Melbourne Home - Lyn Gardener's Daylesford House

Lyn Gardener's beautiful White House in Daylesford - all photos by Tim James

photos by Tim James

photos by Tim James

photos by Tim James

I'm sure most Melbourne readers would know Melbourne's vintage queen Lyn Gardener! Lyn's wonderful shop Empire Vintage in Albert Park has long been a local favourite for everything rare, pretty and vintage - and she also has three AMAZING homes which you might have seen before in print or online (including a feature on Design*Sponge last year!). They're truly incredible spaces, decorated to perfection by Lyn herself, and often used as locations by photographers, film makers and events companies. Each home has a very different personality from the next - There are 2 industrial-style spaces in Fitzroy... and her more recent project - The White House in Daylesford. How beauuuutiful!?? Lyn truly has the magic vintage/industrial touch!

The White House is not actually Lyn's own home - but the good news is, it's a guesthouse you can go and stay at! For more details please check out The White House website!

And stay tuned for shots of Lyn's own super-girly-gorgeous home in Fitzroy this afternoon!

photos by Tim James

photos by Tim James

photos by Tim James

photos by Tim James

Melbourne Home - Shelley and Stephan of Galerie Montmartre!

The living room, with an original Featherston chair - one of four collected by Shelley and Stephan over the years.

Eames rocker and Vintage poster scroll

It's been a while... but I'm trying to get back on track with the Melbourne Homes! Today I feel very lucky to share some shots of the beautiful home of Shelley and Stephan Trbuhovich of Galerie Montmartre.

I never would have met Shelley and Stephan if it weren't for this blog. We first crossed paths nearly a year ago when I profiled their gorgeous shop in Fitzroy... (how time flies!). Since then Galerie Montmartre has been so incredibly supportive of The Design Files, and I am so grateful not just for their support of the blog, but also for their friendship and endless encouragement! Whenever I need a bit of a confidence boost I know Shelley will always give me an instant pep-up! (Hey, everyone needs a cheersquad once in a while!).

Shelley and Stephan's house in Clifton Hill is such a warm, welcoming family home, dotted with retro-inspired details that reflect the passions of its owners. It's filled with collections of beautiful old things - Shelley's vintage ceramic vase collection, Stephan's 1950's bakelite radios and vintage sodastreams (is that what's they're called?)... and of course, a stunning array of French vintage posters! All this mixed up with the occasional newer 'must have' piece (such as Shelley's Eames rocker) makes for a home that is stylish yet modest and unpretentious, and filled with the unmistakeable energy and personality of its occupants!

Thanks so much to Shelley and Stephan for letting me loose in their house with my camera!

ps) Shelley has a lovely blog here! Do visit and say hello!

Vintage golf numbers? I think? Also I love the beaten up leather armchairs (on rockers!)

The latest poster acquisition has pride of place in the master bedroom! Love that deep white frame against the mushroomy-cloured wall!

Bedroom details - including a gorgeous polka-dot print by by Melbourne-based Christina Gordon.

Emile's bedroom. Love that cot!!!

vintage details in Emile's room.

Mali's bedroom

Love Mali's French Vintage Poster (top image!). Another print by Christina Gordon is below... (Thanks for reminding me!)

Mali's vintage industrial toy shelves

Mali looks at Dinosaurs!

Shelley's favourite poster! (and yes, another Featherston!)

20th Century Scandinavia

20th Century Scandinavia stocks mainly European 20th Century furniture - with Australian pieces, smaller accessories and vintage signage etc thrown in.



Back to Melbourne after my whirlwind trip to Sydney...! Sydney was absolutely beautiful (as always) but I must admit I do feel strangely comforted by the blustery, wintery weather and relaxed Melbourne mood.... Sydney is so, so lovely - but it's so slick and shiny and polished...! It makes me a bit anxious. I don't think I'm quite shiny enough to keep up!

