AN EXCELLENT VINTAGE

LYNDA GARDENER HAS BEEN PERFECTING HER HOME IN DAYLESFORD, VIC, FOR DECADES, COLLECTING TREASURES AND SEAMLESSLY BLENDING OLD AND NEW.

The interiors in a Daylesford cottage have been perfected over decades, with reclaimed finds and a knack for blending old and new.

“THE JUXTAPOSITION OF OLD AND NEW enhances the laidback aesthetic – spaces are filled with pieces that

I have been gathering since childhood and my early days with Levi Strauss,” says decorator and stylist Lynda Gardener. There is an almost hypnotic appeal to the interiors at The Cottage, an intimate three-bedroom bolthole that is testament to Lynda’s ability to bring together colour, texture and all manner of collected curios. Rustic meets industrial, but curated with a distinctly contemporary edge.

White, as always, is the dominant colour of choice, yet throughout, the cottage is peppered with more dramatic touches: bedrooms decorated in coal-grey hues and chic monochrome toile; the library cocooned in a classic handmade wallpaper by Deborah Bowness; inky black wooden floors add depth to core living spaces; and blackboard-painted kitchen walls, displaying artfully written messages and recipes. The result is stylish and intriguing, yet immensely welcoming and thoughtful.

“The space was renovated 15 years ago and just keeps getting better with age,” says Lynda. “I am a city girl through and through, but was ready to create an escape. Just 90 minutes from Melbourne, located within the picturesque spa town of Daylesford, The Cottage was my first country property and is used now as one of my boutique rentals, next door to The Barn. I still love to stay here – it reflects who I am and is never about decorating sensibly for guests.” >

Despite the relaxed way in which Lynda has brought together each of the decorative elements in The Cottage, this is in no way an accidental success. Her enigmatic art of styling has been perfected: finds look as if they have always belonged – organic, quirky and never overly edited.

A former miner’s cottage, built in the 1850s, the property had been poorly renovated 20 years ago. Yet despite it being run-down and overgrown, Lynda recognised fabulous bones beneath the ugly façade. At the front of the house, the rooms are original in size and scale, with reclaimed windows, doors and floorboards breathing new life back into the interior. At the centre of the house is the kitchen, a relaxed space with an antique draper’s table turned island, concrete worktops and open shelves stacked high with beautiful white crockery.

“The kitchen leads into the open-plan sitting room and dining area, where three rooms were knocked into one to create a really large living space,” she says. Reclaimed finds abound: the boarded ceiling salvaged from a former factory; a set of five beautiful antique garden doors discovered at a local salvage yard; and fireplaces rebuilt with bricks rescued from the surrounding land.

Lights play an important role throughout, affecting the mood as the day ebbs and flows. In the main bathroom a decadent French crystal chandelier hangs over an antique freestanding bathtub and adds a lingering sense of glamour

“I still love to stay here – it reflects who I am and is never about decorating sensibly for guests.”

to the rustic ambience. In the two main bedrooms and living areas industrial pendants and draped hanging bulbs add dynamic visual energy. Wooden shutters made from old doors filter a constant source of natural daylight. Practical, romantic and deliberate, they set the pared-back tone and act as a foil for the seasonally changing linens, textural furnishings and beautiful, timeworn furniture. “The space is all about comfort,” smiles Lynda.

Outside, a former garage was converted into a pitchedroof garden bedroom, with vintage doors opening onto a leafy view. “It has an inspiring sense of light and space: a private, one-room retreat, with its own claw-foot bathtub – the best spot to unwind in.”

Covetable collections hit you from every angle: it’s the sort of home you crave time to wander around in on your own. Think tables stacked with interesting old books; glass domes encasing antique busts; vases filled with garden greenery; dressers (hutches) home to sculptures, trophies and select taxidermy; walls layered with art; and even a vintage typewriter, on which visitors can type heartfelt messages for the guestbook.

This is a home about spontaneous style – rediscovering the potential that others failed to see. It’s the story of a derelict space brought back to life, with renewed vigour and a sincerity weaved through its timeless layers. >

“It has an inspiring sense of light and space: a private, one-room retreat… the best spot to unwind in.”

A former bedroom has been converted into an intimate library. FACING PAGE Walls layered with art are among the home’s covetable collections.

The salvaged trestle dining table is framed by vintage chairs and oversized enamel pendant lights. FACING PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Decorator, stylist and owner, Lynda Gardener; the raw, industrial kitchen has stood the test of time; rooms at The Cottage have a welcoming feel.

The master bedroom is a relaxed and inviting oasis. FACING PAGE Luxurious linens and cosy textiles are offset by statement wallpaper and industrial lighting.

The garden room has a spacious light-filled ambience, with an effortless mix of old and new. FACING PAGE, FROM TOP The claw-foot iron bathtub is the perfect place to unwind; a vintage medicine cabinet adds character.