Ian Summers, the Avido proprietor, came to Matt Woods Design with a fresh concept developed after years of wining and dining whilst
working in finance abroad. A modern dining environment that takes
it’s aesthetic and menu cues from the popular Rissoterias in Soho, New York.

Generational changes and additions had seen the chosen Avido site,
once The Cupcake Bakery, and earlier Hot Gossips café, become a
hotch potch of styles and finishes. The primary aim of the sites
transformation has been to create a unifying aesthetic which is warm,
inviting, interesting and unique. This has been achieved through the
combination of reclaimed and new materials. The individual elements
have been selected with their environmental impact in mind and are
fused with classic design techniques and furnishings in a contemporary, slightly industrial way.

Patrons are greeted with an intricate macramé ceiling feature by
Smalltown’s Sarah Parkes, which is offset by deconstructed brick walls, warm timber counters, blasts of colour and an eclectic range of
classically styled furnishings from Mark Tuckey.

Diners are encouraged to “hang their hats” and call Avido home either
in the dining room, at the bar or in the 40-seat wine garden, which
offers the additional bonus of the theatre of an open kitchen.

De materialisation has been a focus with a conscious effort made to
retain and work with the primary structure of the existing building.
Further efforts have been made to ensure new interior elements do not
impede the natural cross ventilation of the space.

The timber bar tops has been sourced from Salvage (salvage.com.au),
and are circa 1902 French oak joists from the Loire Valley, with the ends gently stepped to the patron’s side. The bar front features an old
English style tessellated tile which has been ‘rearranged’ to form a
bespoke tiled feature.

FSC certified hardwood has been used to create the turned timber
wall features and pure leather, a 100% byproduct of the livestock
industry, has been used on banquette seating.

Sustainable Features
Energy
Lighting plays a big part in the interior refurbishment with LED's used for bar and wine rack features. At night the wine gardens mood is
enhanced through recycled jars with a simple tea light candle, while
the suspended pendants weaving their way through the macramé are
flit by dimmable cold cathode long life compact fluoro's."