As a base for the decor, Rupert painted all the walls in Little Greene Slaked Lime. “We didn’t want anything too stark, but we definitely didn’t want anything that looked cream. That’s a really hard thing to get. It’s just in that sweet spot,” he says. The walls are also the backdrop for the premium LED spotlights from . “We tended to light from the walls because it’s good to also light the ceiling,” reasons Rupert.
At the back of the house, a bespoke steel staircase with ash floating treads by leads upward. On the top landing, a roof terrace encased in zinc cladding is accessed through sliding doors. The cedar deck is outfitted with wild trees and shrubs, as well as a bench for a tranquil escape. Rupert and Leo imagined they’d hang out there, but raising two young daughters doesn’t allow for much lounging. “For whatever reason we don’t sit there so much, but that doesn’t mean it’s not really important. It’s all about light and air and view.” A front courtyard and a side yard also provide outdoor refuge.
Lush and leafy, the second-floor terrace adds life to the interior.
FRENCH+TYE/ The Modern House
In addition to verdant pockets around the exterior, potted plants are peppered through the house. Leo placed them in the main bedroom, which features a cozy gray bed from Love Your Home, and in the bathroom, where an antique clawfoot tub has been restored for use. “The greenery is a very important softener,” she muses.
Upon reflection, Leo considers her style “eclectic minimal,” which seems fitting for the airy, spacious warehouse that’s sparsely furnished with a vivid combination of midcentury and contemporary pieces. “You only have things because you need them, they have an intrinsic value, and because you like them for what they are,” she explains of her design principles. It’s as simple as that.
The unassuming aged brick exterior is brightened with pops of greenery.
FRENCH+TYE/ The Modern House