ANYWAY My latest Melbourne discovery is 20th Century Scandinavia - a huge furniture showroom / warehouse which has just sprung up down the road from me in Brunswick! 20th Century Scandinavia is a collaboration between well known retailers Three Quarters (Fitzroy), Le Contraste (Windsor) and B-Bold 20th Century Furniture (Carlton) - all owned by members of the same Melbourne family. Their new showroom / warehouse in Brunswick showcases key pieces from all three shops under one roof - and it is so exciting to see retailers of this calibre making their way out to the Northern neighbourhoods!

If you find yourself this side of town with a little time on your hands, do pop in to check out their lovely things! Gotta support the Northern migration!

20th Century Scandinavia
79 Lygon st
Brunswick

0439 732 006

Wed - Sat - 11.00am - 5.00pm
Sunday - 12.00pm - 4.00pm

Love the vintage letterpress pieces... keep seeing them everywhere yet somehow can't get enough!

LOVE this incredible French 1950's flexible curved screen ($2150), and how about that GORGEOUS illuminated Prince sign in the window!!? How perfect for a child's bedroom?

Interview - Phillip Graham of Tarlo and Graham

Taxidermy + industrial furniture + vintage French posters + antique medical paraphernalia + art deco lighting = Tarlo and Graham!

Love T&G's antique iron gates...

Wowsers. Lots of eye-candy to share this morning!

Today I feel so lucky to be able to share with you an interview with Phillip Graham, co-owner of Melbourne's wonderful Tarlo and Graham in Chapel st Windsor.

I would venture to say that there is no other store quite like Tarlo and Graham. Whilst vintage and industrial furniture is becoming more and more popular and collectable - no one quite does it like Phillip Graham and his business partner William Tarlo! A visit to T&G always uncovers something unexpected. Don't be surprised to find yourself coveting a tangled collection of traffic lights or a pair of antique skis after a visit to their store! Phillip and William have an incredible knack for buying and styling their store in a way that makes you see the most unusul of objects in an entirely new light. Truly! There's no one else who brings together such an eclectic and varied collection in the most spectacularly beautiful way.

Below Phillip shares some of his styling secrets (volume and repetition - simple, genius!)... AND we get a little peek into his own home, which showcases his passion for Australian contemporary art.

Ooh la la. It's all a bit much. Too beautiful.... Agghh!

ps) If you're hungry for even more images there is a great set of Tarlo and Graham photos on Flickr. (They belong to Daniel Neville of the Nevolution blog).

Tell me a little about your background - what path led you to what you’re doing now?

Tarlo & Graham opened 5 years ago, and for 8 years prior to that I ran The White Elephant in St Kilda. Previous to this I worked mainly in retail, originally at Country Road in the late 80’s and Giorgio Armani in London in the early 90’s. As well as sales I was involved with visual merchandising for both companies, which helped me develop my own skills in the importance of store presentation and understanding the power of placement.

I have always been interested in design, interiors, collecting, brands, trends etc. I am most interested in searching out ‘the different’. I appreciate it when people make an effort to present their stores in a way not seen before. There is too much bland out there and not enough newness. I like it when people push their imagination to create truly unique stores, interiors etc.


There are more and more shops selling vintage and industrial furniture these days…. but Tarlo & Graham truly stands out from the crowd. What do you think sets you apart from other stores with similar stock?

Come on Lucy, that’s an easy one, that’s the whole point of the interview isn’t it?! That’s what I want to come out most strongly from this whole thing. We are determined to be different, we work hard to present our business in such a way that the market can come in and really embrace and enjoy.

It’s all about -

1. product selection
2. presentation
3. placement
4. point of difference

And of course our windows. That is an area of self-expression which we push sometimes as far as we can depending on what we are interested in at the time.

For me, with interiors retailing for a business such as ours, the main area of focus is in the grouping of objects. It’s almost like picking a group of five completely different things (trying to select items that have no clear relationship with each other) and then throwing them up in the air and seeing how they land. Well, not exactly, but if you imagine the concept you will know what I mean. The message is putting items together that will really contrast with the next. If the piece in question is beautiful enough, or has some intrinsic quality or rarity, it should always stand up and easily find its place. Then there’s our obsession with volume and repetition. What I mean by that is the impact created by multiples is much stronger than a single item. Take for example a bag of marbles, compared with a table full of 2000 marbles. Or a collection of 50 matchboxes compared with 10 large glass vessels containing 1000 matchboxes – which looks better?


