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| Dr Jekyll Cafe, St Kilda |
So long Melbourne... we are moving to Brisbane!
We've only been in Melbourne for 18 months but it feels like home. Nick and I both grew up in North Queensland and never lived in a city before so it was a big and scary thing at the time we moved! But how quickly we fell into the Melbournian lifestyle - seeking warmth in the many bustling cafes, being inspired by the freaking cool people on the street (OH the fashion!!), eating some of the best food I've ever tasted... ever, and of course the art and culture that saturates every corner.
I have fallen head over heals for this place. Everything about this city encourages individuality, creativity and freedom. It's hard to explain, but I feel like Melbourne offers up your perfect life on a platter and says, 'take it'. While it breaks my heart to leave I am extremely grateful that we have got to experience the many layers and seasons of a Melbourne life. It has pulled me out of my shell and given me a new lease of life - things that I will take with me. The last 18 months has no doubt been the best time of our lives.
We fly to Brisbane in just two days! I am very excited about being back in my home state and getting to live in a beautiful Queenslander. Here in Melbourne we lived in an apartment so I can say with certainty that our mini dachshunds Honey & Rio will be very happy with their new backyard. I am really looking forward to styling our new home and sharing it with you on my blog!
If I were to start listing the highlights of my time here in Melbourne it would go on forever... so I thought it would be easier to show you in pictures just some of things that makes this city so dear to my heart.
Hope you enjoy,
Kimmy
The View from our apartment
The cafe culture
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| My idea of a perfect morning off - I'd stroll around to Fitzroy Street in St Kilda and decide which cafe I was going to hang out at and read my favourite mag Frankie. |
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| Left: Little Mule, CBD. Right: The Drugstore, South Yarra. |
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| A Beci Orpin mural at John Gorilla, Brunswick West. When my sister visited we made a special trip there just to see the mural as Beci is my fav... the coffee was great too! I love how art is so important to Melbournians. |
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| Left: John Gorilla Cafe, Brunswick West. Right: There is a bunny in my coffee, at Manchester Press, CBD. |
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| John Gorilla Cafe, Brunswick West. |
My favourite restaurants
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| Oh Chin Chin, how I will miss you! Seriously... the best food I've ever... tasted... ever. We have been there about 15 times I think! My favs: kingfish sashimi, crispy barramundi and caramelised pork with apple, mint & coriander salad, and the palm sugar sundae for dessert. Chin Chin, CBD. |
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| Golden Fields, St Kilda. This was just around the corner from our apartment! |
And I will make a special mention to Coda, Gingerboy, Claypots, Cutler & Co, Mamasita, The Vegie Bar, Trippy Taco, Oriental Tea House (for the best dumplings and yum cha!), Olio and Baker D.Chirico.
The City
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| The GPO in the Bourke Street Mall has all my favourite clothing shops. |
My hood, St Kilda
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| Nick with Honey & Rio on Fitzroy Street, St Kilda - going to get a woodfired pizza from Banff. |
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| Acland Street, St Kilda - home to many cake shops! Seriously. Good. |
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| My St Kilda instagram pics! |
Honey & Rio loved Melbourne too
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| They loved summer the most, and enjoyed frolicking all over St Kilda. |
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| They knew how to stay warm in winter though! Top left: Honey & Rio sporting their winter coats. Top right: Honey hanging out by the heater. Bottom left: I loved how cafes encourage you to bring your pups! |
The leafy-flowery-ness
The National Gallery of Victoria
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| We went to many amazing exhibitions. |
The Melbourne Cup
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| We were lucky enough to go twice! |
Randall & Spy: My hairdresser
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| My hairdresser Anton gave me the guts to chop the locks! That was a year ago now... and looking back makes me want to cut my hair again! |
The Prahran Markets
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| Fresh fruit & vegies aplenty! |
Road Tripping
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| The Yarra Valley was just an hour away. |
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| Daylesford was about 1.5hours drive - a beautiful place! |
Blogs I've discovered: The Design Files
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| Melbournian Lucy Feagins, the creator of The Design Files. Photo by Sean Fennessy. This blog has lovingly fed my addiction of beautiful home interiors and art. If you aren't already a subscriber... get on it! |
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| Lucy was the genius behind The Design Files Open House - where a local home is emptied then styled completely throughout so everything you see is for sale! I attended... twice. Photos above by Brooke Holm. |
Blogs I've discovered: K is for Kani
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| Local girl Connie Cao of K is for Kani - she makes gorgeous headpieces and posts tonnes of quirky and creative outfits! This is from her De Novo post. Photo by 'Rowena'. |
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| Graphic designer, super-cool crafter, painter, collager, author. She is my fav. So inspiring to see someone make a career out of doing what she loves. Bottom left: 'Find & Keep' by Beci Orpin is an absolute must for craft-lovers. Photos as seen on The Design Files. |
Artists I've discovered: Kirra Jamison
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| A magician with the paintbrush - Kirra dreams up the most whimsical and beautiful artworks. Gouache painting by Kirra Jamison, as seen on her website. |
Artists I've discovered: Miranda Skoczek
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| A creator of colourful paintings drenched in colour - many of her artworks feature animals, geometric shapes and abstract gushes of colour. Photos above as seen on The Design Files. Photos by Brooke Holm. |
Art on the street:
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| It's everywhere you turn in Melbourne! |
Shop Love: Fenton & Fenton
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| Fenton & Fenton, Prahran. Check out my 'Shop Love' post for lots of photos! |
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| Scout House, St Kilda. I also did a 'Shop Love' post on this store! Check it out :) |
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| Second hand stores are everywhere. |
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| My beloved Marimekko - I worked casually there just to soak up the beautiful home decor, fabric and clothes. Bottom left: I'll miss my fellow Marimekko crew! Bottom right: my Marimekko dress which was designed in 1967 - I wore it to the Melbourne Cup. |
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| Another gorgeous second-hand store. |
Oh, the fashion!
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| The Melbourne Fashion Festival was AMAZING! |
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| My cute outfit for the Fashion Festival! |
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| Gorman. Love. It has changed my wardrobe! |
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| Zomp. Where the hipsters buy their shoes! |
And this concludes my illustrated 'why I love Melbourne' post. If you are visiting Melbourne make sure you go and check out some of these places!!
