California Design at QAG - I went and I saw

It's like coming home to the house I grew up in back in the 1970s and finding Barbie and Ken waiting for me.

There's a lounge just like the slick, squared-up Parker ensemble of which my parents were so proud, the record player that I used to play my first Carly Simon record at a friend's house and a very chic tiger-inspired print playsuit similar to one my auntie used to wear.

It's all at California Design - 1930 - 1965 - Living in a Modern Way showing at the Queensland Art Gallery until February 9 at South Bank, Brisbane.

You'll see works that defined the era and are still admired today from designers Charles and Ray Eames, Henry Dreyfuss, Raymond Loewy, Levi Strauss, Mattel and more. There's also an iconic, ultra-shiny aluminium 1936 Airstream Clipper trailer and a oh-so-cool 1964 Studebaker Avanti car.

Here's what I saw

First we had a California inspired lunch with a wagyu burger, fries and aioli and an old fashioned lemonade in the QAG cafe. This is a delightful spot to relax and enjoy the beautiful spring weather and the burger was blissful.

Then we wandered through the exhibition. For me it was a trip down memory lane and I pounded by daughter's ears with stories about the house I grew up in. She just thought it was all very cool.

Then, and almost the best, was the gallery shop for the exhibition which is filled with everything from Tiki mugs and batman torches to ukuleles and notebooks made of stone. Fascinating browsing and not easy to leave without a purchase.