Downstairs to Design

In my opinion, a business can make or break itself with its entrance, with the way it launches itself on the public. And when it comes to just that, I'm a big fan of creativity, of businesses who think outside the conventional box and employ smart graphics, photography and whatever else it takes to gain attention in a way that supports their business philosophy and style.

I came upon this rather alluring entranceway in Melbourne - under Zambesi on the corner of Flinders Lane and Hosier Lane - leading to a new basement gallery and some rather gorgeous jewellery displays. You can see some of the fabulous works in their collection by checking their website - www.egetal.com.au

Design - Four Melbourne Views

de de ce on the corner of Russell Street and Flinders Lane in Central Melbourne, is one of my favourite contemporary design stores. 99.9% of the items in it are way beyond my price budget but it's a great place to visit to simple appreciate good design displayed beautifully.

As always though, I'm as much into the shadows and reflections as I am the real items. I took these four photographs from outside the store, looking up from the pavement. I love the 'shadowy' reflections of the furniture inside the store layered over the exterior architecture, reflected from across the street.

Melbourne Meeting Place

Every time I come to Melbourne, I eventually make my way to the GPO building on the corner of Swanston and Elizabeth Streets – to meet friends, or just to sit and take in the crowds. Melburnians have been doing that same thing for over 150 years. During the 19th century people came to collect their mail and during the 20th century the GPO building served as a popular meeting place and focal point for the city.

Melbourne’s first Post Office sprang to life in 1837, two years after the 1835 settlement of Port Phillip district. In its original guise it was a bark-covered hut in Collins Street and it then moved twice in two years – to Flinders Street in 1838 and to Little Collins Street in 1839.

This gorgeous great bulk of a building closed as a functioning Post Office in 2001 and development began on turning the historic building into a modern retail complex. Unfortunately, part-way into that process, in September 2001, an electrical fault in a computer caused a tragic fire, which damaged the ground floor, including the historic Postal Hall and the glazed skylight. By 2004-2005 though, the interior restoration was complete and today the GPO building is home to a wide array of boutique stores, fashion houses, restaurants and cafes. Like nearby Federation Square, it’s a great place to ‘people-watch’ and to take photographs of Melbourne’s busy daily life.

And if you're into fashion - and/or retail design - this is a great place to find the best of both. I was very taken with a number of the fashion store window displays here; and at the risk of thrashing an old argument, they could be held up as excellent examples of retail creativity for many of New Zealand's lack lustre retail businesses.

Green By Design

I fell through the glass doors of this modern office at 473 Bourke Street in Melbourne and couldn't believe my eyes. This magnificent entry hall leads the way into the Chandler McLeod building - possibly a lawyers office, given the close proximity to the Melbourne law courts. It goes without saying that I took photographs from every possible angle as I watched people come and go along the length of the frog green corridor. Inspired is what I call it and I always walk away from an architectural idea like this, wishing more businesses had the courage to push their design boundaries.

For Furniture Fans.

'Ply-ability' is the first exhibition in New Zealand devoted to the fascinating story of innovation and change in New Zealand plywood studio furniture. I was sent these gorgeous images from the show, which is showing at Hawke's Bay Museum and Art Gallery until June 27.

The exhibition is a celebration of the extraordinary talents and innovation of one of New Zealand's most important furniture designers, Garnet Campbell (Garth) Chester [1916-1968], who was a self-taught designer who worked from the 1940s through to his retirement in 1964. He is recognised for his innovative bent-plywood furniture designs from the mid-late 1940s and for his steel-framed designs from the 1950s.

Ply-ability also recognises the work by other New Zealad designers working with plywood. It includes rare examples of local Modernist furniture, experimental works by amateur designers and designs by some of our leading contemporary furniture designers - like David Trubridge, Humphrey Ikin, a number of architects (John Scott, Michael Payne and Allan Wild) and many more. www.hbmag.co.nz

Lighting by Design

Another Trubridge Moment

This Time in Queenstown

www.davidtrubridge.com

Architects of Desire

Only in Auckland's Nuffield Street!

For Nostalgia

Kaikoura. April 2009. Ajr

Hands up if you remember these little beauties! The originals I mean - from the 1950s! These chubby little red plastic tomato sauce bottles are all the rage again. In fact, Little Rock in Kaikoura sells them by the bucket-load. They're their biggest selling item in the shop and owner Melanie Smith now bys them in lots of 200. She sold six in the 20 minutes I was in the store. I have fond childhood memories of them. I loved filling them. I loved fiddling with them at the table - which often got me into trouble; and I loved unclogging the little stem, where the stuck sauce had 'healed over' and releasing a fresh new torrent onto my plate.

