Monday, February 18, 2008

Lyn Gardener


(above images courtesy of design*sponge)











(above images courtesy of empirevintage.com.au)




I couldn't resist picking up a copy of the latest Australian Home beautiful magazine today as it features one of my favourite homes in Aus!
Lyn Gardener runs the highly successful Melbourne store Empire 111. A vintage haven I have yet to visit but will make it my mission to get there someday. Lyn looks like she could be sisters with Alannah Hill and they certainly share a passion for all things feminine and beautiful. To me, she also feels like Australia's answer to The Paris Apartment's Claudia Strasser as Empire 111 is filled with french antiques, exquisite chandeliers and fabulous flea market finds.

Lyn Gardener's oh so delightful 2 story warehouse apartment has been featured numerous times in decorating magazines and an extremely popular location for various print ads.

The building is an old matress factory and Lyn had fallen in love with the falling down space before it even came onto the market for sale. The house was gutted - rebuilt - and painted white! White walls, white floors, white shutters, everything white. Her furniture is a mishmash of French and English and her accessories are an assortment of beautiful finds from flea markets, salvage yards and overseas travels.

I absolutely adore everything about Lyn's style. I love the pale background. I love the splashes of pastel. I love the old worn and preloved furniture and the character filled accents.
My favourite room along with Lyn is her bedroom/bath. The whole top story of her home is dedicated to her bedroom with a stunning clawfoot bath taking pride of place in the centre. As she quotes "I have so many couches in the bathroom I can just laze around". The perfect night in? "Ah, relaxing. I'd have a very easy going night with lovely cocktails, take-away food and always my bath before bed. I love it in winter with a fire blazing or in summer with the doors all the way open. It's divine".

*sighs* perfect!

If I were single and living alone like Lyn, this would be the ultimate inspiration for my home.

Please check out Lyn's too die for website for more eye candy :)

http://www.empirevintage.com.au/

6 comments:

Anastasia said...

ohhh lovely!!!
i said to myself to do a post about her too after seeing her stunning house in the latest 'Home Beautiful' magazine and she's also being in 'REal Living' magazine - beautiful beautiful style!!

Sue said...

How beautiful! Love all the pretty eye candy.

Country French Antiques said...

Okay I'm a new Lyn fan!
AND she looks like she just really enjoys Life!
Another *sigh*

Alkemie said...

Very pretty and romantic decor! So light and airy!

Alicia ~ Time Worn Style said...

Me again, I cross paths with Lyn quite often whilst on the hunt for treasures. Her store is lovely too, shes getting into the more industrial side of things lately which I quite like too.
alicia ~ time worn style.

oldflowers4me said...

hello- ive meet lyn a few time's in her shop -you would just love it-shes so nice and just a beautiful girl.