Step inside the Gold Coast home of Lesa Lambert, bliss stylist and talent behind Instagram sensation Moss and Twine.
Lesa bought her four bedroom home two years ago. “It was an ugly duckling on the best street,” she explains. “A concrete and paver jungle painted salmon pink and yellow with a terracotta roof – but it had good bones, and the layout was perfect for us and the way we like to live.” After renovating ten homes in 20 years, Lesa knew those bones were a winning combo – with every important room in the house north facing, the natural light and aspect were ideal. Location wise, it’s fabulous – situated in the heart of the Gold Coast, the home is less than five minutes to the beach and 15 minutes to the mountains.
Avid gardeners, Lesa, her partner and son set out to turn their ugly duckling into an exotic, tropical sanctuary that is generously lush and rustic and, in keeping with their location, casually coastal.
Inside their home, a lovely airy spaciousness, awash with natural light, is achieved by the all white floors, walls and ceilings. “We went with white timber flooring throughout the house – it was a risk, but I would do it over again.”
“I use a lot of whitewashed and over-sized teak timber pieces in my styling, and adore chalk paint artist Annie Sloan – I use her paints when restoring beautiful Indian and Indonesian furniture,” explains Lesa.
Vibrant pops of colour are also a major part of her signature style. “I’m passionate about fabrics, and dream of designing textiles one day. It’s all about mixing textures and layering – that adds so much more interest to a room.”
Plants and greenery are another constant feature – whether it’s in the wallpaper, the textiles, or bringing the garden inside; lush greenery is all around. “I inherited my passion for plants and a green thumb from my mother. I love lush and tropical greenery… plants, plants and more plants.”
Outdoor living spaces are understandably a feature of this coastal home. Poolside lounging in the shade of the thatched pavilion makes the most of the tropical Queensland climate and exotic Rattan fish-trap lampshades, adorned with fairy lights, bring an air of romance to balmy nights.
Lesa also loves to feature objects in her garden designs. “It’s things like a vintage Indian window, just hanging out on the fence – that makes my heart tick – or a massive pot filled with lush bamboo. I love that.”
Lesa’s talents have led her into styling photo shoots for local Gold Coast artists and retailers. Now with over 13k followers on Instagram, her styling star is rising. “A couple of years ago I started posting my furniture renovations and styling ideas for my home.” Within months, she was working for three local, up and coming businesses, styling their products and homewares in her lovely home and showcasing them on Instagram. Her followers are from all over Australia and around the world.
“I love supporting local and handmade pieces with integrity. There is so much talent in our local area – from Byron Bay to Bangalow, Burleigh Heads and beyond. I love to shop, and I’m a collector of all things beautiful – but there’s nothing more exciting than finding a piece of old furniture to restore and up-cycle.”
Lesa’s place is homely and comfortable. “I wouldn’t have it any other way. Our home has been styled exactly the way my family and I want to live, and everything in it is inspired by the heart.”
Having always dreamed of owning her own homewares store, Lesa has recently taken the plunge and bought retail outlet, Indiana Stores, in James Street, Burleigh Heads. “I’m a real people person, so I’m excited to take the next step and showcase my style through my very own store.”
Photography by Anastasia Kariofyllidis
