White Christmas

White is Lynda Gardener’s go-to hue and headlines the interior decorator’s country celebrations in the township of Trentham, Victoria. It’s a family affair with a cool vintage twist.

- Deborah Grant

Anytime is a good time to visit the beautiful Victorian town of Trentham, but being there over Christmas is magic for Lynda Gardener and Mark Smith. That’s when they down ‘tools’ and take a well-earned break from Trentham General, the cafe and old-wares store they recently opened in a restored 1880s bank building.

Former events director Mark helms the cafe all week and Lynda is also at the store a lot – when she’s not working as an interior decorator with partner Belle Hemming at their business, Inside Story, or renting out the four properties she has renovated in her inimitable old-meets-new style.

So, when the couple are home at The Estate, their Federation-era cottage purchased in 2014, that time is very precious. Many people know Lynda from her 24 years running renowned homewares store Empire Vintage in Melbourne’s Albert Park. She closed it two years ago and relocated many pieces she couldn’t bring herself to sell before to the Trentham store. Others found their way into their cute weatherboard home on the town’s main street.