Upcycled Cushion Love

During my recent stay at The White House at Daylesford, I fell in love with Lyn Gardener's beautiful French linen cushions:

She has loads of them all over the place and they look so understated and elegant.Unfortunately when I've seen them for sale they are way outside my budget. So I upcycled a teatowel and voila!:

While not as professional or gorgeous as those at The White House, I'm quite pleased with my cushion that began life as a teatowel.

The White House

I've just been to Daylesford where, for three whole days, I pretended I actually lived in this house. As most people would already know, it's owned by Lyn Gardener of Melbourne's Empire Vintage store. From the moment I stepped through the front door, the house worked its magic:

I felt like Goldilocks but I wasn't allowed to try all the beds. It was a difficult choice between this room with the French vintage toile wallpaper:

But I love the Deb Bowness wallpaper in this room, so this was it:

When I saw the apothecary cabinet in the self-contained bedroom in the garden, I was briefly tempted. But, no, I stuck to my original choice:

A fire had been thoughtfully laid, and the sofas are big and comfy. I love the mirrors and industrial lighting:

The bathroom has a chandelier above the bath (which I forgot to photograph):

The library has more Deb Bowness wallpaper and club chairs:

The attention to detail is very thoughtful. There were fresh flowers on this set of old post office boxes in the bathroom:

The soap and toiletries come in these brown bottles:

The fridge contained eggs, butter, milk and marmalade for breakfast:

And there was fresh bread and oranges for juice:

Although it's an 1850s miner's cottage, the house could be from any or no time. Overall I'd have to say it feels like being in France. But somehow it feels so much better than any French house I've ever stayed in. Thank you, Lyn for letting me pretend for a few days.

The White House

I'm so excited - I've just booked a getaway at Daylesford. But I'm not staying just anywhere. I'm staying at The White House. When I get there I'm worried I won't be able to fit everything in. I might catch up on my reading:

Or ponder the pattern on this wallpaper:

Or luxuriate in all the crisp whiteness:

Or investigate this medicine cabinet:

Or cook up a storm:

Using the thoughtfully provided organic provisions:

Or sit in this comfy chair:

If I don't fit everything in, I might have to go back for another visit. How positively inconvenient.

Images courtesy of www.lovebirds.com.au

Lyn Gardener Does it Again

Almost two years ago, I discovered Lyn Gardener and posted about her converted factory in Melbourne. I am probably the only blogger in the world who didn't realise she now has another gorgeous house in Daylesford, Victoria. I happened to buy the December 2009 issue of Living Etc, and there it was in all its sumptuous simplicity. I particularly love the bedroom on the left for the Deborah Bowness wallpaper with the lamp pattern. I have a roll of her wallpaper (the one with the pink dress) languishing under my lounge until I have a wall to put it on. The bedroom on the right's quite lovely as well:

The kitchen deviates from Lyn's usual white shelving. I love the white crockery on the black background:

The living room light fittings are just right for the space:

More Deb Bowness wallpaper in the library - just perfect:

Images courtesy of Apartment Therapy

Serendipity

Towards the end of 2006, about a year before I began this blog, I discovered this article in the Sydney Morning Herald (Sorry, but I can't remember the exact date).

The photo appeared to be uncredited so I had no way of knowing the room it depicted, but I loved it so much that I stuck it in my scrapbook (This was before I knew what a tear sheet was). Imagine my happiness three days ago when I found the following photo spread in the March 08 edition of Home Beautiful. It appears that the images are of a converted factory belonging to Lyn Gardener, owner of Empire III vintage store in Melbourne. I love the fact that everything is old, even chipped and peeling. I think her aesthetic is just right, particularly the predominantly white palette and French chairs.