Designer Picnic

Joining the bunch of new commercial enterprises in the harbour area of Mýrargata is Pikknikk, a new lifestyle -slash- design shop. A concept conceived by world-traveller and photographer Áslaug Snorradóttir and designer Hlín Helga Guðnadóttir, it will stay open throughout the summer.

The premises, an old boat house, offer a wide selection of highly original Icelandic design. With designers Tinna Gunnarsdóttir, Sigríður Sigurjónsdóttir, Daníel Magnússon, Katrín Pétursdóttir and Brynhildur Pálsdóttir amongst others, you'll find unique pieces such as knitwear, tableware, jewellery, books, furniture and food. You'll spot wonderful items like mittens, hats, wellington boots, chocolates shaped like mountains, candles shaped like birds, furniture and candy.

"It's just like a picnic - there's a little bit of everything," explains Snorradóttir whose second passion in life is food. "We'll be offering rustic-style cooking using Icelandic ingredients. Things like giant shrimp with big dollops of homemade mayonnaise and vodka cocktails with crushed blueberries. Things that are typically Icelandic but with a modern twist." You can also grab a take-away lunch at Pikknikk or book the whole place for the night. Snorradóttir promises that she can host any party you fancy, making it a hip, relaxed alternative to the city's bars and restaurants. "We can even organize an after-party at 6 am with a huge fry-up and plenty of Bellini's. Just come up with an idea, and we'll make it happen. It's all about being rustic, and relaxed." But what will they do at the end of summer? Will the picnic be over? "If all goes well, we'll just picnic somewhere else," she explains with a laugh.

- amb