Curate: Inspiration for an Individual Home

by Lynda Gardener, Ali Heath

An inspirational guide to home decorating with the perennially popular elements of a neutral palette, natural ingredients and a carefully curated mix of vintage and modern pieces - from influential stylist and decorator, Lynda Gardener and interiors writer and stylist, Ali Heath

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"This gorgeous book marries inspirational ideas with real interiors, to help you curate a home that reflects your personal story and style." Kate Watson-Smyth of Mad About The House

"Helpfully divided into eight key elements that bring a space to life, this beautifully photographed book by Australian interior designer Gardener and journalist Heath, makes the perfect accompaniment to a house refresh." Elle Decoration

"A paradise for the curious, Lynda and Ali present an interior perspective so cosy that you already feel you live there. Textural spaces cleansed in monochromatic hues - with ideas that invite your imagination to consider home and collections in a new light." Martyn Thompson - Designer, Photographer, Creative Director

Doyenne of the unique and decorative, Australian interior stylist and boutique hotelier, Lynda Gardener, is always on the hunt for finds to enhance her homes and decorating projects. Her ability to curate and display these personal treasures has created a trademark style that is loved internationally.

Curate , the highly anticipated book by creative duo, Lynda Gardener and journalist and stylist Ali Heath, reveals how to create a home that is truly individual. With their shared love of a monochrome aesthetic and natural imperfections, they explore the eight Elements that bring a space to palette, nature, textiles, lighting, a combination of old and new, storage, collections and art. Ten aspirational homes show the style in practice, including a converted warehouse, one-bedroom studio, bijoux apartment, historic cottage, country estate, new-build barn, remote shack, period townhouse and rural retreat.

With gloriously evocative photography and plenty of down-to-earth ideas,  Curate  will encourage the reader to embrace their individual style, dream big and create a timeless interior of their own.

"Two of the most sought-after creatives, working together from opposite ends of the world, which has resulted in the most inspiring book." - Sally Bailey, Founder of Baileys Home

"A must-read for all confirmed monochromist or mono-curious design aficionados, Ali and Lynda's new book confirms that an edited colour palette is everything but monotonous." - Hilary Robertson, Interior Stylist, Writer

"Everyone knows that to live amongst books is a gift. Curate is one of those books you will come back to, like a time worn painting, its contents are rewarding, rich and encourage you to chase your own unique style of domestic bliss." - Megan Morton, Interior Stylist, Masterclass Instructor, Studio Owner

"Every page of Curate is filled with an inspirational overload both in pictures and words. Working with texture, layers, colour and special personal touches it is a pure feast for the eyes." - Hans Blomquist, Author, stylist, art director

"The beautiful interiors captured in Curate are layered with a sense of nostalgia and nurture. This is what makes a house a home." - Sibella Court, Author, stylist, shopkeeper

"What a joy this book is to flip through and let sink in. At once inspirational and, yet, still approachable, Ali’s beautiful words and Lynda’s gorgeous styling come together to create the sort of worlds you want to dive right into and live in forever." - Lindsey Bro, Writer, Creative, Founder @cabinlove

"When two incredibly talented creatives Ali and Lynda, combine their talents and produce the most inspiring book full of texture, layers and most of all homes full of soul. So beautifully written and photographed giving us all a must have book that we will continually refer to and thoroughly enjoy." -  Kate Abt @kateabtdesign
 

Genres: Design, Nonfiction, Coffee Table Books, Reference, Interior Design

224 pages, Hardcover

Published July 6, 2021

Reviews

[PJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very much an individual style, which I happen to love, but it won’t be for everyone. Has Q&A at the end of each section which didn’t add much and actually became a bit ridiculous after a while eg. continuing to ask about cooking when the answer was always some variation of “I don’t like cooking so I buy takeaway”.
Otherwise really gorgeous photography, and showcases some beautiful places. For people new to using vintage pieces, this has some fab ideas.

[Carolyn Hill · Rating 3 out of 5]

This home design book is really a testament to one interior stylist’s look and process - Lynda Gardener’s, whose seven properties make up the bulk of the ‘spaces’ section of the book. Her style is monochromatic with interior envelopes exclusively white, with a scattering of blacks, chocolate browns, moody grays, and calming neutrals. This is not a minimal look because Lynda is a magpie collector, with a love of odd and quirky finds and old portraits, natural, foraged, and rustic materials, and a mix of old and new. This includes some beautiful antique pieces as well as things dilapidated and broken and, in some instances, artwork sketches stuck to the wall with masking tape. It’s a high/low look. The setting for all but one of the spaces is Australia, the other is an 18th century townhouse in England, and most are refurbished older properties with a couple of rustic new build cabin/barn structures designed as vacation homes. For an American reader, none of these spaces look anything like a typical suburban home, so the translation to a newer American home might be a difficult fit. If this look appeals to you, you could find inspiration, especially if you like quirky old things and white rooms. Lynda Gardener is an intuitive stylist and trying to explain how you can do the same thing is rather difficult to deconstruct. For example, under ‘What Makes A Home,’ “A backdrop for displays - An instinctive mix of the right objects and finishing touches.” You apparently have to know instinctively what is “right.”

