The Design Files take a look inside the Fitzroy home of Lynda Gardener

WHO: Stylist and decorator Lynda Gardener and her partner, Mark Smith.

WHERE: North Fitzroy, Victoria

WHAT: A converted warehouse in Melbourne’s inner north.

Lynda Gardener is a stylist, interior decorator and retailer well known in Melbourne’s design community. Her signature look is a muted, neutral palette of white on white, upon which she expertly layers antiques, rustic details, and textured soft furnishings. This distinctive aesthetic defines each of Lynda’s various design and decoration projects.

Stylist and decorator Lynda Gardener in her Fitzroy home. Photo: Eve Wilson

A converted warehouse in North Fitzroy has been Lynda’s home for more than 15 years. Originally, it was a mattress factory. Retaining the structural features and character of the place, Lynda has opened up the internal spaces. Bucking the sales-driven trends of traditional home renovation, Lynda has removed every dividing wall in her house, resulting in what is essentially a sprawling, open-plan, one-bedroom home.

Upstairs, even the bathroom is without walls, set within Lynda’s spacious loft-like bedroom.

The defining feature of Lynda’s home, though, is her distinctive use of white. “I am a great believer that a mix of whites, in different tones, all work very well together,” she says. Here, she has selected a warm white for the walls and a slightly different white on the floors, to ensure subtle variation.

The gorgeously complex and meticulously ordered living area. Photo: Eve Wilson

Lynda has an incredible eye for uncovering vintage furniture and accessories, and has turned this knack into an art form. Her home is her living museum, where salvaged treasures are displayed, on rotation, before perhaps finding themselves for sale in her store, or used in one of her many design projects. Her favourite collection is the wall of painted portraits she has sourced over many years, hanging proudly above her dining room table. “I have filled the wall with male portraits from the 1800s through to the 1950s. I love looking at them in detail, the attire, the hairstyles and so on!” she says.

Lynda Gardener’s collection of paintings creates a cosy atmosphere in the lounge. Photo: Eve Wilson

Last year, Lynda added a new element to her home. Beyond the leafy courtyard garden, she created The White Room, a self-contained living space complete with en suite, kitchen and a separate entrance via a rear laneway. She leases out the space as guest accommodation. The photogenic little unit is also often used for photo shoots.

This is a home created without compromise. It has been a labour of love getting it “just right”, and though having a freestanding bathtub in the centre of one’s bedroom might not work for everybody, for Lynda, this is perfection. “I love everything about living here, and can’t see myself ever moving,” she says.

The Design Files guide to choosing a white paint

While white paint might present itself an easy option, it’s not always so straightforward. Photo: Eve Wilson

When selecting interior paint colours, white might first present itself as “the easy option”. Unfortunately, it’s not always so straightforward. There are literally thousands of whites to choose from, and every space demands its own treatment.

Every white has undertones of other colours within it. These subtle base colours aren’t usually visible in isolation, but become apparent in the context of other factors, such as surrounding colours, and reflected light. Undertones can give a white wall the feeling of being “warm” or “cool”, and play a big role in the way it works within a colour scheme.

Generally speaking, an older style home with limited natural light can benefit from a slightly warmer white, while bright, contemporary interiors often lend themselves to a cooler, blue-ish undertone.

It’s also worth considering different whites within one space. Melbourne decorator Lynda Gardener suggests using a variety of tones across floors, walls and cabinetry, to avoid creating a sterile “white box” feeling.

The golden rule with any paint treatment is to try before you buy. Always test options with a sample pot before you commit – that’s non-negotiable!