Peek inside the stunning homes inspiring style maven Alex Eagle
STYLE MAVEN ALEX EAGLE TAKES US INSIDE THE STUNNING HOMES OF THOSE WHO INSPIRE HER
it should come as no surprise that Alex Eagle’s social circle is impeccably stylish. After all, her store, Alex Eagle Studio, has become a go-to destination for superbly curated fashion and homeware. And we get to peek inside the homes of some of Alex’s friends in her book, More Than Just A House, which features unforgettable properties, from a pink mid-century residence in LA to a Scottish castle.
All are spaces that Alex finds inspiring. ‘Each home brings something different and each triggered something in me that I wanted to show,’ she says. ‘To see people in their own home is to see the best of them, and to see how the energy and personality of a person is reflected in their home. It’s the way people collect and curate things, especially those special, hard-to-find pieces. It doesn’t have to be expensive – it can be an ashtray, a dressing gown hung on the back of a door, a Venetian light in the bathroom; a good mix of high and low, the superfunctional mixed with the decorative.’
Her own home is a loft in London’s Soho featuring an eclectic mix of pieces, such as an 18th-century ship’s dining table, a malachite box that was a birthday present and statement artwork. Alex sources for her home as she does for her shop. ‘I go to a lot of auctions, Paris flea markets, online from ebay to sites such as Vinterior,’ she says. ‘But I also get directed by people who know great places for linen in Ireland, glass in Venice, pots in the South of France. I’m always on the hunt for something special.’
Here are some of Alex’s favourite homes...
PARED-BACK CHIC
Yolanda Edwards, editor of YOLO Journal, lives with her husband Matt and daughter Clara in an architectdesigned prefab house with a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows in upstate New York. Outside, it’s gleaming white; inside, European oak veneers cover the walls and ceiling; pieces such as the table were specially made, and there are lots of vintage finds. ‘It’s pared back in a chic way; it’s very much “less is more”,’ says Alex. ‘It’s a very easy house to be in, with functional things that are beautiful.’
ITALIAN GLAM
Martina Mondadori’s home may be in London’s Chelsea, but it harks back to the founder of Cabana magazine’s Milanese roots. ‘Martina’s the master of Italian glam and she beats to her own drum, following what she loves rather than what is trendy,’ says Alex. Martina’s collection, which includes many Italian pieces but also a diverse mix that includes wicker stools from Morocco and Persian and African fabrics. ‘She has pieces you won’t see anywhere else, laid out so beautifully,’ says Alex.
FINE ART
The London apartment of jewellery designer Rosa de la Cruz combines art from the likes of Damien Hirst and Beatriz Milhazes with jawdropping pieces by iconic designers such as Charlotte Perriand and Ettore Sottsass. ‘I love that these amazing pieces are not just for display, but used as functional furniture, which feels like utter luxury,’ says Alex. ‘Also, serious artwork is mixed with fun pieces.’
RETRO CHIC
The weekend house of entertainment executives John Mcilwee and Bill Damaschke, in the desert of Palm Springs, once belonged to American President Gerald Ford and his wife Betty. ‘I love the way that they have honoured the home’s history but have also brought in their own vibe – it’s sexy ’70s but still feels now and very fresh,’ says Alex. ‘It’s a lesson in bravery and combinations of so many colours and textures, but at the same time the overall effect is very calm and thoughtful.’
‘IT’S SEXY ’70S BUT STILL FEELS NOW AND VERY FRESH’
FABULOUS FUN
Interior designer Beata Heuman lives in west London with her husband and two daughters and her home is full of colour and texture, as well as ingenious, spacesaving measures. ‘I’ve known Beata since I was a teenager, she grew up nearby,’ says Alex. ‘Her style is unique; she has a really interesting handle on colour and the mixing and layering of textiles, and her look has such a sense of fun.’
BATTLE LINES
Fine art photographer Indrė Šerpytytė’s home is a whitewashed castle near Inverness, complete with crenellated battlements and a tower. On its walls hang contemporary artworks that are almost exclusively by women. ‘I love the contrast between the old architecture and the modern, and it feels so effortless,’ says Alex.