'Home is most definitely a sanctuary,' says Lotti Benardout. For the lead singer of British electronic band Haelos, the east London property that she shares with her husband Andrew and five-month-old son Otis has become a place of calm away from time spent on the road. 'There have been moments when my music and career have been all-encompassing. So, it's really important, especially now having a family, to be able to create a separation between the two. I can store up inspiration and take the creativity to the studio. That's the way it works best for me.'
A native Londoner and Shoreditch House member, Benardout also teaches Pilates. The Victorian terrace near London Fields, which she and Andrew moved into in the summer of 2019, features a light-filled garden studio as well as three generous bedrooms. And although the front of the property remains untouched, at the rear, a triple-height, Corten steel-clad glass extension sets the tone for the design language throughout the rest of the house. 'The glass meant there was a lot to do inside to make it work,' says Benardout. 'We dug into the basement and removed part of the first floor to build a mezzanine with a view down to the kitchen. It's just glorious, and it washes the whole house with light and creates a real sense of space, which is what we hoped to achieve.'
Lotti BenardoutStructurally, we’re finished, but things keep evolving
Inside, original plans for dark walls and plush velvets were rejected in favour of a palette of refined neutrals and textural materials that are heavily inspired by the work of Belgian architect Vincent Van Duysen. This minimal aesthetic also provides the ideal backdrop for both contemporary and antique furniture, and an impressive collection of art including pieces by Bradley Theodore, Josefine Winding, Guillem Nadal, Aythamy Armas, and Benardout's friend Henry Hudson.
'Structurally, we're finished,' she says. 'But we've only been here a short time and things will keep evolving, especially now we have Otis. The best thing about living here is that we're a short walk away from Victoria Park, Broadway Market, and Columbia Road Flower Market. And there are pop-up restaurants and new bars, so there's always something happening. It's such a friendly neighbourhood, and it really feels like a fresh and vibrant place to be.'
Artwork featured:
Guillem Nadal - Untitled | Aythamy Armas - Untitled | Vintage Maasai Shield | George Young | Bradley Theodore - Lapo Elkann
Photographer: Mariell Lind Hansen
Video by Jonangelo Molinari and Murat Gökmen
