 stores in London), and have a number of other stockists around the U.S. and New Zealand as well as extensively throughout Australia. 

The ‘Holiday’ pillowcase pictured above is one of my favourite items in the lazybones range.

It would look great on a hammock!

lazybones manufacture in Bali and have forged wonderful working relationships with their large factory team.  They endeavour where possible, to use natural fibres and processes that are kind to Mother Earth with all possible environmental sensitivity!

There are 2 lazybones retail stores:

One in Paddington in Sydney at:

461 Oxford St, Paddington.  

Hours of opening Monday to Friday 10a.m until 6pm

Saturday 10am until 5pm

Sunday 11am until 3pm

The other store is in Northern NSW in the gorgeous village of Bangalow.

Opening hours are Mon – Fri 10am – 5pm

Sat and Sun 10am – 4pm

.

The stores bring all of the lazybones ranges together (as you can see in the photo of the Paddington store below) so you are free to mooch to your hearts content:

Get aloada that fab wallpaper!!!

Of course you can also visit the lazybones website www.lazybones.com.au for a full list of stockists.

Finally…

A BIG thank you to all of the wonderful ladies from each of the companies featured today (Alison, Tracey, Cat and Gina) for supplying fantastic photos and helping to put this post together.

And of course…special thanks to Natalie!

Hot City: Sydney (Part 1)

Welcome to the first of our new Hot City features!

We’ll be taking a look at the hot home products shops, bars, eateries and hotels in cities around the world and we’re starting with Sydney!  There are Soooo many fab places to show you in Sydney that I’ve had to split everything into 2 posts.  Today we’ll visit the bars and eateries…and next Friday (30th July) we’ll visit the best home products shops.

Photo by Kamran Baig

We’ve been picking the brains of the lovely Natalie, who moved to New South Wales a few years ago and keeps us up-to-date on whats happening down under!

Natalie has drawn up a list of her top bars and places to hang out.  Here’s what Natalie had to say about Sydney:

“Without a doubt the harbour is the masterpiece of the city.  It draws you in and you don’t want to leave; especially on a day when the sky is blue and cloudless, which is fairly often.

I get a strange quickening of my heart beat as I walk down to Circular Quay and as I get closer and can catch little glimpses of the water literally sparkling through the buildings, even after two and a half years of living here, I still feel the pull of that something special it holds.”

Photo by Kamran Baig

“This area is packed with tourists clicking away on their cameras, running around in excitement and getting in my way…but it just seems to add to the atmosphere.  You can’t feel anything but relaxed when you look out over the harbour with the Opera House, the Harbour Bridge, million dollar houses staring back at you, daring you to try and look away. ”

Photo by Kamran Baig

“The atmosphere in the bars around the harbour is relaxed, friendly and has that holiday vibe thanks to al fresco seating, live music and the world’s most famous harbour as your backdrop.  If it’s warm you won’t find anyone inside and if there are no tables left outside then the stone wall at the waters edge will be fine for a seat as long as you can take in that view!”

Photo by Kamran Baig

“Sydney style equals anything goes!  In the same bar I can see super casual to super chic – thongs and singlets (or flip flops and vest tops) to 4 inch heels and sleek, sexy dresses.  It’s a ‘wear what you feel comfortable in’ policy where everyone fits.”

Let’s visit Natalie’s top 3 bars….

IVY BAR

Close your eyes for a moment and imagine somewhere funky & fun to drink, eat, sunbathe, swim and people-watch. 

Now, let’s take a look around Ivy…I guarantee it’s better than the place you just imagined…

It’s got it all including a Pool Club where under Sydney’s big blue skies, chic fun-lovers sip cocktails in private cabanas, snack on gourmet pizza and recline under wafting palms, enjoying live music and DJs performing on the generous stage over the pool!

Ivy Bar is a sophisticated new urban playground!

The purpose-built bar has intimate corners for private chats and relaxed lounging plus lots of space to dance the night away.

If you’re in the mood for a delicious meal, why not try Mad Cow (pictured below), a New York-style grill with a Peter Doyle-designed menu.  With a name like Mad Cow, it’s no surprise that this flamboyant grill offers the finest steaks but what is a surprise, is that the menu caters not only to the city’s carnivores but also to vegetarians.  With its laidback atmosphere and cool décor, Mad Cow is full of fun and flavour…and I L O V E the use of Yellow!

Lunch: Monday – Friday 12 – 3pm and Dinner: Monday – Saturday 6 -10:30pm.  Booking is essential.

Located on level two, Ivy Lounge (pictured below) is a beautifully designed relaxed setting with an elegant 1950′s inspired feel.  Designed to impress, with an exclusive atmosphere and highly attentive staff, Ivy Lounge features one of Sydney’s most creative cocktail lists!

Are you ready for this!?!? 