What does a typical day at work involve for you?

There is no typical day. We generally buy furniture and objects everyday, if we don’t we will definitely look at something. This could come from appointments we have organised with people, or working with other dealers and collectors to obtain stock. Going to auctions, markets, shops, homes – anywhere we can come across the next big thing.

Then there is time spent in the store. William (Tarlo, my business partner) and I divide the week and work 4 days each. We may also spend time preparing stock for sale, dealing with restorers, framers, upholsterers etc.


How are the tasks at the shop divided between you and William? Do you share the fun stuff (ie window display etc) with the boring stuff equally? How are your different strengths balanced within the business?

William and I share the job of styling/presenting the shop and creating windows. This is important for us both to be involved in, as this is what we both enjoy, are good at, and it is our form of self-expression. We share the boring stuff too.

How would you describe your own style of interior decorating at home – as compared to the eclecticism of your shop?

My interior has a strong focus on Australian art. I have been collecting contemporary art for over 10 years now and spend a lot of my spare time researching, going to exhibitions and acquiring some truly beautiful paintings, works on paper and sculpture. Subsequently my apartment walls are filled ‘salon style’ head to toe with as many as I can fit in. There is barely a square centimetre left now. My collection gives me immense pleasure and in a way gives me a break from what we concentrate on at Tarlo & Graham.

In saying that there is still a strong connection with what you would see in our store. There are a lot of objects, ideas at home that are represented in the shop. I sometimes need to live with something before I let it go.

Phillip's apartment is filled with contemporary Australian art... Wow. Beautiful.

Which designers, artists or creative people are you inspired by?

I could probably write a book on the answer to this question. Where do you start? Is it artists, designers, architects, musicians, actors….I could probably write a page on each, but as I have to summarise and give a definitive answer, the top of my list would be David Bromley. I started selling furniture to David some 10 years ago whilst he was still living in Adelaide. He, like William and I, is an obsessive collector with a wonderful eye. These days we just swap things, we always have something the other covets. My apartment is full of objects, furniture and art from David, and vice versa. David’s workload, drive and output are immense; he is a true artist whose mantra is ‘there is much to be done’. I have had the pleasure of sitting through the night watching David paint. These are truly memorable experiences – to see a canvas come to life is a real joy. He once said to me he has about 20 years of sleep to catch up on! And he has taught me ‘anything is possible’. There is virtually nothing in the creative field he will not explore. Aside from paintings, sculpture and ceramics, David has and continues to create furniture, films, lighting, music videos, interior projects, wallpaper, fabrics - the long list goes on. He is currently working on a luggage and accessories range all covered in his typical painted style, as well as a series of childrens books. It is this list, and the person, that I find truly inspiring.

Where else do you find inspiration – ie books, fine art, your environment, travel, your family and friends?

Inspiration is everywhere, isn’t it?

What’s the best thing about your job?

Having a job that allows me to constantly create interesting installations, and seeing literally hundreds, if not thousands, of different things each week and being able to buy a select few. It’s like constantly shopping!


And the worst?

There’s not much about my job I don’t enjoy.

What are you looking forward to?

The future.

Melbourne Questions

What/where was the last great meal you ate in Melbourne?

Dinner at the Windsor Castle.

Best shops in Melbourne for furniture and interiors pieces (except your own shop!)?

Art: Karen Woodbury Gallery, Helen Gory Gallerie, Galerie Montmartre.

Furniture: A Day On Earth, Angelucci, Geoffrey Hatty (Malvern rd, Prahran), Industria (Gertrude st Fitzroy), Le Contraste, Workshop Industrial (Abbotsford).

Incredible clothing: Eastern Market.

Where would we find you on a typical Saturday morning?

I always work Saturdays.

Melbourne’s best kept secret?

If I told you it wouldn’t be a secret!
The beautiful taxidermy giraffe at the Carlton Hotel in the city.