THE GOOD LIFE

Interior stylist Lynda Gardener has renovated this unique Australian country property to make it a welcome retreat away from the bustle of the city.

- ALI HEATH

Melbourne-based interior stylist Lynda Gardener is well known internationally as the master of house transformations. Her innate sense of design and standout creativity turn projects from ordinary to extraordinary and The Estate Trentham, as her house is affectionately known, is no exception. ‘I had been looking to buy a house in Trentham for a long time,’ says Lynda. ‘It’s a beautiful hamlet on the way to Daylesford, where I renovated my first country property. The journey out of the city is all part of the experience. Once off the interstate, winding roads and nature take over – the world steps into a slower gear.’

Built in 1902, the estate is a three-bedroom, Federation-style, wood-clad property with a veranda that wraps around the periphery. ‘I found the house online and within the same day had viewed and bought it – it felt very serendipitous,’ Lynda says. ‘It’s positioned within an acre of land, offering abundant nooks in which to chase the sun, sleep and relax. The house is all about taking the time to enjoy simple pleasures. Everyone who stays falls in love with it.’