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Homing In

Matt Gibberd and The Modern House

What does home reveal about who we are? Almost everything, it turns out. Join The Modern House co-founder and author Matt Gibberd as he talks to cultural and creative leaders about the most influential space in our lives: home. In each episode, we ask guests to talk about a home of their past; their current living space; and where they would like to end up – revealing what home means to some of our most inspiring public figures. Be prepared for tears, laughter and everything in between.


"The Best Podcasts To Listen To Now" – Vogue


Homing In is produced by The Modern House, with music by Father.


The Modern House is an estate agency that helps people live in more thoughtful and beautiful ways. If you have a modern home to sell, get in touch to find out how we can maximise its value.


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Episodes

Philippe Malouin: the experimental designer on creating with integrity – and the art of upcycling
Apr 11 2024
Philippe Malouin: the experimental designer on creating with integrity – and the art of upcycling
Philippe designs everything from furniture to lighting, combining modern geometry with a sense of humour and materials that are built to last. I first met him many years ago, when he was doing some work with my wife, Faye Toogood. We’d turned our bedroom into a makeshift design studio, and Philippe and a few others would come round to make maquettes and geek out about ergonomics. Nowadays, he’s a burly, bearded bear of a man with an extra 20kg of muscle, but his wit and warmth are the same as I remember. He tells me about what it was like to grow up beside a lake in Canada. From the age of seven, he would take himself off in his boat for the whole day, catching fish and swimming off the islands. This independent, practical spirit has continued into adult life. He largely works on his own, because that’s how he likes it. His studio in Hackney, where we met to record this conversation, is the epicentre of his creative output – a place where he can build something, obsess over which type of screw he’s going to use, or just sit and daydream. He tells me what it’s like to create a home from stuff that others have thrown away, how he saved up to buy his favourite sofa and kept it wrapped in plastic for two years, and why space is the ultimate luxury.This episode was recorded in person, at Philippe Malouin’s studio in East London.For more: Visit The Modern House website to see images of the spaces discussed in this episodeCheck out Philippe Malouin’s latest workProduction: Hannah PhillipsEditing: Oscar CrawfordGraphic Design: Tom YoungMusic: Father Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sumayya Vally: the South African architect on how growing up in a township defined her sense of place
Mar 28 2024
Sumayya Vally: the South African architect on how growing up in a township defined her sense of place
Today I’m talking to the wonderful Sumayya Vally, founder of the architecture and research practice Counterspace. When in 2020 Sumayya designed the Serpentine pavilion, she joined the ranks of luminaries including Zaha Hadid, Peter Zumthor and Frank Gehry. In 2021, Time Magazine named her one of the ‘100 Leaders of the Future’ and, more recently, she was artistic director of the inaugural Islamic Arts Biennale in Saudi Arabia.What really shines through in this conversation is Sumayya’s interest in the notion of home as it relates to place. She was born in an Indian township in Pretoria, just after Nelson Mandela was released from prison, and she cites the city of Johannesburg as her biggest inspiration. When she arrived in London, she became interested in the gathering spaces where settlers from other countries and communities have established themselves: churches, synagogues, marketplaces, female community centres, black-music venues and so on. ‘Home is not a physical place,’ she says. ‘It’s a sensibility and a feeling.’The name ‘Sumayya’ means ‘to rise to the occasion’, and she tells me how she’s an outlier in her family and how her parents made sacrifices to provide her with an education. Very occasionally in life, you meet someone who has an inner light that seems to shine more brightly than other people’s. For me, Sumayya has that. She’s incredibly composed, articulate and wise beyond her years and I’m full of admiration for the work she’s doing to bring disparate cultures together.This episode was recorded in person in London.For more:Visit The Modern House website to see images of the spaces discussed in this episode.Check out Counterspace.Production: Hannah PhillipsEditing: Oscar CrawfordGraphic Design: Tom YoungMusic: Father Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tim Little: the owner of Grenson footwear on his journey from Adidas ad man to sole trader
Mar 15 2024
Tim Little: the owner of Grenson footwear on his journey from Adidas ad man to sole trader
At the time of recording, Tim was knee-deep in building works at home, so I polished up my Chelsea boots for a visit to his London studio. As always, I asked him to describe his life story through the lens of the homes he’s lived in over the years. It was particularly interesting to find out more about his current home, which he bought after seeing it on our website and falling instantly in love. It’s a mid-century masterpiece set in splendid isolation near Rye, in East Sussex.  A celebration of craftsmanship comes through in everything that Tim is about. His father was a textile manufacturer, and he’s inherited a fascination with how things are made and the excitement of seeing something take shape on the factory floor. He tells me about his background in advertising, when he was given the most thrilling brief of all time: ‘Make Adidas cool again’. Having been given the keys to one of the world’s most established brands, he was inspired to start his eponymous footwear company and ultimately take over Grenson.Tim is a lovely guy – very humble and grounded – and I really enjoyed getting to know him through the course of this conversation.This episode was recorded in person at the Grenson Studio in Chelsea.For more:Visit The Modern House website to see images of the spaces discussed in this episode.Check out Grenson.Production: Hannah PhillipsEditing: Oscar CrawfordGraphic Design: Tom YoungMusic: FatherThis episode was sponsored by Vitsoe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Cath Kidston: the floral-obsessed entrepreneur on why life isn’t always a bed of roses
Feb 16 2024
