Many years ago, I lived in Paddington, in Sydney's inner east. One of my favourite memories while there, was walking along Glenmore road, past grand sandstone terrace houses, through Fiveways and out to Oxford Street. On the corner of Glenmore and Oxford was The Country Trader.

It was a store like no other. Long before vintage French provincial antiques became overly fashionable and garishly reproduced, this store was the real deal. I visited it often. It was at this store that I first remember feeling a wonderful sense of creative inspiration.

With the philosophy 'Anything is Possible', The Country Trader specialises in new and antique furniture and furnishings from the provincial to the opulent, as well as custom, architectural and interior design, restyling and restoration.

In recent years, The Country Trader has found a new home in the pyd building in Surrey Hills in Sydney's inner south (an area that has rapidly become the hub of interiors 'fashion forward' enthusiasts).

Whenever I am in Sydney I am compelled to drop in. The Country Trader continues to be one of my favourite stores. The stores owner, Geoff Clark, travels the world in search of antiques and one-of-a-kind finds, allowing Sydneysiders to the chance to take a treasure home for themselves. This applies to breathtaking furniture and woodwork, stunning pieces of art, collectors' items, and much, much more.

Walking around the store is overwhelming, yet thoroughly inspiring. The large space is filled to the brim with fabulous items and wonderfully theatrical visual merchandising - yet is it not cluttered or claustrophobic. You'll find items of various styles, from eclectic to traditional. Along with beautiful furniture and lighting, you'll find the unexpected, collections upon collections of breathtaking object d'art.

To seal the deal the store also houses a selection of the Ralph Lauren furniture range, costly but totally desirable in all it's magnificence.

The Country Trader

pyd Building, 197 Young Street, Waterloo, New South Wales