Remy’s is a much-loved neighbourhood cafe beneath a large jacaranda in Paddington. Successive alterations to its timber worker’s cottage had left the interior dark and disconnected from the garden, with little western shading.

Five Mile Radius reconfigured the existing building and introduced reclaimed materials to create a brighter, more welcoming café with a distinct Remy’s identity.

Swapping the existing window and bifold doors opened the cafe to the garden, extending the verandah inside and creating a new window seat. A low awning provides western shade while retaining views towards Mt Coot-tha. In-ground planting softens the outdoor spaces, while upgraded lighting, white walls and a skylight lined with salvaged pallet ply brighten the interior.

Existing hardwood tables were remanufactured, and picnic tables, chairs and stools refurbished. Recovered stainless steel bases and salvaged steel became furniture and a street-facing bar leaner. Steel offcuts formed planters, while polycarbonate factory offcuts clad the awning and patio.

New furniture in Sunshine Coast-grown hoop pine references the painted timber of Paddington’s Queenslanders. Finished in Remy’s blue, it brings a consistent identity to the varied material palette.

Most pieces were designed and made in the FMR workshop, and every piece introduced incorporates reused, salvaged, refurbished, offcut or locally grown material. Bringing architecture, material sourcing and fabrication together allowed retention and reuse to shape the project at every scale, making more of what was already there.

Images by Callie Marshall.