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Sitting Down with Creative Interior Designer Lynne Bradley

 

For designer Lynne Bradley, who heads up Lynne Bradley Interiors, a love of design was influenced by two primary driving forces. The first was her mother, who had a true passion for creating a beautiful home, and the second was her appreciation and participation in the performing arts. In fact, Lynne’s first career was as an agent for classical musicians in London, after receiving her music degree from The Conservatorium of Music.

Her design career evolved organically following that, as she found she was often working on projects for friends.

We had the opportunity to speak with Lynne recently about her work, which she considers a design journey. Her goals are to bring together creativity, flexibility, and practicality in her projects, and she prides herself on the ability to source the finest in interior items thanks to her work with elite architects, artisans, and suppliers. Lynne works across aesthetics and brings together an inspired infusion of her love for fashion, architecture, nature, fine art and the performance arts. 

1. When did you first decide to become an interior designer and stylist and how did you get started with your design business?  

When I was a child I could always be found rearranging my room and making things.  I was very creative and had a big imagination.  My first career was as an agent to very famous classical musicians in London, having completed my music degree at The Conservatorium of Music.  During my time as a student, I used to style a choir that I was in and create stage sets for my piers performances.  Then, moving into arts administration I was often locating venues for concerts, styling the stage and designing the programs and posters.  One highlight in this career was meeting and collaborating with former Beatle, George Harrison, who would always help me set the stage for Ravi Shankar who was one of my artists.

 I was definitely influenced by my mother who was always sewing, painting or wallpapering our home.  She had a great stash of textiles which I used to help myself to or I would pick up her scraps and turn them into something.  My mother loved making our home welcoming and beautiful and was constantly redecorating the house.  I believe in the term that ‘you learn your trade around the kitchen table’.

As a sewer myself, I was often making curtains, blinds and cushions for my friends, so in a way, I was always a designer.  It wasn’t until I was pregnant with my third child and having renovated my own first home through which I realised I had a talent for design, that I decided to study interior design and embark upon my second career.  I did a lot of work for family and friends for free to practice on them and got a lot of compliments, so my business sort of took off from there.  I have been in business for 17 years now but only in the last 4 years, due to a young family, have I really let it take off.

 

2. What is the most challenging part of your job?  

Orchestrating the minute details of lining up trades and suppliers to keep a project running on time as well as helping my clients to appreciate that their beautifully crafted bespoke pieces take time to deliver.  

 

3. Is there an interior design style you favour and do you have your own design aesthetic?  

I am not a believer of favouring one style over another. I am inspired by so very many genres and love everything from Classic English design to minimalist contemporary.  My own design aesthetic is to respond to the clients and the architecture of the space I am working on, making my style bespoke and individual.  

I am known for my use of colour but I am equally happy working with a monochromatic palette if that is what is required.  I do love a touch of glamour and enjoy an eclectic mix of pieces that have been collected over the years, and am focused on delivering a one of a kind result to my clients that is multi layered.  I am passionate about unique design.

 

 

4. Who are other interior designers you admire?  

There are an amazing number of talented Australian designers whom I greatly admire and these included Thomas Hamel, Blainey North, Cameron Kimber, Melissa Collison, Adelaide Bragg, Greg Natale, Arent Pyke.  My international favourites Isle Crawford, Kelly Wearstler, India Mahdavi, Kathryn Ireland, Jean-Louis Deniot, Mark D. Sikes, Kit Kemp, Stephen Gambrel.  

 

5. What inspires you?  

Music, Art, Ballet, NATURE, colour, travel, fashion - pretty much everything.  I feel so blessed to be surrounded by so much beauty and have access to so many exquisite things.

  

 

6. What do you think is the essential piece of furniture we should all have in our bedroom?  

A beautifully designed bedhead upholstered in an exquisite textile, along with a super comfortable bed, pillow and luxurious bed linen.  These are the core elements of a luxurious bedroom for me.  

I always tell my clients that the Master Bedroom is control central and it must be a calm, comfortable and beautiful space to retreat to so that they can cope with the many demands in their lives.

 

7. What key element do we all need for a chic living room?

 A luxurious, generous and comfortable sofa and armchairs that you can sink into.  Ottomans to put your feet up and a beautifully curated coffee table that tells a story about the inhabitants.

 

8. Do you have a favourite project or story behind a project?   

All of my design work is very personal to me and I put a piece of myself in each space.  I guess that my favourite projects are those that are fully appreciated by my clients.

Lynne has a unique idea about design. She sees her work as ultimately about problem-solving for her clients, and with that, she integrates an appreciation for the long-cherished items with fresh design and bespoke pieces. Lynne is likely to continue spending her free time creating beautiful things and enjoying hobbies like singing, as well as being with her family. All of the experiences she appreciates in her free time are also likely to continue influencing her work in a significant way. 

 

Let's Get Personal ......

1. What else are you passionate about besides your work?  

My family comes first and they are my number one passion.   I am blessed to have my husband Mark, two sons James and Harrison, and daughter Emma.  I am also passionate about art, architecture, fashion and the performing arts.  I also love to bake, paint, sew and craft in my spare time and am very much a ‘maker’.

2. What is your most treasured belonging?  

Precious ceramics passed down to me from my Great Aunt and my mothers tapestries that she has made for us.  I also treasure photos and videos of my precious children as they were growing up.

3. What's one thing people may not know about you?  

That I sing in a choir called Soulfood A Cappella and perform regularly in Australia.  I am also a massive bower bird and love to pick up and style with flowers and other things from nature.

4. In 10 years I'd like to be ….  

I am passionate about Interior Design and I will still running my business and helping my clients to achieve spaces that improve their lives.  I embrace change and look forward to developing as a designer and developing a product range and maybe being on a design show.  I look forward to helping others achieve their goals.

5. What can't you live without?  

My beautiful family and friends as well as being surrounded by nature and colour.

Website: http://lynnebradleyinteriors.com.au

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