allowingforlivingspacestoalso actasanoffice,a galleryoreven
a restaurant-like spacewhile entertaining.“Mostofall,wewanted
a placeforparties,”Spencesays,“forsignificanteventsinourlifeand
thelivesofourfriendsandfamily.”
Theconcretethatenframesthehomeis somethinganyonewho’s
spenta longweekendwithinthewallsofTheCalilewillrecognise.
Butit’dbea mistaketoconflatethetwo—thecouple’spersonaltaste
is lesssubduedthanthepastel-washdecorthatis TheCalile’ssigna-
ture.Instead,they’veartfullyselected midcenturypiecesaswell as
warescollectedfromtheirfrequentandwidetravelstotemperthe
brutalist tendencies of the large amounts of cement and stone.
Heavilythreadedrugsweresourcedfromfar-flunglocales,whilein
theloungethere’sa wovendaybedthatwouldn’tlookoutofplacein
a Marrakech riad. Their laissez-faire approach to decorating and
livingnotonlyseesthebedroomssansbedbasesandthewallswithout
a speckofpaint,buttheentirespacedevoidofpretence.It feelslikea
permanentvacation—albeitoneonwhichtheplantsarewelltended.
Inthemasterbedroom,lightfloodsthroughnear-floor-to-ceiling
windows,thevastspaceincorporatinga sittingarea,whileanopen
hangingspaceforclothinglinesonewall,moreliketheracksinone
oftheirprizedretailprojectsthana wardrobeperse.Whenit comes
toart,thecoupleoptedforpiecesfromfavouritelocalartists.Spence
is especiallyfondofthephotorealistpaintingsofMichaelZavrosand
“thelandscapeabstractions”ofSallyGabori.
Outside,thepairreferencedthecourtyardcultureofItaly,Spain
and Morocco. Harking backto their ‘shared space’ ethos, a pool
terrace features tiered seating like you
mightseebesidepublicbaths.ForSpence
it’sakintoa Mediterraneansanctuary.“A
sunnyafternoonbythepoolis myhappy
place,”hesays.Whilethecoupleis content
with their home, Spence concedes that,
dueto itsoccupants’verynature,thehouse
“willneverreallybefinished”.A little like
HAIR AND MAKEUP BY PENNY ANTUAR. PRICES APPROXIMATE. SEE BUYLINES FOR STOCKISTSthe eternal holiday it conjures.
marty
(Marty)
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