Seeing the Light - Again!

High Street, Auckland April 2009 Ajr

I wonder if there has been another lightshade - in recent times - that has soared to the impossibly dizzy heights of popularity afforded 'Coral/Floral' designed by Napier-based New Zealand designer David Trubridge? I don't have one in my house - but I do have dozens of photographs of it in numerous different settings. I quite like that - seeing how it looks in different locations, hung in different ways. You can see my other images of it (and it's close relative) by clicking on 'David Trubridge' in the label line below this post. www.davidtrubridge.com

Designer Den

Artikel, Wellington. April 2009 Ajr I know what you're all thinking - why didn't she take a photo that shows what Artikel is all about? Well, I did think about it, but I quite like the sense of mystery that comes with this photo of their imposing silver door and the boldness of their signage. I like to think it makes you want to know more - but maybe that's because I have the advantage of knowing what visual treats lie inside this little design emporium. And not only that - there's the fantastic staff! They made my day yesterday. And when I commented that I loved one of their posters - that it should in fact be my Frommers motto; that I should have it emblazoned across my car as a kind of personal logo - they wouldn't let me leave the store without giving me a cool mini version of it on a carry bag. I think I might be a fan forever and ever more. www.artikel.co.nz

THE Light Returns

At Little Rock, Kaikoura. April 2009 Ajr

Another spotting of New Zealand designer, David Trubridge's circular light shade that I love photographing in different settings. You can see the others by clicking on David Trubridge in the label line below. www.davidtrubridge.co.nz

Cooking by Design

When Well-Designed Utensils

Put You in the Mood For Cooking

March 2009 Ajr

Playing With the Wildlife

I loved this cute little elephant in the playground

@

Orana Wildlife Park in Christchurch

(As an interesting design idea I mean - not as something I personally enjoyed playing on)

www.oranawildlifepark.co.nz

For Sale

Christchurch. Ajr 2009

As the retail crunch hits home shops are going to all sorts of creative lengths to lure in customers. There are sales everywhere and I've been snapping furiously at some of the better sale signs. I love this one - a simple brown shopping bag dangling above the front door. And isn't that a great name for a fashion store!

Fish By Design

Images by Diederich van Heyningen; Supplied by River Birches

When I'm reveiwing accommodation properties for inclusion in Frommers New Zealand - and I'm just starting the 6th edition now - I'm always looking for places that set themselves apart, not just in their comforts and service levels but also through creativity and individuality. I like it when owners go the extra mile and think about the small things - because as we all know, it's often the small things that count most. So naturally I was delighted to discover these gorgeous little hand-stitched fish 'swimming' around the edges of table napkins at the very lovely River Birches, which offers stylish accommodation on the edge of that prime fishing location, the Tongariro River, near Turangi in the central North Island. www.riverbirches.co.nz

I'm Stuffed

"I'm Stuffed" Graphics by Napier artist, Martin Poppelwell. 2008. Ajr This is one of my favourite cushions from the gorgeous Esther Diamond range. Started by Napier’s Sandi Reefman (meet her in my Meet the People series), Esther Diamond has been a raging success. You should definitely check out the great Esther Diamond website and one of their major stockists is leading Auckland design store, Eon, which has a great online shopping facility. www.eon.co.nz www.estherdiamond.com

Back By Popular Demand....

FOUND, Christchurch. Feb. 2009. Ajr

…… "Coral/Floral” by Napier-based designer, David Trubridge. ….photographed amid a selection of lighting designs in the front window of Christchurch vintage and new design store, FOUND in High Street. Click on David Trubridge in the label line below to see all the other locations I’ve photographed this popular lighting design in. www.davidtrubridge.com www.found.co.nz

Design Simplicity

Ng Gallery, Christchurch. Jan 2009. Ajr

Sometimes

The Simplest Design Solution

Is the Best

HighLIGHTING Trubridge

"Coral/Floral" By David Trubridge @ FOUND, Christchurch. Dec. 2008. Ajr

Anyone who follows this blog regularly will know that I have a bit of a weakness for photographing "Coral/Floral" one of the best-selling lighting designs by Napier-based, internationally-regarded New Zealand designer, David Trubridge. If you click on David Trubridge below, you'll see all the other settings I've photographed it in. This one is in the front window of FOUND, a design store in High Street, Christchurch. www.davidtrubridge.com

First Prize For Window Dressing

Plume, Christchurch. Nov. 2008. Ajr

The team at Plume fashion store in High Street, Christchurch ALWAYS have the most fabulous window displays. Their 'crowd' of suspended mannequins are among my favourite and most photographed. Now they've gone all out to create best Christmas display in town - using graffiti art. Three cheers for imagination!