FAQ

When her fast paced life got too much, Leontien decided to slow things down. Now her life is like her home, hassle-free, calm and relaxed

Meet Leontien Ultzen

‘My life used to move so fast. I worked in fashion and the pressure was intense. One day I decided to completely change my life. Now I’m studying photography. The chance to learn is exciting. I feel at ease.’

‘I moved into Clark’s apartment two months after we first met. Like everything in my life at that time, things moved quickly! That was two years ago and life has slowed right down. Now I take the time to enjoy life. I see this apartment as our space to be together.’

My home

‘I think that the style of my home is reflected in my photography: fresh, open, not much clutter, with dashes of personality. I don’t know if we are minimal exactly – because we have some really beautiful things around that we have collected – but I do think it’s important to have a calm home.’

The dining area

‘We use the open-plan space fluidly. Sometimes we eat at the coffee table together, or work at the dining table instead of in the office upstairs. But at weekends we always eat breakfast at the table together. In my old job I never had weekends so it’s a real luxury to be able to sit here with Clark and our dog Ozzy, with nice coffee and newspapers.’

The living area

‘Clark and I have very similar taste, so I didn’t want to change very much when I moved in. All the painting was done, and the mirrors, sofa and lamps were already here. I just added cosy stuff – cushions and throws for snuggling up together.’

The bedroom

‘Dark grey might seem an unusual choice for the walls, but I find it soothing. Layering the bed with lots of textiles makes it really warm and cosy.’

Storage

‘We had to get another big wardrobe when I moved in because I had so many clothes! PAX wardrobes were the perfect solution. I love their shiny white exterior – it’s such a fresh, glamorous look.’

The kitchen

‘This shelving unit in the kitchen is one of the few things I added when I moved in. We have lots of cupboard space, but I think it makes the room look more cosy. It’s nice to display things, and it’s also useful – things that you use often are easy to find without rummaging about in cupboards.’