God it's a good feeling when I finally get to share a home I've been chasing for many months! This amazing warehouse in the heart of Fitzroy has been on my radar for quite some time (after a tip off from the lovely Poppy Lane of Pop & Scott) - it's a brilliant, eclectic, creative home and workspace for florist Sarah Nolan of Mr Lincoln.
Sarah's been here for ten years, and currently shares the home with a housemate - fellow florist Bianca Filer, and two dogs, Bessie and Franks. The warehouse itself belongs to Sarah's sister, Rachel Nolan, who is one half of Kennedy Nolan Architects. Rachel and her husband Steve lived here for five years prior to Sarah, and in its early days, Rachel's architectural practice was based from here too. Such is the wonderful versatility of a space of these proportions!
With her sister for a 'landlord', Sarah has been lucky to have had some freedom over the years to personalise her much loved home. 'I've painted and added shelving' she says - 'the layout has seen many iterations, but the shell has remained the same'. The home is very open plan - the entire lower level (kitchen, dining and Sarah's workspace) is one open space, whilst the top floor is essentially the world's BIGGEST bedroom, with soaring timber panelled ceilings - very cool!
In her many years here, Sarah has amassed an eclectic collection of artwork, furniture and op shop gold. Favourite finds include the amazing green antique poster in her workspace, found at Letitia Morris Gallery in Armadale - 'the scale is perfect for the house' Sarah says. Sarah is also especially fond of all the vintage treasures she's picked up at Armadale store Nyary 604 over the years - these include the tin leather stools in her workspace, antique Italian oversized timber farmhouse spoon and leather moose (on dining table) and old French milk bottles. 'I love all of these, stepping foot in this shop is like going on holiday, filled with such amazing nicknacks from all over the world' says Sarah of Nyary, one of her favourite Melbourne stores.
Of course, it's no surprise Sarah's home is also filled with plants and greenery. 'I love living with plants, they've always been a part of my house' she says. Her favourite spot for sourcing interesting plants for her home is Glasshaus Nursery in Richmond, run by the very knowledgable Paul Hyland. (I can vouch for the incredible variety at Glasshaus - it's one of my favourite city nurseries, well worth a visit!). Sarah is also rocking a great collection of those amazing painted fibreglass planters by her good pal Poppy from Pop and Scott Workshop - and a Pop and Scott swing, of course! (No self-respecting Melbourne hipster should be without one by now!)
After five years running her floristry business from a sweet shopfront in Gertrude st, Sarah has recently moved her business into this warehouse. 'Mr Lincoln operated out of Gertrude Street for five wonderful years - I loved the space, there's a great supportive community in Fitzroy and it was great to be a local trader' says Sarah. However, over the years Sarah's client work began to require a much larger space, so once the lease on her little shop was up, it made sense to move her business into the ground floor of her Fitzroy warehouse. 'The majority of my jobs are events, weddings and commercial work, an area of floristry that I really love' says Sarah. 'Melbourne has such fabulous restaurants and venues, each job is always really exciting'. So whilst she's not retailing to the general public anymore, Mr Lincoln still operates from here, and Sarah welcomes clients here by appointment.
HUGE thanks to Sarah for sharing her home and her story with us today. Do consider her beautiful floral work for your next wedding / posh event... such a clever cookie.
What a dream this home is! It is just stunning. Love it so much. x
lofty warehouse envy! sarah your choices in everything are perfect….
Lucky ducks, wow.
Utterly stunning space, thanks for sharing!
All that wonderful plant life and all those collected colourful treasures – I can almost smell the injection of oxygen and sense the happiness in this lovely home. Lovely story Lucy (no wonder you were excited) and gorgeous images Sean. x
Love this one
Such a beautiful, light, homely space! I love all the plant life & colour. Would love to wake up under that gorgeous uplifting bedspread!
wonderment!
Great story Lucy. Amazing space of course even better though to hear that Sarah and Mr Lincoln are going strong. Sad to see one of the cooler independant spaces leave Gertrude St.