The Den is an exclusive and intimate space, quintessentially stylish. The art deco inspired room features a stunning mirror bar, silk ottomans and the glamour of elegant lounges, high-backed armchairs and turquoise velvet drapes.  The sense of extravagance and luxury is everywhere. From your own private corner, the discreet and friendly staff will look after your every appetite. Make a selection from the cocktail list, or delve into the delicious canapé menu from Sailors Thai (we’ll take a look at this in a moment).  Make yourself comfortable in this most lavish of surroundings.

L O V I N G it!

I know! 

It’s gorgeous!!!

OK…let’s take a look at the aforementioned Sailors Thai.  Thai cuisine pioneer Peter Bowyer introduced genuine Thai food to Sydney at his Darley Street Thai and Sailors Thai restaurants.  This extraordinary food can now be savoured at Ivy.  Sailors Thai Ivy offers authentic Thai dishes, created from premium Australian produce and superior Thai herbs and spices.  I’m really digging the long tassels on the huge pendant lights.

Lunch: Tuesday – Friday 12 – 3pm and Dinner: Tuesday – Saturday 6 – 10:30pm.  Booking is essential.

Can you believe all of this is happening at Ivy Bar - 330 George Street, Sydney 2000

http://www.merivale.com/#/ivy/ivybar

Onwards and Upwards……literally…let’s head to our 2nd bar…The Loft…

THE LOFT

Over the past 8 years The Loft on King Street Wharf has remained one of Sydney’s leading cocktail bars and function spaces.  This multi award winning venue has 180 degree views of Sydney Harbour and a cocktail list of over 26 tantalizing options that can be enjoyed in the stylish and sophisticated interior.

The Loft is a super chic venue inspired by a Moorish Casbah, evoking the glamorous ambiance of a bygone era (it’s the imbodiment of our Grand Bazaar  trend!  Hookah Lounge Chic!!!).  Chandeliers of coloured Spanish beads majestically overhang the grand wood-panelled bar, while back lit walls highlight the ceilings intricate filigree shapes.  Toffee coloured leather lounges surround the venue, creating private niches for indulging in The Loft’s tapas menu and exotic cocktails that are handcrafted by award winning mixologists.

Each week live musicians and leading local and international DJ’s create a fun and vibrant atmosphere. 

The diverse range of entertainment on offer ensures that all needs are catered for whether it’s a discrete drink, casual catch up with friends or a late night full of revelry.

The Loft is also home to several exclusive events and private functions such as the Cocktail Master Classes, High Tea afternoons (see delicious pic below) and the Ladies of the Loft!

The Loft is open 7 days a week (Excluding Christmas Day) and can be found at:

3 Lime Street – King Street Wharf – Sydney 2000 

www.theloftsydney.com

Yum!

And finally

OPERA BAR

Opera Bar is a great place to end todays feature on and a great place to end a night out in Sydney.  It boasts “the best beer garden in the world!”. 

That’s a very big claim…but…they’ve got a very B I G view!!!

Located on the lower concourse level of the Sydney Opera House, Opera Bar offers spectacular views of the Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge and all the wonders of the city skyline.

 WOW!

Whether drinking or dining, Opera Bar provides the perfect setting for any occasion and coupled with a diverse food, wine and cocktail menu it leaves you spoilt for choice – drink or dine, inside or out, day or night.

Opera Bar is open 7 days a week from 11.30am with live music nightly from 8.30pm and 2pm on weekends. 

Location: Lower Concourse Level – Sydney Opera House – Sydney, 2000

www.operabar.com.au

If you’ve been wondering about the fantastic photos of Sydney that appeared at the top of today’s post then allow me to introduce you to Kamran Baig:

I first came across Kamran’s photographic talents on his  flickr gallery when he covered the Vivid Sydney festival last year and since then I’ve been hoping for an opportunity to share his work with you.

Kamran has the ability to find an unexpected angle for a shot…like this fantastic photo taken from beneath the bridge of the North view of Sydney:

Kamran loves Sydney and expresses this through his photography. 

He says “I discovered Sydney almost a decade ago when I migrated from Dubai to complete my Masters of Information Systems.  Photography is my passion and capturing moments allows me to embrace my creativity.  This unison of photography, technology and one of the world’s most beautiful cities unleashed my potential.”

Kamran continues: “Undoubtedly The Sydney Opera House and The Sydney Harbour Bridge are breathtakingly beautiful. These creations are my inspirations to share some of lifes most amazing beauties.”

Thanks to Kamran for letting us include his photographs in our first Hot City post.

See more of Kamran Baig’s photographs here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/interiorphotos/

And here: www.redbubble.com/people/sydneyphotos

Or contact him directly: camran@gmail.com

Remember to check back next Friday (30th July) to see the 2nd part of our Sydney feature when we”ll be taking a look at 4 fantastic home product stores!