Photo Courtesy Of Lynda Gardener
WHERE DO YOU PRESENTLY LIVE AND WHAT ARE THE BEST THINGS ABOUT YOUR CITY?
I live in Melbourne Australia in a inner city area called Fitzroy. Its walking distance into the centre of the city and a very very cool, hip place to live. its rather a bohemian area with many emerging artists, creatives and interesting people doing amazing things. Cafés and cool stores open up pretty much each and every week, so you can never ever get bored. Its a very old area of Melbourne and the Architecture is just beautiful. It has fast become one of the more expensive areas to live in due to pretty much everyone wanting to live so close to the centre of the city.
WHERE WERE YOU BORN AND RAISED?
I was born and raised in Melbourne, always lived in the inner city and my parents (for their time) were very ahead of what was happening and pretty much brought us up living in the city in a very cool apartment……I always thought we were so lucky - as all my friends families moved to the outer suburbs to live in bigger homes, where I was of the option that there was nothing better than living amongst the busy action of the city.
WHAT WERE YOUR CHILDHOOD ASPIRATIONS?
From an early age my mother always took me to weekend second hand flea markets. Every single Sunday. I began from the age of 16 collecting vintage fashion, then evolving to furniture and homewares. I always wanted to be in fashion as a young girl, however, not long after my first role in the fashion industry, I knew it had to be in interiors and decorating.
WHY INTERIOR DESIGNER?
It was a natural progression, I never ever thought about it, it just happened. I was very passionate about decorating my own home - I had a vintage store for 24 years and in my first year, I had a stylist from a very well known magazine, visit my home and pretty much from there, after my home was featured in numerous magazines, I realised I was really quite good at decorating. I had never studied for this role, it was all just natural instinct for me.
WHAT IS YOUR BACKGROUND TRAINING?
I literally studied to be a Secretary (back in the day) thinking that would get me into the fashion houses and a career in some form in the fashion industry. My first job role was with Levi Strauss as a secretar., However, after the first year I moved quickly into merchandising denim and finally ended up setting up all their concept stores around Australia - the rest just followed on from being incredibly passionate about styling, interiors, collecting. After I left Levi Strauss, I opened a very small unique store that I owned and ran for 24 years, it was very successful and very well known for one off finds, all vintage all collected lovingly by me for my customers. Throughout the past 10 years or so I have been decorating other peoples homes, styling for magazines, photo shoots and of course opening up four accommmodation properties from 2007. The White House Daylesford, The Estate Trentham, The White Room Melbourne and the most recent The Apartment St Kilda.
HOW DO YOU SELECT YOUR THEMES?
If it is my own home or boutique accommodation, I usually have a sense of which way to go as soon as I walk in the door. I get an instant feel of what it should look like. I have always followed my gut instincts and it has worked every time. Generally with clients, its a mix of what they want, expect, who they are, what they collect and what style they would like to go with, from there I usually know which way to go instinctively.
WHAT IS YOUR PROCESS FROM CONCEPT TO CREATION?
Once the concept is considered and decided, i.e. the look and feel, I am on the road sourcing non stop. I always (and its been something I am known for - always add in some one off vintage /collected finds) to the final design. I am not regimented so everything just flows and comes together as required. There is nothing structured or laid out in any format. I have always worked this way and somehow it always comes together.
HOW DO YOU CHOOSE YOUR MATERIALS?
I usually like to keep things simple. I don’t use too many materials in one space and certainly don’t have more than two to three stock standard features that I always use rather than add too many elements. I think the furniture and the styling should stand out - whilst the walls, floors stay simple and original if an old building.
WHAT DOES A PERFECT LIVING SPACE LOOK LIKE?
Very large open space, high ceilings, big windows if possible, lots of light, filled with layers and textures, not too many colours (selected tones) - white walls, lots of considered furniture/rugs/cushions usually greys, whites, chocolates, natural woods, earthy tones.
HOW DOES YOUR AESTHETIC TRANSLATE INTO OTHER AREAS OF YOUR LIFE?
Pretty much the same, I guess. I love all things visually beautiful and it carries through to where I choose to eat, which cafés - they must taste amazing but look good too, restaurant interiors, the same...Everything to me is a visual feast. I still to this day collect vintage components when dressing, like a vintage handbag with newly purchased clothing, or add vintage shoes! I love all interiors that share old and new aesthetic within its space. Music for me is always varied, with a lot of world music interests. Art, old and new. I love mix all forms of art on the walls and enjoy nothing more than a mix of old and new again, so that each can stand side by side. a room of new furniture can be a little boring, adding an old antique piece to the mix, becomes the feature piece and in fact always has a story and that in turn makes your home unique to you. My life is filled with old and new and that is truly what I love, it can never be boring that way.
WHAT CAN'T YOU DO WITHOUT?
My dog, Jack.
WHAT DO YOU GET UP TO WHEN YOU'RE NOT CRAFTING?
Travelling around the world has always been my goal from the day I commenced my first paid job, and I have done so each and every year since then. The one thing I will never give up, travelling and exploring the word, every country has so much to offer. You cannot ever see enough.
HOW DO YOU UNWIND?
I love to walk the beautiful streets I am surrounded by in my city. I'm astounded at how excited I still find myself, walking different pathways, finding new cafes I never new existed, architecture in old and abandoned buildings. I love having breakfast with my partner at one of our local cafés for the weekend, spending time with like minded friends and of course going away to the country and staying at one of the properties and finally a long bath at the end of every day before I go to bed. Nothing is more relaxing that that!
