Bistro Boulevard

When I'm not busy designing houses and other spaces, I like to dabble in graphics (obviously...!)

And from time to time friends ask me to help them out, which of course I am always happy to oblige.

Bistro Boulevard is a little French bistro here in Avalon, which is owned by one of my oldest and dearest friends Nathalie, and her hubby Patrice. The restaurant has a very long history, with Nat's parents Alain and Caroline first opening it back in 1973 (where it was known as Le Boulevard).

After spending a few years living in France, Nathalie and Patrice returned to the Northern Beaches and after a bit of a refurbishment, took over the restaurant a little over a year ago. With an authentic, mouthwatering menu and the friendliest service around, needless to say it has a been a roaring success—and I am ever so proud of them!

So if you are up Avalon way and are yet to try Bistro Boulevard I thoroughly recommend you do—their Steak Frites served with Café de Paris butter and French fries is soooooo yum! But best to reserve a table as they are quite often fully booked....

Anyway, I have just been updating their extensive wine list, so thought I'd share some images of the menus and branding I created for them. 

MJx 

Gorrow House in Green Magazine Issue 31

"The serenity of this bathroom can be attributed to it's simplicity: rendered walls and floors of polished concrete with exposed aggregate and benches made from recycled timber planks. Taps and shower heads, in their raw brass form, from the Roulette range by CB Ideal Tapware and a pre-owned vintage soap/ toothbrush holder add to the muted tones. Externally mounted timber stacking/sliding doors provide large openings for an abundance of natural light and ventilation."

The ensuite I designed for the Gorrow House in North Bondi, is featured in the latest Green Magazine as one of their "pick of the best" bathrooms for this year. I love, love, LOVE unpolished, exposed brass fixtures.... and being able to juxtapose them against black fittings and raw cement rendered walls was just peachy...!

MJx

Gorrow House featured on Habitus Living

"Thus began a collaborative, experimental and occasionally spontaneous design process. The client’s open-mindedness allowed Järv to push her creative limits and incorporate materials and details that more conventional residents would shy away from."

A few years ago I got to work with an interesting client (another creative), who was willing explore unconventional design solutions and wanted to experiment with a "clash in the house". The brief was to transform an unremarkable 1960's brick labyrinth of a house, into a modern, open-plan living space with an emphasis on entertaining. A fashion designer who regularly pushed the boundaries in his own line of work, the client had eclectic taste, was widely travelled, as well as being an avid surfer, so it was essential the new home conveyed a relaxed beach-side quality, yet had international appeal.

The Gorrow House was reluctantly sold when the client relocated overseas, however it's new owners graciously agreed to have über-cool architecture and design mag Habitus recently photograph the house for their website which you can check out here. 

And if you are interested you can also check out some more images on my website here.

Enjoy!

MJx

Photography by Jesus del Toro Garcia

Inside Out Blog

Was soooo very delighted to be featured on the INSIDE OUT blog today.

"Remember the love and effort that you used to put into making a mix tape?

Well try translating that into an artwork. Music loving designer Marika Järv has in her 

'Wall of Sound' prints and we're huge fans."

Thanks Inside Out for the ever-so-lovely intro!

And I will admit, I am hugely flattered that despite the mountain of ah-maz-ing things that the
Inside Out team must see each day, my Wall of Sound prints have found a
happy place in a couple of their homes—so yes they really are FANS!   

Anyway, you can read all about my favourite music moments, plus a little bit about the
making of Wall of Sound by clicking here.

Enjoy!

MJx

Christmas Giveaway

On the first day of Christmas,

My true love gave to me....

(hopefully a Wall of Sound limited edition print!)

Ok so Xmas is officially less than one month away - eeeeek!

(and if you are anything like me that means you haven't bought a thing!)

Anyway to get into the festive spirit I'm giving away a

WALL of SOUND
limited edition print.

Simply click on this link for how to enter

www.marikajarv.com.au/giveaway

Best of luck!

MJx

ShopSmart in the Sunday Telegraph

"Naming every band you've danced to is hard enough, but entwining 500 of them into a record-shaped artwork is on another level altogether. Marika Järv spent five years perfecting the Wall of Sound as a nod to record producer Phil Spector's mixing technique. The result is a mesmerising work that links artists by the first and last letters of their names."

Thanks to Clare Patience from Inside Out for picking Wall of Sound as her "DON'T MISS" product in last weekend's ShopSmart guide in the Sunday Telegraph.

MJx

GQ Men Of The Year 2012

GQ Men of The Year issue is out now—
with WALL of SOUND featured as # 1 on their 'THE HIT LIST'!

"We're loving these limited-edition prints by Marika Järv. Entitled Wall of Sound and named after the production technique pioneered by legendary music producer Phil Spector (crazy hair, murder conviction), they feature the names of over 500 musicians arranged in a spiral like the grooves of a record. They're a subtle way to add an arty touch to your walls, though what we like most is Järv's attention to detail. In black, gold or clear—only 100 of each are available, so get in quick."

Thanks for the nice words GQ—

oh and thanks for putting Chris Hemsworth on the cover too 

(yikes)! 

PS. Congrats to Nick Littlemore and Peter Mayes from Pnau for winning "Band of the Year"
(I think you might find them hidden somewhere on the Wall of Sound...!) 

MJx

Inside Out Summer Entertaining Special

"Don't underestimate the importance of good music. You can really set the mood for the 

evening —whether it is relaxed or upbeat, music is the key to a good party."

The Inside Out Summer Entertaining Special is now out and is chock-full of goodness.

Like the above tip from Vogue Editor-in-Chief Edwina McCann; it's her advice when posed the question—What does every fabulous soiree need? And I couldn't agree more.

Another great tip, and alongside Edwina on page 20, is the 'Editor's pick' for the summer 

Shopping + News guide, and oh looky there is a sneaky pic of WALL of SOUND!

MJx

Belle Magazine Dec/Jan 2012-13

"Marika Järv is the designer behind PrintDolls who started the craze for tram-roll art. 

Her new work, 'Wall of Sound', is inspired by a vinyl album."

Big thanks to Belle's Managing Editor Tanya Buchanan for including the Wall of Sound 

in her 'Belle Inbox—Note to self: Must put these events and pieces top of the list'.

The latest issue of Belle: The Holiday Issue, has one of the most gorgeous covers ever!

(I'm a sucker for anything neon coral at the moment!)

So fun and colourful—and how cool are the bespoke walls tiles by designer

Jonathan Adler (co-owner of the Shelter Island home featured). 

There are some truly fabulous homes on show in this month's issue;  

below is a little sneak peek of my favourites.

MJx

Sunday Loves Wall of Sound

What was on the Sunday Magazine's Sunday Loves wishlist this week?

Why, the "music lovers delight" WALL of SOUND was of course!

(Thanks Meg Mason x)

And the super-smart are snapping them up for Xmas already.

(I wish I could be that organised *sigh*)

MJx