Ashlyn Lincoln greeted me at the front of her terrace home in Carlton as the last warm rays of sunshine spilled over the large white archway down her hallway.
I first discovered Ashlyn many years ago on Instagram and quickly became hooked on her daily stories. It wasn’t just her self-deprecating humour that drew me in, but the way she writes - with honesty, vulnerability, and a rare kind of eloquence.
Though this home is just a stone’s throw from the city, the street felt unexpectedly quiet and serene. Ashlyn shares the house with three others, but it didn’t feel like any ordinary sharehouse - it felt like Melbourne’s very own version of Friends. The home exudes warmth, and their dynamic has the effortless ease of family.
We chat about her love for photography, her life split between Melbourne and Bali, the sparks that ignite her imagination as a freelance creative, her vision of the perfect slow morning, and the reasons she and her chosen family fell in love with this charming, lived-in abode.
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Who are you and what do you do?
Not me staring blankly at the screen for a whole five minutes because I somehow still freeze when asked this??? You’d think I’d have my elevator pitch sorted by now?
BUT alas, I’m Ashlyn, a freelance creative working across styling, content creation, photography, and writing.
Most of what I do lives in the sweet spot between homemaking and storytelling… I’ve always been equally obsessed with arranging and making things that feel beautiful to me, and sharing stories both visually and verbally. So I’m very lucky to be able to combine both loves for my clients - capturing the feeling of a space, a meal, or a moment, and translating that into something people can feel through a screen!
Up until recently, you were living between Melbourne and Bali - can you tell us about your journey over the past few years? It sounds like a dream… what drew you back to Melbourne full-time?
Funny, I was actually journaling about this exact theme this morning…
It definitely was a dream come true for a while – doing the whole Bali thing had been a lofty goal of mine for eight years before I made it happen in 2024. Like so many others, I’d always felt a special affinity to the island, plus the lifestyle is obviously incredible – tropical everything, surf culture, being surrounded by fascinating people of all walks, the FOOD, the beautiful locals, constant adventure, the novelty that never wears off of zipping around on your scooter all day every day (why is this the actual epitome of freedom though???)
In many ways it was more than I dreamed it would be. BUT being the hedonist’s paradise that it is, living there can feel a bit like being in a constant highlight reel. It’s fun as hell but when dopamine’s on tap 24/7 and you can feel movement and energy everywhere all the time, it can be hard to stay anchored. Essentially I got too overstimulated and started genuinely craving –lo and behold!– the gorgeous mundaneness of Melbourne again.
As a freelancer working across styling, photography, content creation and writing - what sparks your best creative thinking? What makes your imagination run wild?
Paradoxically, my brain needs ‘boredom’ to do anything genuinely interesting. If I’m too plugged into the noise of everything around me and non-stop consuming other voices, narratives, opinions, or entertainment, I’m simply too distracted and don’t have proper access to my inner world.
I need space in my brain to catch inspiration when it comes through, so a lotttttt of solitude and time in nature are big non-negoshies. I also do a lot of gardening, dancing, cooking, and playing games (I am suddenly obsessed with doing fantasy-themed jigsaw puzzles, how embarro)… all the stuff that regulates my nervous system and makes me feel like a joyful lil kid again – sparking greater creativity as a gorgy byproduct!
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Something feels so special about this household that you share with your best friends, it feels so warm and joyful. What first drew you to this home and how has it evolved since moving in?
Aw thank youuuu, yes it’s a very special lil home indeed!
We got so stupidly lucky. The first draw was that it was in our dream location (Carlton North, tucked behind Rathdowne Village), the second was the abnormal amount of natural light that flooded through for a Victorian terrace. I was instantly obsessed with the classic bones and charm of the high ceilings, the ornate arch in the hallway, the exposed brick, the fireplaces in the bedrooms. It was just a really dreamy canvas and had *just* enough modern updates without sacrificing any character.
Furnishing and decorating it was the funnest project ever from the get-go. It’s obviously evolved a bit over the years, but the main transformation is the courtyard – I couldn’t handle staring out to a brick box so I slowly turned it into a (mini mini) urban oasis.
Are there particular pieces or corners of your home that hold special meaning?
Hmmmm oh gosh so many speshy pieces! I’m verrrrry sentimental and love collecting things that feel like they’ve got a story to tell. A few bits around my bedroom I especially love are: my handmade mug with ceramic figurines of my pets inside it (gifted by my darling sister), the glass-top desk that I display hand written notes from friends and paint swatches in, the thrifted bedside lamp I recently repainted apricot, and my beloved collection of books.
