By Kathryn Bamford
Gone are the Daylesford days! The gorgeous gift and homewares store Lark officially opened its new doors on Gertrude Street in Melbourne’s Fitzroy on Friday.
The beautiful shop front has huge glass windows with striking typography and gorgeous displays. The space itself has amazing high ceilings with stunning decorative detailing. Being my first ever visit to a Lark store I was amazed as soon I stepped foot in the door! The range of products is incredible and even though there is loads of variety it all seems to mesh together so well! It’s definitely one of those places where you will always find something you want to buy.
I was lucky enough to go along on the opening night and meet the lovely store owner Allison Jones, who thinks design should be accessible to everyone (which probably explains why everything in the store is so affordable). She was in her element on the opening night, saying: “I was so excited to show off the new store.” She told me the new store offers some exclusive products not in the existing online store, such as very limited adorable vintage dolls that are handpainted by an 80-year-old man from Japan. Allison certainly knows her customers and what they are after. “Many of them want to create their own unique home with different pieces. They also want to be able to see and touch the products as well as shop online.”
Speaking of creative people, Geelong-based illustrator Laura Blythman has collaborated with Allison on the artistic interior of the Fitzroy store. Not only is she responsible for the amazing feather wall, her own range is also for sale there. Laura has created some truly charming pieces for her range of tea towels, pillows, tote bags, phone cases and prints, starting at $25. She also let slip that there is a new range of big vanilla candles coming in next week from a collaboration she did with Grace and James Candle Co. You can purchase Laura’s lovely pieces from Lark as well as her online store.
I love that Allison and Laura are planning on keeping the new store fresh and exciting so people want to come back, by changing it up every few weeks.
I found it to be the ultimate place to pick up gifts! Finally a shop that has different stock to all the other gift stores that are around. It’s definitely a great place to get super cute stuff for kids, but it’s not just for the kids, there is honestly something for everyone at Lark, yes, including men!
Lark offers a great service where you can buy your goods online and pick them up in store, which, as a local, I can see coming in handy for that last minute Christmas shopping!
My favourite other pieces which deserve a mention were definitely all the colourful goodies from Rice’s latest collection. In particular the organic shaped ceramic jugs and bowls which I’m told by Allison are hand painted and made in Portugal. Definitely an affordable and easy way to add a pop of colour to your table this summer with pieces starting from $26.95.
To get your hands on some of Lark’s goodies you can either buy online or head into the store at 94 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy VIC 3065, open 11am to 4pm, Monday to Saturday.
