House Style with Gemma and Kestin Hare
After sharing the story of their renovated Victorian family home in Edinburgh, Gemma and Kestin Hare share their house style.
You’re happiest at home when…
When we are pottering with the kids, cooking, playing games, making art. We have a great space in our kitchen where we can slide back the doors and let all the light and the fresh air in.
How would you describe the interiors of your house?
Old, new, tactile.
We have mixed the old with the new to create balance and make sure
everything has a healthy sense of dissonance, which tells a story and makes it
feel like a home.
Our house is completely unique on the street and is often a surprise to people
as they see the house unfold as they walk in. We have retained many of the
original features, but we have also built a modern extension that complements
the old part and has added a large living/kitchen area. Colours and materials
are soft and natural, letting light bounce around with polished concrete and whitewashed
wooden floors. We have some pretty bold pieces of art and the neutral colours
help to let these shine.
If you could only save one thing, what would it be?
The art made by our family: Kestin’s sister’s paintings and the ceramics and pictures made by our daughters. Oh, and Gemma’s gran’s 1970s Fiji cocktail serving set.
What was the last thing you bought for the house?
A rare 1970s mustard yellow fibreglass coffee table.
We picked it up at one of our favourite vintage sellers in East Lothian.
Apparently it was previously owned by a famously badly-behaved
politician.
Top three coffee table books?
Georgia O’Keeffe and Her Houses: Ghost Ranch and Abiquiu by Agapita Lopez, Barbara Buhler Lynes, and Judy Lopez. One of our favourite artists and her homes are the dream! The colours, the thought process behind the layout, the natural materials used: all so inspiring.
Book by Sergio Rodrigues. Gemma went to Sergio’s home
and met him and his wife in Rio. He gave her this book and signed it and did a
little illustration too. One of the most wonderful furniture designers of the
20th century in our opinion.
Eye for Colour by Bernat Klein. We are big fans of Klein who was such a pioneer of colour and fabric. We are researching his work for one of our future collections. He was before his time really.
If money was no object, what changes would you make?
We would install another bigger bathroom. We have two young daughters and we imagine alone time in the bathroom is only going to become more competitive as they grow up.
You’re having people over for dinner: what do you cook?
We have an outdoor pizza oven and love to cook a big joint of meat or piece of fish in there, and then serve it up with lots of different salads and side dishes. Gemma’s quite experimental and really enjoys cooking for others. Finishing up with a huge cheeseboard is always a favourite.
What does a Sunday here looks like?
Sundays are pretty quiet as we are so busy during the week. Our daughter has hockey training, and then we tend to try and relax together as a family, working in the garden, reading the papers, cooking a big meal.
What are the best things about the neighbourhood?
Our neighbours have been here for over 30 years and they feel like part of the family to us really. There’s a fantastic park, with tennis courts and Astro turf pitches around the corner. We’re on the cycle path which connects most of Edinburgh and a 10-minute walk from all the pubs and restaurants of Leith.
How long will you be here for?
Hopefully forever, we really do love it here and it would be hard to beat.
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