Rick Delbridge.

The Cool Room was established in July 2006 by passionate hunter and collector Rick Delbridge. Hidden away behind the main shopping strip off Calrlisle Street in Balaclava a quirky little hidden treasure trove awaits, full to the brim with irresistible vintage furniture and collectables. Rick says a look around his shop entices you to take a trip down memory lane as you rediscover things as far back as the 1920's right through to the late 1970's. The shop itself occupies a space which was formally the carving room of an old butchery, you can still see the remains of two of the the original cool rooms used to store the meat. This is absolutely destination shopping as The Cool Room has no street frontage and can only be accessed via a rear car park.

Rick's passion for preloved things has spanned a lifetime. At the age of 25 he was taken for the first time down the seductive path of op-shopping by a friend who made him realise that just because things were a bit old and tattered they could still be quirky, interesting and even collectable. This was the beginning of a life long addiction. Since then he has used his free time and a keen eye trawling all over the state to auction houses, speciality shops, country markets and sometimes even the side of the road, selling to dealers along the way. A severe car accident in 2004 meant Rick was unable to continue his occupation as a nurse. He was left with no option but to turn his lifelong hobby into his life line. The Cool Room was created.

Into its third year of operation, the shop is going great guns. With the support from local residents, customers and businesses alike, Rick has proven his concept and his creation to be a success and finds himself truly woven into the fabric of the local community. Over the years he has developed strong relationships with his customers, who in turn have ensured him great referral and word of mouth. He is extremely focused and understands the importance of regularly updating his stock, feeding them with new inspiration as there are always ideas-a-plenty for any home. These customers know that each time they visit they are treated with a new box of delights. This level of commitment to his business really is the key to The Cool Room's success and it is not surprising to learn that there are already wheels in motion to open the doors to shop number two.