b'reflect the local community. This dictated much of the overall scheme as the design team leaned into its eclectic retro and deco details.Thetwo-storeybuildingsoriginalexterior featured red brick and beige plaster cladding withadeco-stylecurvedfasciaaroundboth levels and a flat roof on the bottom storey. At Resene the rear of the building was a grassed cottage Double Alabaster garden area and three separate accommodation unitsthatwerealsopartofthesite.In discussions with the Whitestone board, it was determined that an alfresco dining area and the accommodation units would need to be part of Resene the re-design to make the area cohesive. Being Awaken in the middle of a residential area with similar Resene brick buildings meant that the palette needed to Dairy meets deco at a bespoke tourism Lynchpin be bold and set the building apart.Withmorethan15,000fast-moving destination thats brimming with delectable details. vehicles travelling by each day on State Highway 1, choosing an exterior colour palette that would W hitestone Cheese Co has long been aof their passion for high-quality, locally madeexterior design and alfresco dining, the menube highly visible from the road was also critical celebrated foodie fixture of artisanalcheese. Over the decades, their commitmentcreationanddirectionaswellasthegraphicto the success of the project. Our design plan dairyaisles.Afternearly40yearsto traditional techniques, premium ingredientsdesign direction for all the new merchandise,needed to complement the quirk of the town inoperation,whatwasonceasmallfamilyand regional flavours has earned them a loyalmenus, promotional material, social media andand deliver an interior that leaned into the 1950s businesswithasingleproductofferinghasfollowing across New Zealand and beyond. marketing.Thebriefforthephysicalspacesensibility of the building. National competition blossomed into a globally recognised companyIts been a lengthy journey to arrive wherewas to create a concept focused on discoveryin the speciality cheese industry includes large-that produces more than two dozen differentwearenow,saysSimonBerry,Whitestoneand education that would delight and surprisescalecorporations,butWhitestonehadthe world-class cheeses. Now, fans of the brandCheese Managing Director. There has been acustomersthroughacasualrelaxeddiningability to be more nimble, flexible and fun! They have something new to salivate over; a uniquelot of development in our people, products andexperience with a welcoming, warm atmospherecould do something other competitors cannot hospitality experience thats become an iconicproduction facilities. We are constantly evolving and Annabel was able to draw on various pastdo and show more personality in their brand destination for cheese lovers near and far, theandalwaysworkingtowardsasustainableexperiences to help pull it all together.story, and the interior and colour palette had to Whitestone Cheese Diner & Deli. This latestoutcome,thisincludesnewproducts,newOver the course of my career, I have workedreflect that, says Annabel.venture marks a fresh chapter in the family- facilities and supplying different markets. in design, marketing, events and managementTheoriginalTuiTearoomsholdalotof ownedcompanysstory,blendingitsrichSimon is the son of founders Bob and Suepositions, so this project brought all of thosememories and nostalgia for those in North Otago heritage of cheesemaking with a contemporaryBerry and says that the whole family plays anprevious skillsets together into one, she says. and we wanted to respect and nurture that, she dining and retail experience.active role in the business. My father sits onRepurposing real estate is not something newadds. In my role as designer, it is vitally important to LocatedinOamaru,theheartofour board and provides invaluable direction andfor Whitestone, as the companys very first factoryme that the heritage of a building is respected and Whitestones operations, the new space offersoperational support, my sister Vanessa runs thewashousedinaconvertedgarage.TheDinerthat is where you can find originality in storytelling visitors a chance to enjoy the brands award- Queenstown Farmers Market Cheese stall and& Deli site was originally home to Tui Tearoomsand design. I wanted to lean into its history and winning cheeses in a whole new way with a menumy wife Annabel is always part of every decision. from the late 1950s, a popular destination amongensure that what we delivered respected the past ofmouthwateringdishes,thirst-quenchingAs a multi-faceted designer and the visionarytourists and locals alike during its heyday. Whenbut also ensured practicality and longevity for the beverages and a wide selection of products forat the helm of Annabel Berry Creative Co, itsWhitestonepurchasedit,thebuildingneededbuilding. The previous brick and plaster exterior takeaway. For the Berry family, who foundednatural that Annabel would be the creative forcea major intervention to bring it up to modernblendedintotheresidentialenvironmentanda Whitestone in 1987, this expansion is more thanbehind the Diner & Deli concept. She and herstandards,buttherewasastrongdesiretocolour palette needed to be developed that would justabusinessmove;itsanaturalevolutionteam handled all aspects of the interior design,maintain its nostalgic connection to its roots andmake this a beacon at the north end of Oamaru.40 blackwhitemag.com'