It’s Wednesday night at Bin 26 and Phoenix Printery Managing Director Nicola Barbar is celebrating her birthday, laughing and telling us how much she adores her daughter Maiya.

What are you sipping?

Tonight I’m having a lychee martini, and earlier I was sipping rosé.

What do you like about Bin 26?

I like the ambience, the privacy of it, and I like my favourite new wine — Whispering Angel.

Socialite or homebody?

I’m really a homebody.

TV or a good book?

Oh, definitely TV… CSI, NCIS and Dora (laughs).

Flats or stilettos?

Flats… if I wear capris, then I’ll wear stilettos, but it’s flats with everything else.

Who does your hair?

My mother-in-law

Aida Barbar.

Who does your nails?

Judy Bishop; she works

from home.

What’s your style?

Jeans and anything else that goes with it… so I guess I could say my style is comfy-casual.

What perfume are you spraying?

Issey Miyake.

What’s your idea of the perfect date?

Somebody I enjoy being with and with whom I can have an interesting conversation.

What qualities do you most admire in a man?

Honesty and compassion. He must have strength of character, and my husband Eddie definitely has all those traits.

What’s your latest obsession?

My daughter…she’s my world, my everything. She’s been in the family for a year and six months now; she’s an absolute treasure.

Who or what

inspires you?

My dad; he’s my motivation.

What’s in your car stereo?

Sirius Radio channel 53 and my daughter’s kids’

songs CDs.

What projects are you currently working on?

Taking my companies, Phoenix Printery and Digital Pre-Press, to the next level.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

Let go and let God.

And 10 years from now?

I see myself being the leader in the printing industry and the mum of a teenager.