House Style with ceramicist Andrea Roman at her modernist maisonette in Bethnal Green, east London
Andrea Roman has always been fond of homes within modernist council estates, with their bright living spaces, generous storage spots and big beautiful windows. So, when a maisonette within a 1970s block in Bethnal Green, east London, became available, she was instantly drawn to its pleasing geometric architecture. Once inside, however, it was the spacious south-facing balcony that twisted her arm. It’s now been eight months since the Mexico City-born ceramicist and her partner, Diego, moved in and filled the white-walled space with her handmade objects, graphic art and colourful textiles. Here, Andrea shares her house style.
How would you describe the interiors of your home?
Graphic, playful and eclectic.
I like colourful things but I also like the subdued beauty of materials like wood, clay and steel. I’m divided between the playfulness of plastic objects and the elegance of natural materials. Traditional versus modern. Old versus new. Rural versus metropolitan. Patterns versus solid colours. I like industrial and utilitarian objects and furniture too. I hope my ceramics reflect all these juxtapositions.
You’re happiest at home when…
I am making coffee.
I particularly like it if a friend is passing by and surprises me with a quick visit. This flat has a balcony, which gets amazing sun on bright mornings, so I love to make coffee to drink while enjoying the weather. I love having a good unexpected catch up at home with someone I love just before a day of work in the studio.
If you could save one thing, what would it be?
I would’ve loved to have been able to save a comal – a large flat cooking plate made from terracotta – I bought in Mexico.
It broke during the move here but I have kept all the pieces, which I think are fascinating and I don’t dare throw away. I’m also obsessed with this block-printed chequered fabric by Lousia Loakes. It was the first thing I put up on the wall when we first moved in. It elevated the space immediately.
What is your favourite living space around the world?
There are at least five places that I constantly fantasise about living in, but if I was to name only one it would be Peter Aldington’s Turn End. I love how every room connects to the garden, blurring the lines of what’s inside and what’s out.
A very close second is Casa Robert Brady. He was a wealthy American art collector who purchased a 16th-century Franciscan monastery in Cuernavaca, Mexico, in the 1960s. The house has an amazing collection of art, textiles, pottery, masks, tiles and paintings. It has big bright open spaces, beautiful carved wooden furniture, a pool… It combines every element I dream of having in my home in almost exact amounts.
What was the last thing that you brought for the house?
A set of four smoke-fired terracotta plates in a market in Oaxaca City, while visiting family last month.
I love the hand expressions on them, the irregular shapes, the deep carbonised smoke marks. I’ve used them everyday since I came back. I think they are very special.
Top three coffee table books?
Pre-Columbian Mexican Miniatures by Anni Albers, Sounds Like Silence: 4’33” by John Cage, Dieter Rams: The Complete Works by Klaus Klemp.
If money was no object, what changes would you make?
I would remove all the walls from the lower floor to create an open living space.
Before moving in, Diego and I looked into the possibility of removing the wall between the kitchen and living room, but after professional inspection, it turned out to be load bearing. It needed the proper permissions and documents, which meant the whole process would’ve taken us a lot more time and money than we’d anticipated. In the end, we decided to leave that dream aside and just changed the kitchen cabinets and worktops, which were falling apart. We’re still planning to build a table and bench in the kitchen, which means we could get rid of the table in the living room, which would gives us more space to relax, listen to records and enjoy the sun. It would also create a cooking/dining experience in the kitchen that worked seamlessly, rather than our current outdated set-up of an isolated kitchen, which divides all the fun. Now that we have lived in the flat for a bit we are starting to better understand the way we actually use and respond to the space.
You’re having people over for dinner: what do you cook?
It would depend on the weather.
On a rainy day maybe a slow-cooked beef stew with barley, served with a peppery salad with lemon dressing and lots of fresh sourdough, cheese and wine. I’d finish with a large platter of fruit or, if I have the time, a buttery cherry galette with a bit of greek yogurt on the side. If it’s sunny, the menu would involve a cold pasta dish with some garlic, capers, green olives, chopped almonds, grilled fennel and some herbs, plus a side salad with lots of thinly sliced tomatoes, onion, parsley, lemon and olive oil. Mezcal as a digestivo, always.
What does Sunday here look like?
Sundays can vary a lot. I don’t think I have a ‘Sunday’ routine.
Sometimes I’m out all day but if I’m staying at home, it might involve some of the following: going for a long run early in the morning towards the Thames via the canal; cooking a big brunch; doing the laundry; if the day is warm enough, sitting on the sunny terrace with a book in hand and a big pot of coffee. If the day is bleak, I’ll work on a DIY/craft project, do some baking or try out a new recipe for dinner. Wine or beer and music is always a part of Sundays here.
What are the best things about the neighbourhood?
So many things.
Having Victoria Park and the canal around the corner is ideal for running. I love that we live so close to very good bakeries, markets and restaurants. A few favourites places are Little Georgia, Ombra and Brawn. My friends live around here too, so it makes it easy to just go out for a drink or a nibble in the evening after work, and my studio is just a 6km run via the canal. I rarely leave the area, which makes me feel I live in a small town inside of London.
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