WHERE DO YOU PRESENTLY LIVE AND WHAT ARE THE BEST THINGS ABOUT YOUR CITY?
I live in Melbourne Australia in a inner city area called Fitzroy. Its walking distance into the centre of the city and a very very cool, hip place to live. its rather a bohemian area with many emerging artists, creatives and interesting people doing amazing things. Cafés and cool stores open up pretty much each and every week, so you can never ever get bored. Its a very old area of Melbourne and the Architecture is just beautiful. It has fast become one of the more expensive areas to live in due to pretty much everyone wanting to live so close to the centre of the city.
WHERE WERE YOU BORN AND RAISED?
I was born and raised in Melbourne, always lived in the inner city and my parents (for their time) were very ahead of what was happening and pretty much brought us up living in the city in a very cool apartment……I always thought we were so lucky - as all my friends families moved to the outer suburbs to live in bigger homes, where I was of the option that there was nothing better than living amongst the busy action of the city.
WHAT WERE YOUR CHILDHOOD ASPIRATIONS?
From an early age my mother always took me to weekend second hand flea markets. Every single Sunday. I began from the age of 16 collecting vintage fashion, then evolving to furniture and homewares. I always wanted to be in fashion as a young girl, however, not long after my first role in the fashion industry, I knew it had to be in interiors and decorating.
WHY INTERIOR DESIGNER?
It was a natural progression, I never ever thought about it, it just happened. I was very passionate about decorating my own home - I had a vintage store for 24 years and in my first year, I had a stylist from a very well known magazine, visit my home and pretty much from there, after my home was featured in numerous magazines, I realised I was really quite good at decorating. I had never studied for this role, it was all just natural instinct for me.
WHAT IS YOUR BACKGROUND TRAINING?
I literally studied to be a Secretary (back in the day) thinking that would get me into the fashion houses and a career in some form in the fashion industry. My first job role was with Levi Strauss as a secretar., However, after the first year I moved quickly into merchandising denim and finally ended up setting up all their concept stores around Australia - the rest just followed on from being incredibly passionate about styling, interiors, collecting. After I left Levi Strauss, I opened a very small unique store that I owned and ran for 24 years, it was very successful and very well known for one off finds, all vintage all collected lovingly by me for my customers. Throughout the past 10 years or so I have been decorating other peoples homes, styling for magazines, photo shoots and of course opening up four accommmodation properties from 2007. The White House Daylesford, The Estate Trentham, The White Room Melbourne and the most recent The Apartment St Kilda.
HOW DO YOU SELECT YOUR THEMES?
If it is my own home or boutique accommodation, I usually have a sense of which way to go as soon as I walk in the door. I get an instant feel of what it should look like. I have always followed my gut instincts and it has worked every time. Generally with clients, its a mix of what they want, expect, who they are, what they collect and what style they would like to go with, from there I usually know which way to go instinctively.
WHAT IS YOUR PROCESS FROM CONCEPT TO CREATION?
Once the concept is considered and decided, i.e. the look and feel, I am on the road sourcing non stop. I always (and its been something I am known for - always add in some one off vintage /collected finds) to the final design. I am not regimented so everything just flows and comes together as required. There is nothing structured or laid out in any format. I have always worked this way and somehow it always comes together.
HOW DO YOU CHOOSE YOUR MATERIALS?
I usually like to keep things simple. I don’t use too many materials in one space and certainly don’t have more than two to three stock standard features that I always use rather than add too many elements. I think the furniture and the styling should stand out - whilst the walls, floors stay simple and original if an old building.
WHAT DOES A PERFECT LIVING SPACE LOOK LIKE?
Very large open space, high ceilings, big windows if possible, lots of light, filled with layers and textures, not too many colours (selected tones) - white walls, lots of considered furniture/rugs/cushions usually greys, whites, chocolates, natural woods, earthy tones.
HOW DOES YOUR AESTHETIC TRANSLATE INTO OTHER AREAS OF YOUR LIFE?
Pretty much the same, I guess. I love all things visually beautiful and it carries through to where I choose to eat, which cafés - they must taste amazing but look good too, restaurant interiors, the same...Everything to me is a visual feast. I still to this day collect vintage components when dressing, like a vintage handbag with newly purchased clothing, or add vintage shoes! I love all interiors that share old and new aesthetic within its space. Music for me is always varied, with a lot of world music interests. Art, old and new. I love mix all forms of art on the walls and enjoy nothing more than a mix of old and new again, so that each can stand side by side. a room of new furniture can be a little boring, adding an old antique piece to the mix, becomes the feature piece and in fact always has a story and that in turn makes your home unique to you. My life is filled with old and new and that is truly what I love, it can never be boring that way.
WHAT CAN'T YOU DO WITHOUT?
My dog, Jack.
WHAT DO YOU GET UP TO WHEN YOU'RE NOT CRAFTING?
Travelling around the world has always been my goal from the day I commenced my first paid job, and I have done so each and every year since then. The one thing I will never give up, travelling and exploring the word, every country has so much to offer. You cannot ever see enough.
HOW DO YOU UNWIND?
I love to walk the beautiful streets I am surrounded by in my city. I'm astounded at how excited I still find myself, walking different pathways, finding new cafes I never new existed, architecture in old and abandoned buildings. I love having breakfast with my partner at one of our local cafés for the weekend, spending time with like minded friends and of course going away to the country and staying at one of the properties and finally a long bath at the end of every day before I go to bed. Nothing is more relaxing that that!
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