I’m a little bit in love this morning. Delicious space and lovely photos.
What a beautiful babe. What a beautiful space.
A Funky,Junky back to the 70s curated feast for the eyes .Quintessential Fitzroy Warehome. A deliberate spin on the reindeer trend…………… a stag horn above your bed ? And yes, the Variegated Dahlias are sublime.
amazing space!
WOW!!! What an inspiring space…so many beautiful details, LOVE it all!
Pretty and raw rolled into a big ball of crazy awesomeness. It’s like stepping into a scene from Offspring! LOVE xo
I thought of Offspring as well. Love the greenery and playful colour. I’m inspired to get more plant life into my home.
Ahh Warehouse living. I shall continue to dream. Thanks for sharing!
Lovely light, colourful detailing & I can feel the fresh breeze passing through it….love this space! Thank you for sharing this!!
Love this place!
What a fantastic and quirky space, thanks for sharing Lucy!
Absolutley love her style.
So warm
I want this place!
One of my favourite so far, Lucy!
My dream home! Love love love
Love the Boris Bucan poster. That one is hard to get and for a reason.
lovely home. does sarah have any tips for indoor plants ? her’s look so healthy and green.
groovy!
So Fitzroy!!! Love it. And Lucy, you have written this story beautifully. Makes you feel like you’re actually there.
Oh to live in a Fitzroy warehouse….. Love it and all those Pop and Scott pots are awesome!!!!!
I love this!! Great find Lucy!
Absolutely Beautiful ! Sarah Nolan is one talented florist. The best place to get your flowers
What a life.. !
Amazing home! As a Fitzroy local what a great way to see all the places I lust after… then just lust some more!
Stunning! My fiance’s dream is for an indoor hammock, I always respond with “buy me a warehouse for a home and then you can have a hammock indoors” – thank you Sarah Nolan (& Lucy!!), I may just get that warehouse conversion I’ve always dreamed of!!
Such a lovely space for such a lovely person! Sarah did all the floral work for our wedding last year and she was such a pro… relaxed, easy going and such a pleasure to work with. Highly recommend her for any events! SHE IS AWESOME!
so Nina Proudman! Very cool.
Wow, what a pretty home for a pretty florist. I wonder if Sarah would think about having Wine & Flower nights? Id love to go!
What a dream space! Great work guys.
a gorgeous example of a home that has evolved from collected treasures and loved objects/finds…not sure if Sarah lives with a flatmate or partner, but its also great to see a beautiful home belonging to a single/gay person..sometimes it can be a bit depressing just looking at beautiful spaces created by loved-up couples…a few more single pads please?!?
I want this to be my house…LOVE it!
Hermoso!! la hamaca interior es lo mejor!
I can almost smell the injection of oxygen and sense the happiness in this lovely home. I’m inspired to get more plant life into my home.
Love this home, especially all the Pop and Scott goodness. I now have a very strong desire to put a swing in my living room.
Very cool home and lovely story to go with it. And her HAIR is dreamyyy…
A home full of nick-naks purchased over the years is wonderful. To look at something and have that instant memory of that time is priceless. Love the look and wish I had that talent.
Drooool – the perfect space! The wife and I would move in in a second.
absolutely stunning!!
wondered where you got to Sarah!
Super Cool,,, deadly layout + brilliant collection!!!
This is just like a my dream home.
This is a brilliant example how patchwork interior could be successfully mixed with classical styles to create a warm and homey look. Great job!
More interior designs on:
http://www.tipsforcleaners.com.au
Hello! Where is the gorgeous dining table from with the white top? Beautiful space
I am dying over this space. Truly amazing.
This has to be one of my favourite spaces I have ever seen!
So lovely to see Boris Bučan’s poster for “Žar ptica” from my hometown’s opera house. Crazy Expensive and hard to find abroad!
I keep coming back to this space – I absolutely adore it. You’ve got the best gig going ! Love love love.