The courtyard is probably my favourite space though. I’ve learned so much about gardening out there (or potting, rather, since there’s no actual garden bed), and it’s where I love to journal, eat brekky, host dinner parties, play cards with the roomies, and water my flower babies.
The prints scattered throughout your home, all captured by you, feel effortlessly at home. Can you share the story behind 1800-NOSTALGIA? How did the concept come to life, and what sparked your love for photography?
1800-NOSTALGIAa collection of moments that feel like your fave memory in your fave faraway place, even if the memory isn’t yours. Lots of sun, outrageously pretty facades, little exchanges and moments between people… and often in Europe (because it’s the easiest on the eye).
It really came to life during Covid, when I found myself revisiting old travel photos and seeing a whole new beauty in them. It felt like a small form of escapism that we were all craving at the time. So I started sharing them online more, then printing a few of my faves for my own space, and realised how special they felt blown up. And then I started offering prints to others.
It’s still a very humble corner of the internet, but it brings me so much joy knowing those moments get to live on, whether that’s on someone’s wall or just as a little tile on their screen.
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When a moment calls to be photographed, what do you feel? Describe the feeling to us.
Hmmmm there’s like this distinct moment of pause and a sense of “I HAVE to capture that”. It’s not a logical process, it’s more just a feeling of awe that grabs your whole attention and you’re not satisfied until you’ve captured that feeling visually through the right angle and in the right light.
With your background in nutrition and a love for food storytelling, what does a perfect night in with your housemates look like and what are you cooking up?
A perfect night in looks like a few rounds of cards (cambio or gin rummy) in the courtyard followed by a show we’re all super into (currently it’s Jury Duty season 2)... and then usually we’ll all talk over the top of it until we just turn it off and end up gas bagging til way too late.
In terms of what I’d cook, my housemates would probably answer “obviously your veggie pasta” to this. So yep, veggie pasta – honey roasted pumpkin, broc & zucchini, brown butter sauce, toasted pine nuts, crispy chilli oil, fresh basil… and a parmesan panko crumb if they’re lucky.
What does a typical slow morning at home look like for you - from the moment you wake? Describe it to us in detail.
I’ll flick the kettle on, have a quick cold rinse while the water’s boiling, make my coffee, grab Clive who’s usually already waiting at my door for cuddles (if he’s returned from his nightly neighbourhood escapades and isn’t outsourcing cuddles elsewhere), and return to bed to journal for a while.
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Are there little corners of Melbourne - cafés, markets, or hidden streets that inspire your mornings?
I’m always super inspired by Melbourne in Autumn. I loveeeee strolling along Rathdowne Village on crisp mornings with a coffee in hand, looking up at the crimson leaves and golden light and the people rugged up in layers and textures walking their doggies. It’s all so cosy and pretty. I’m also a sucker for a mid morning stroll along Gertrude street, finishing at the top under the fountain at Carlton Gardens.
Shop the new Babette collection here.
Rapid fire questions about your morning routine:
Coffee or tea? How do you have it?
COFFEE - it’s not actually good for me AT ALL l but it’s my one vice and I haven’t found it in me to give it up yet. Black with a dash of almond at home; almond cap at cafes; almond iced latte if the sun’s out.
First thing you reach for in the morning?
Coffee or Clive, whichever enters my eye-line first. Sometimes my phone.
Shower first or stay in bed?
Cold shower then back to bed
Skincare or makeup - what’s your regime?
My everyday AM routine is: cold water rinse (no cleanse in AM), milky toner, few drops of face oil, moisturiser, SPF (if I remember), blush balm on cheek bones and nose bridge, brush eyebrows (I still use hairspray on a spoolie lol), tinted lip balm, done.
Breakfast - sweet or savory?
Ummmmm savoury! (poachies)
What music or podcasts are you listening to? Or do you prefer silence?
-I’m obsessed with the podcast Celebrity Memoir Bookclub (recently rebranded to Good Noticings) because celebrity memoirs are one of my hyperfixations. Other go-to’s are Align with Jenna Zoe, Shameless, and Awakening OD.
-Music - I’m often dancing in my bedroom to my Girly 90’s Nostalgia playlist (think Sorrento Moon, Bachelor Girl, Stars Are Blind, Texas’ Smile… the best of the best)
-I also have a bunch of sound frequency & naturescape playlists I listen to throughout the day when I need to reduce distractions and #lockin. And based on how often I’m trying to de-stimulate this way, Spotify Wrapped reckons my #1 genre in 2025 was ‘drone’. Make of that what you will.
Follow Ashlyn Lincoln on Instagram here.
Explore her photography Instagram page here.
Shop the new Babette collection here.
With a whole lotta love xx