Two artisans from different trades came together to transform a space into their vision for a French-inspired bakery and cafe in Noosa. Artisan baker Craig McCabe and his wife Maeva worked with natural materials artisan Shannon Whitehill to create this French bakery in the heart of Noosa Junction.

Having won multiple awards in their Brisbane-based bakery, the couple, Craig and Maeva took time out to settle their young family on the Sunshine Coast, and began a search for the right space for their new venture. Designed to celebrate their love of everything French, the new bakery cafe, Noosa Hot Bread Shop would offer artisan breads handcrafted from Craig’s tried and tested recipes as well as authentic layered pastries drawing from Maeva’s French heritage.

After the space was secured, the couple decided on an industrial, aged look with a classy edge that effectively expressed the quality of the handcrafted fare. Exposed timber, uncovered brickwork and rendered feature walls were some of the elements they sought to incorporate in their design.

While the ceiling featured exposed timber beams, a stone bench was added to symbolise the quality of the bakery. Seeking a solution for the ugly block wall in the bakery, the couple worked with artisan Shannon Whitehill to turn it into a striking feature wall.

Shannon developed a feature wall concept using his signature dragonfly as a highlight. The unsightly block wall was transformed using Rockcote Venetian Plaster with highlights of coloured oxides to pick up the colours of the benchtop and other areas of the store. The dragonfly fresco was created freehand using tinted Marrakesh with the aged-looking frame moulded by hand with lime plaster. The entire wall was then polished by hand over two days.

The French bakery has attracted many ardent admirers since the Noosa Hot Bread Shop was opened in early November.