Royal Croquet Club, Little Miss Miami (now rebranded Crab Shack), don't just have music and Caprioskas in common – they are also examples of the finest of custom fit outs by Sam Weckert of East End Studios.
Sam is affectionately branded Mr Hammer Time, but don’t worry ladies, there are no 90s happy pants in sight, nor does he wear oversized gold chains around his neck.
Rather, Sam was voted one of South Australia’s top 25 Hottest Bachelors in 2013 and, after a couple of margaritas, is easily mistaken for Port Adelaide Captain Travis Boak.
A fourth generation carpenter, Sam is certainly no mug with a mallet.
He remembers growing up on his family's farm at Brinkworth in the mid north of South Australia and when there weren't farm jobs to do he'd find himself working with wood.
“I’d just grab old bits of timber left lying around the workshop floor and try to turn it into something," he says. "I never worked from a plan. If I needed something, I’d try and make it."
It's a philosophy he still uses today.
Notably, he helped Yalumba create a memorable pop-up bar at this year’s Night Noodle Markets in Sydney and Melbourne, using a shipping container and bits of old herringbone and red oak he found lying around the Yalumba property.
“I’m a timber hoarder from way back, so there’s always something lying around the workshop or I just use whatever’s on-site," he says. "I can usually sniff out something cool to use that ends up turning out."
With a keen eye for the quirky, Sam is always on the hunt for the wood that no one else would use.
“It helps give each piece of furniture or fit out its own unique character… people take note, they remember and more often than not, they come back," he says.
“It’s like cooking when you don’t use a recipe and just whip up a feed from whatever’s in the pantry or the fridge. It’s more fun that way, plus it usually turns out to be pretty tasty.
“I love the idea that furniture has no secrets...
"The exposed fittings, knots and imperfections give a piece of furniture character and charm.
“I prefer my wood like my women, low maintenance,” he laughs.
Sam takes tremendous pride in his work. Every design, every piece, every join is a direct reflection on Sam himself and what he stands for.
“I guess you could say there’s a little bit of me in every thing I do,” he says.
In fact, often the feeling of a piece is based on memories of his family, mates and even ex-girlfriends.
So next time you’re sipping margaritas in the shade or slamming down sliders on a timber bench in one of Adelaide’s hot new pop-up bars, take a moment to appreciate some of the furniture around you.
Chances are Sam’s been hard at work and you’ll soon notice how he’s brought the space to life. He’s probably part of the reason why you’re having such a great time.
One of the most remarkable revolutions in Adelaide’s blossoming social scene during the last year has been the myriad of pop-up bars and cafes that have engulfed parks, laneways, warehouses and empty buildings.
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