Shopping precinct: Newport, NSW
With the main shopping strip just one street back from the beach, Newport specialises in a fantastically fresh coastal vibe. This area is undergoing a retail resurgence, with small and inviting shops opening to cater for locals who don’t want to drive 30 kilometres into Sydney’s CBD for their home decorating fix.
Food, homewares, flowers, fashion and furniture are all moments away from the Pacific Ocean – perfect for making a day of it.
STOP 1 | Young Folk
Having successfully launched Young Folk online, owner and stylist Melissa Lee decided to open a “bricks and mortar” store so people could experience how to create beautiful children’s spaces. “We started with an Australian, organic, handmade edge but we’ve also got international designs now,” says Melissa. It can be tricky to get the decorating balance right in kids’ rooms, but Young Folk is testament to how to do it with ease. Best of all, pieces such as the beds by Noosaville-based Green Cathedral can be ordered in adult sizes, too.
Must-haves: Stig ‘Leander’ cot and toddler bed, $1679, and ‘Silver Lining Cloud’ rug by Little P, $590 (both top left).
Open: Tues-Sat, 9.30am-4pm; Sun, 10am-2pm.
Visit: 1/327 Barrenjoey Road, (02) 9997 2307.
Bookmark: youngfolkstore.com.au.
STOP 2 | Natural Base
Textile artist Kim Shipton takes leaves and flowers from Australian native plants and produces exquisite, naturally dyed fabrics that she turns into cushions, lampshades and other pieces for the home. Natural Base is Kim’s studio/showroom, where she also stocks ceramics, glass art, botanical prints and gloriously tactile felted rugs. “There’s a natural theme or element in everything we source,” says Kim.
Must-haves: ‘Mangrove Mountain’ and ‘Spring Foliage’ cushions.
Open: Wed, Fri, 10am-4pm; Thurs, 11am-5pm; Sat, 9am-3pm.
Visit: 15/355 Barrenjoey Road, (02) 9973 1135.
Bookmark: naturalbaseshop.com.
STOP 3 | Manyara Home
Somehow, you feel more elegant just crossing the threshold of Manyara Home. It must have something to do with the giant clamshells, stunning coral and tables piled high with dinnerware, crushed linen and covetable Cutipol cutlery. And then there’s the enormous and elaborate Indian mirrors and breathtaking photographic prints by Graham Shearer. The overarching look is bohemian tribal and the store has everything for anyone looking for a fabulous gift – think Cire Trudon candles and Eight & Bob cologne, reputedly JFK’s signature scent – through to furniture, rugs and an interior styling service.
Must-have: Sustainably sourced coral.
Open: Mon-Sun, 9am-5.30pm.
Visit: 3/355 Barrenjoey Road, (02) 9997 4462.
Bookmark: manyarahome.com.au.
STOP 4 | Vampt Vintage Design
Dave Beeman certainly knows his mid-century Scandinavian stuff – he’s imported 33 containers of furniture from Denmark over the past 15 years. Every piece of furniture that comes through the door is restored or refreshed and recovered so, as Dave says, “It’s ready for another 50 years.” Many of the pieces are European oak and the in-house restorers often use a traditional Scandinavian soap finish as it doesn’t change the colour of the timber.
Must-have: All items are one-offs, but a favourite on the day we visited was the Erik Jorgensen soaped-beech three-seater sofa in new linen-blend fabric, $4650.
Open: Mon-Fri, 10am-4pm; Sat-Sun, 10am-3pm.
Visit: 2/358 Barrenjoey Road, (02) 9997 8230.
Bookmark: vamptvintagedesign.com.
STOP 5 | The Woods
If you like delicious pies and perfectly roasted Gabriel coffee served with a dose of wry, poetic humour, a stop at The Woods is recommended. Elliot Mate is the baker while Ryan Clark is the barista who has a way with words. “We want to make pies and coffee fun,” Ryan says. “Sometimes people can take themselves too seriously!” While their attitude may be refreshingly light and whimsical, the pair are completely serious about their commitment to flavour. Elliot slow-roasts all the beef he uses in the pies and adds only quality ingredients, such as full rashers of bacon and Jarlsberg cheese, to his creations.
Must-haves: Spicy peanut butter chicken pie topped with Cholula hot sauce, $7, or a tender chunky beef pie, $5.
Open: Mon-Fri, 6am-3pm; Sat-Sun, 8am-3pm.
Visit: 4/364 Barrenjoey Road, 0412 832 053.
Bookmark: instagram @thewoodsnewport
STOP 6 | Le Petit Marche
Foodies will love Le Petit Marche as it imports French deliciousness from small producers and also carries crushed-linen tea towels, aprons, napkins and bedlinen.
Open: Mon-Fri, 9.30am-5.30pm; Sat, 9.30am-3pm.
Visit: 15 Robertson Rd, Newport
Bookmark: lepetitmarche.com.au
See our other must-visit precincts here.