The book is divided into four parts, including an introduction about the authors’ journeys, ‘What Makes A Home,’ and ‘What is an Interior Stylist. Part II, ‘Elements’ includes what is outlined in ‘What Makes a Home’: Palette, Nature, Textiles, Lighting, Old +New, Storage, Collections, and Art. The third section illustrates the elements in ‘Spaces’ from the authors’ and photographer’s homes and rentals as well as one other. The fourth part is a listing of sources which are mostly in the UK and Australia, with a couple in the US. While I like their approach of using many repurposed items, a natural and organic look, and creating a home with soul that reflects who you are and what you love, I feel these examples are limited to only one kind of expression. As they say, “Use only what you love - avoid convention and trends. Safe will never be unique, and fashions will come and go.” This book reflects Lynda Gardener’s unique style, but I feel that some of the elements such as a monochromatic palette, oversized industrial lighting mixed with timeworn French antiques, rumpled natural linens, and odd assortments of furnishings are a ‘look’ that has been trending for a while. Ali Heath has a new book out now, but from the cover it looks like a continuation of this style. But in other design sources I’m seeing a refreshing return to color. As they say, fashions come and go.

[Cheryl Linebarger · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this book was not quite what I’d hoped, given the sub-title of “Inspiration for an Individual Home”, I did appreciate the blending throughout of antique and vintage finds, with modern home furnishings and decor, which is the way my own home has evolved over the decades. The style here is much different from my own, though, and the extremely neutral color schemes in all of the featured homes did not appeal. I’m a color girl!! Still, the book was lovely, and the experience of reading it, with it’s thick pages, and inky aroma, was time well spent.

[Mihaela · Rating 2 out of 5]

My favorite home featured in the book is The Shed. It’s beautiful with big windows and view of nature, and unlike every other home featured in the book isn’t full of whitewashed wood, instead the interior is surrounded with natural wood on walls and floors and ceilings.

The book does have some nice tips, my favorite is in the textiles section that states “whether tying an interior seamlessly together or creating discourse through contrast, textiles determine how we feel about our spaces…. When choosing fabrics… consider a mix of textures, patterns and colors, but always within your palette. This will enable you to move pieces between rooms and curate fresh looks throughout your home, while retaining a cohesive overall style.”

One thing I am not a fan of overall and it happened to be included in this book, is portraits of strangers hanging in my house on my walls. This book sells this as storytelling, but what story am I telling by including portraits of strangers I found in flee markets or thrift stores? Lynda Gardener mentions she owns an original portrait from the 19th century of her grandmother (great-grandmother?) and that is an example of storytelling and something I would respect being featured in a personal home. Personally, portraits are not my thing, especially for strangers.

[Cate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unfortunately not much different from other interior design books i’ve read. The photos which zoom in on one aspect of a room but makes you wonder if in real
Life the room would look messy or cluttered. Lovely photos to inspire, but had hoped to pick up hints or tips.

[Karen DiFabio · Rating 5 out of 5]

interesting

This book brought you into the realm of designers and other creative people. From one property to the next the descriptions of their finishes and decor inspired me to move forward with choices I’ve made for our condominium. Love that it was Australian in origin.

[Rebecca Shepherd · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mostly pictures -not my vibe. Lots of nasty looking furniture that should have been dumped ages ago but was trying to be spun as chic. I did like the interviews with the home owners. Wish there would have been more variety.

[Terri Anstett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book but a bit too maximalist in decor. Love their idea of what a home should be though

[LemontreeLime · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alotta dollars+jumble shops= illusion of claimed/reclaimed history?

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous neutral styling.

[Mrs Julie Gargett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting ideas
A good book for dipping into

[Eileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[C · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my cuppa. Usually I like monochromatic textures in design but this author does too much of the same old which left me running for color. Also, grim lighting, a sprinkling of taxidermy and somewhat horrid artworks combine to form a dull, dank, and somewhat depressing vibe. Glad I got it out of the library.

Edit: After a look at British Designers at Home and (some of) Nora Murphy's Country House, this book was a good antidote for overblown. However, someone in England needs to turn on the lights and I still hate taxidermy.

[Relyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my, this book is FULL of style.