My Houzz: ‘Pavement Pickings’ a Happy Fit in a Period Home

Whether it be perusing Parisian flea markets, trawling eBay or keeping an eye out for curbside treasures, Lize Smeaton-Fox has long enjoyed the pursuit of adding that next item to her collection, and making an art out of displaying her finds at home. So after five years of happily renting her previous abode, she knew that finding a new place for herself and her family provided an exciting opportunity to redecorate a new home from scratch. Eager to stay in the same area of Melbourne, Australia, she began her search and found a gorgeous period home in the style she had long coveted: a double-fronted Victorian cottage. The house was full of character and came with all the space necessary to accommodate not only her daughters and pets, but also her extensive collection of vintage finds and “pavement pickings.”

Photos by Kate Hansen

Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Lize Smeaton-Fox; her daughters, Calypso (age 19) and Gypsie (22); and Coco the cat
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Size: 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms

Smeaton-Fox says she has been obsessed with the charm and character of Victorian architecture for as long as she can remember. The decorative features, floorboards and fireplaces have always appealed to her, and now complement her antique and vintage pieces perfectly.


You’re greeted by some of her treasures when you walk in the door. “I’ve always loved collecting things, ever since I was a child and was given my first bug catcher — the best thing ever,” Smeaton-Fox says. “We spent summers by the beach since I was born, so collecting shells, starfish and anything from the beach was just a natural thing to do.”

A move to Paris later in life further cemented this love of rifling through flea markets and thrift shops.

A printer’s tray filled with Zippo lighters, dice and miniature vintage bottles takes pride of place in the hallway. “I call it the Frank Sinatra tray,” Smeaton-Fox says, as it represents cigarettes, gambling and drinking — “three of Frank’s favorite pastimes!”


There’s a surprise at every turn. “Roger the Ram” was an eBay find from a rural farm in Victoria and watches proudly over a vintage crate filled with a collection of bottles. “My style is very mix-and-match. I’m no minimalist, and I basically follow my gut, not trends, when it comes to purchasing things,” she says.


Almost every room in the home is utilized to display her various collections, and the hallway is no exception. “You don’t need a fortune to fill a home, and I’m happy to say that hard-rubbish [bulk-pickup] day is one of the happiest times of the year for me. I’m proud to find and reuse something that someone else has discarded. As they say, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure,” she says.


Smeaton-Fox doesn’t restrict her decorating to vintage items. Sitting alongside older pieces are more contemporary objects, like this original watercolor painting by Maria Moss.


This green owl print is by Jessie Breakwell, a well-known Australian artist.


In the living room, an old leather chair adds to the seating arrangement and is surrounded by collections and curiosities. Smeaton-Fox doesn’t strive for perfection, just for pieces that will settle in and grow with her home. “This chair wasn’t the vintage club chair I dreamed of, but it’s so comfortable, and over time the leather has faded in places, which I love. It’s a different brown to the leather sofa we have now, which appeals to my need for mix-and-match, rather than prim and proper perfection, which just isn’t my thing,” she says.


A curiosity table holds a collection of pocket watches and mechanisms.



Smeaton-Fox is a fan of storage, and needs plenty of it to house her growing collection. Built-in shelving keeps the dining space roomy, but she says it could do with a bit of character to match the finds it holds: “If I had my way, I’d make an entire wall of old wooden crates, rather than modern white shelving.”


An addition at the rear of the home is perfect for entertaining, especially in the summer, with the back doors opening up the house to the deck and garden.



“Bruce,” Smeaton-Fox’s much-loved bull skull, another eBay find, keeps watch on an old chest in the dining room.


The backyard had been neglected before Smeaton-Fox moved in. One of her first priorities was to bring it back to life. When she started the mammoth task, there was no grass, and the gardens were so overgrown that she didn’t even realize she had a lemon tree. Six months later she can sit back, relax and enjoy it all.


This green cabinet is an original bread cupboard from a French boulangerie. Smeaton-Fox bought it at a Parisian flea market while living in France. “I absolutely love it, especially since most kitchens don’t have that much cupboard space,” she says. “We use it for everyday items, and it’s perfect.”


The modern and functional kitchen blends in sympathetically with the older elements of the home while still responding to the practical needs of the family. “While I’ve got that lovely old-home feel, I’m also enjoying a new six-burner Smeg stainless steel oven,” Smeaton-Fox says.


Smeaton-Fox poses in her kitchen. “I used to cook a lot but have hung up my apron somewhat now the girls are older … and should be able to cook for themselves a bit more,” she says. “I’m a regular baker, so there’s always a cake or biscuits on hand for any drop-ins and the girlfriends.”


The eat-in kitchen is built to feed the masses. It’s a great space for the whole family to gather in, and for Calypso and Gypsie’s friends when they’re over.


Smeaton-Fox’s love of curiosities and pavement pickings is rubbing off on the whole family: “My daughters love all the bits and bobs. They don’t even blink these days when they see me clutching a surfboard from a garage sale or a snakeskin sent from a lovely Instagrammer.”

Although not quite as into the bric-a-brac side of it, they all love scouring thrift shops for amazing finds. “They’re both gold medalists at collecting clothes and shoes!” she says of her daughters.

Lithograph: David Larwill


Despite the home’s being a rental, the landlord gave her permission to make some improvements to its interior, after Smeaton-Fox presented a list of decorative changes she wished to make. Here in Gypsie’s bedroom, her first mission was to paint the dated orange chimney a crisp white.


Both of her daughters were born in France and vacation overseas nearly every year with their father. The prints hanging in Calypso’s room serve as a reminder of their travels together.


Compared with other rooms in the home, Smeaton-Fox describes her bedroom as “simple, unchaotic and peaceful,” achieved through a neutral palette used in the bedding and furniture and an elegant wall display of tin-framed mirrors and soothing prints.


“Kenneth the Kookaburra” keeps watch on the mantel in her bedroom.


This owl print is by Jessie Breakwell.


A generously sized en suite bathroom is in the main bedroom. “I’ve moved seven times since returning to Australia from France 15 years ago, and this is the first time since then I haven’t had to share a bathroom with at least one of my daughters. I do share it with Coco, my cat, but the old girl is lovely and tidy … just the way I like it!,” she says.


A small shed in the backyard has proved to be the most exciting bonus for Smeaton-Fox. It’s in here — her “own slice of heaven,” as she refers to it — that she can store and display “pavement pickings,” little collections and street finds.


Although her collections keep on growing, Smeaton-Fox makes sure that she’s ruthless, so things don’t get out of hand. “When it’s time for a change, I’m happy to put things out in the street for someone else to enjoy — things don’t last too long out there,” she says. Her shed is filled with stored artwork for which she has yet to find wall space, but being a renter has its advantages. “Renters tend to have a major chuck-out when moving more than a homeowner,” she says. “My motto is, ‘If you haven’t used it within a year, get rid of it.’”





Smeaton-Fox is still collecting shells, among other things. “The pegs are vintage, and are gifts from my mum. She knows I love old things: bottles, scissors, pegs — anything with a bit of history. When she comes to Melbourne, she always brings me something fabulous she’s found in an antique store or [thrift] shop.”





“I’ve got about half a dozen sheep skulls. I just love them. I think they’re really beautiful to look at, and they’re interesting. It’s bizarre, really, since I haven’t eaten meat for over 30 years,” Smeaton-Fox says.

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