Mr & Mrs Smith

Walking up the pathway, past lush green gardens and through the front door of the unpretentious cottage that is the White House, you get that feeling that you’ve arrived somewhere very special. Initially, you can’t help but dart from room to room ogling all the glorious detail – the French chandelier hanging over the claw-foot bathtub, the cushions made of Union Jack flags and old flour bags on the sofas, the antique drawers filled with suggestions of what to do in the area – but you’ll still be making discoveries at the end of your weekend away.

Nothing has been forgotten in this two-bedroom cottage (a third bedroom with ensuite inhabits a separate studio in the back yard). It’s as if a most stylish friend – one with a love of vintage furniture and industrial antiques – has left you the keys for their beloved country home and disappeared for a couple of days. You can spend daylight hours exploring the tomes in the cosy library, napping in front of the open fire, then wandering the village of Daylesford and surrounds, before returning in the evening to light the grouping of candles in the bathroom’s fireplace and winding down in a tub of bubbles.

The White House is the project of well-known Melbourne antiques dealer, Lyn Gardener. Her Albert Park store Empire Vintage (www.empirevintage.com.au) is a beacon for those seeking retro furniture, homewares and fabrics, and she shares her love of all things antique on A Vintage Outing, a Hidden Secrets shopping tour (www.hiddensecretstours.com) during which guests are ferried around to her favourite stores in fully restored 1960s Fiat 1500s. For her country house, she’s travelled all over rural Victoria to find pieces that suit the history of this 1850s miner’s cottage.

 

In industrial filing drawers in the living area, Lyn has collected information on some of her favourite Daylesford restaurants, stores and activities, giving you the perfect excuse to get out and explore this unique town. With 60 natural mineral springs in the area, submerging yourself in the health-giving waters is an obvious choice for an outing – followed by a stress-busting massage – but there is plenty more to discover. Daylesford is renowned for its superb regional produce and excellent restaurants and cafés, its proximity to Melbourne encourages a strong artistic community, and there are lots of walks in the surrounding countryside. Combine that with the perfect country base, and you may find yourself considering a tree-change.