Los Angeles, Melbourne, Sydney ... Bungendore. When social media influencer and style guru Melissa Penfold chose four new stores to profile on her website, she included the new Bungendore boutique Manon and Moss, which has been opened only three weeks.
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![Alix Burnett saved the 1890 cottage from demolition that now houses her store Manon and Moss which opened three weeks ago. Picture: Megan Doherty Alix Burnett saved the 1890 cottage from demolition that now houses her store Manon and Moss which opened three weeks ago. Picture: Megan Doherty](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/fdcx/doc75l0dp8xbcjne2ctb99.jpg/r0_143_2016_1276_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
While Penfold - she of the more than 120,000 Instagram followers - also included boutiques in Sydney, Melbourne and Los Angeles, but couldn't go past Manon and Moss.
"This shop in a heritage-listed building will transport you straight to Provence," she wrote.
It is certainly true beyond the classic grey exteriors of the 1890 cottage is an incredible array of stylish antique and contemporary homewares and garden pieces from France, Italy, Belgium and beyond. The front exterior lights, for a start, are by Royal Botania from Belgium.
![Some of the beautiful homewares at Manon and Moss in Bungendore. Some of the beautiful homewares at Manon and Moss in Bungendore.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/fdcx/doc75l1eal6ywpit5v09bj.jpg/r0_0_3561_5342_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
The business has an interesting back story. Owner Alix Burnett and her media-shy colleague saved the cottage, and another neighbouring one, from demolition by the then Palerang Shire Council, the former owner of the historic buildings, which wanted them levelled to make way for a supermarket.
"It was a two-year campaign to get that decision overturned," Alix said.
"The reason I got involved is that I'm passionate about heritage and believe that is Bungendore's tourism drawcard but the council still don't seem to get that. They think shiny and new is what attracts. I think historic and modern can work side by side.
"When we started the campaign to save it, it was not the most attractive building but the community was absolutely behind its preservation and without that commitment, the building would have gone."
![Manon and Moss also has a range of garden pieces. Manon and Moss also has a range of garden pieces.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/fdcx/doc75l1exa04eb11v9jxfj2.jpg/r0_0_3415_5122_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
The cottage, on Malbon Street, is just down from the Bungendore Wood Works Gallery. Alix, who had Manon Antiques in Bungendore, which was more for online and by appointment sales, bought the cottage at 14 Malbon Street, with her colleague, and restored it.
"We had no thoughts beyond saving it, initially, but it could only be used as a shop," she said. "So, we thought it we're going to do it, we'll do it properly."
The name of the store represents the mix of French ("manon" is a French name) and garden ("moss").
Alix said her intention was to create a store that rivalled anything in Sydney or Melbourne and which wasn't on offer in Canberra, hoping to take advantage of daytrippers and coast traffic from the national capital.
![High-end candles are also at the store. High-end candles are also at the store.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/fdcx/doc75l1frbo900f4y9sfj2.jpg/r0_283_5444_3346_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
The store has lighting by Roger Pradier and Il Fanale and hand-made garden furniture from Fermob of France among its products as well as Cire Trudon candles from France and colognes by Santa Maria Novella of Italy. In the store, a contemporary Australian-made zinc table sits alongside a 19th century chaise lounge from France.
Alix had to sit down in physical interviews with some of the international labels before she was allowed to stock their wares. They wanted to know about the shop, what else would be stocked there, even the layout of the building.
![The 1890 cottage was saved from demolition through a community campaign in Bungendore. The 1890 cottage was saved from demolition through a community campaign in Bungendore.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/fdcx/doc75l1gk57orkmuq0ffj2.jpeg/r0_278_5346_3286_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
"They didn't want their products sitting alongside a bit of tat," Alix said, with a laugh.
Those same labels are now fans. "Some of the big heavy hitters are following us on Instagram," she said.
Manon and Moss is open Friday to Monday 10am to 4pm.