Cath Kidston: the floral-obsessed entrepreneur on why life isn’t always a bed of roses
There’s barely an oilcloth, mug or ironing board cover that hasn’t been embellished with a nostalgic floral print from Cath Kidston. Because of the brand’s ubiquity, it’s easy to forget quite how influential it was when it appeared in the 1990s.What I love about Cath is that she’s living proof you can be a wildly successful entrepreneur whilst also being a kind, gentle soul. Although her name’s still above the door, she hasn’t been involved with the Cath Kidston business for many years, so I was intrigued to find out what that feels like. She’s now set up a bodycare brand called C. Atherley, which makes all of its products using scented geraniums. Despite her love of flowers, life hasn’t always been a bed of David Austin roses for Cath and she talks very honestly about the personal grief she’s suffered through her life. She has a great eye for interiors and we had this conversation at her kitchen table in London, with a surprisingly modern backdrop of Danish wood flooring and an Ellsworth Kelly artwork. Cath was very generous with her time and emotions and I’m really happy with how this episode has turned out. I hope you enjoy it.This episode was recorded in person at Cath Kidston’s West London home.For more: Visit The Modern House website to see images of the spaces discussed in this episodeCheck out Cath Kidston’s latest venture, C.AtherleyProduction: Hannah PhillipsEditing: Oscar CrawfordGraphic Design: Tom YoungMusic: FatherThis episode was sponsored by Vitsoe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jonny Gent: music, martinis and mayhem from the founder of Sessions Arts Club
Feb 2 2024
Jonny Gent: music, martinis and mayhem from the founder of Sessions Arts Club
Today I’m chatting to the swashbuckling artist and restaurateur Jonny Gent. We recorded this episode during a busy lunch service at Sessions Arts Club, Jonny’s inspirational restaurant in Clerkenwell. It’s fair to say that he’d emboldened himself with a few martinis beforehand and what ensued was a conversation that very much represents the man himself: unstructured, poetic and generous. Jonny’s a brilliant painter, and his artworks range from the sexualised and salacious to tenderly painted still-lifes that are a tribute to his late mother. After getting himself through art school, he met a casting director who wrote him a cheque for every painting he’d made. What followed was a journey that took him to more than 20 countries around the world, establishing art studios in everything from a cabin in Scotland to a tobacco factory in France. Now approaching his late 40s, he’s finally starting to put down some roots. As well as having a permanent home in London, Jonny spends a lot of time in the Scottish Highlands, where he’s opened a retreat for creatives called Boath House. Like Sessions Arts Club, it explores the confluence of art, food and music.  Jonny says of his childhood, “I felt totally alone in what I found beautiful.” He begins by telling me about the Slow & Easy, the pub he grew up in, and the lasting impact of 500 strangers coming into your home every day. I hope you enjoy it!This episode was recorded in person at Sessions Arts Club, London.For more: Visit The Modern House website to see images of the spaces discussed in this episodeCheck out Sessions Arts Club and Boath HouseTake a look at Jonny Gent’s latest workProduction and editing: Hannah PhillipsEditing and mixing: Oscar CrawfordGraphic Design: Tom YoungMusic: Father Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Akram Khan: the poignant story of a man who found his voice through dance
Jan 19 2024
Akram Khan: the poignant story of a man who found his voice through dance
Akram’s rich career includes performing at the opening ceremony of the London Olympics, collaborating with artists Anish Kapoor and Antony Gormley, and choreographing tours and videos for the likes of Kylie Minogue and Florence + the Machine. He was awarded an MBE for services to dance in 2005. He kindly invited us to his home last summer and we recorded this conversation in a shady spot in the garden. Akram is of Bangladeshi descent and he grew up above his parents’ restaurant in south-west London. He was bullied at school and harassed by the National Front outside of it, so he’s always had a conflicted view of his community. As a child, he was introverted to the point of being mute, and movement quickly became his primary form of expression. He tells me how he danced so enthusiastically at home that the lights in the restaurant below would start shaking, putting the customers off their food. The word ‘home’ has come to mean many things for Akram: it’s the small studio in the garden where he practises dance for four hours every morning, it’s the stage on which he performs, and it’s also his own body. As is the case for so many true artists, there’s a lot of conflicting emotion inside him. He talks particularly poignantly about his relationship with his late father, who always struggled to demonstrate his love. Akram’s story has really stayed with me. Being able to talk to people on this podcast is a great privilege, and conversations like this one really remind me of that.For more: Visit The Modern House website to see images of the spaces discussed in this episodeCheck out the latest from the Akram Khan CompanyProduction: Hannah PhillipsEditing and mixing: Oscar CrawfordGraphic Design: Tom YoungMusic: FatherThis episode was sponsored by Vitsoe Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Roksanda Ilinčić: the fashion designer’s colourful journey through Belgrade, Britain and Brazil
Jan 4 2024
Roksanda Ilinčić: the fashion designer’s colourful journey through Belgrade, Britain and Brazil
I first met Roksanda in 2006. We were selling her flat in King’s Cross, which was unlike anything I’d seen before: a brooding space with cast-concrete worktops, a black resin floor and mirrored lightwells. It had a subterranean lap-pool that was completely black, like a cave, where one could imagine Bruce Wayne practising his backstroke. Roksanda had recently shown her first collection at London Fashion Week and garments dangled enticingly from rails in her workspace. Some 18 years later, I’ve come to meet her in her studio in the East End to record this podcast. As before, her latest collection is on display, only this time the hanging rails have multiplied by a factor of a hundred. The colours are even more vibrant. Roksanda is no longer simply a name; it’s a brand with a global following.I loved finding out more about Roksanda’s life story. She talks passionately about the importance of nature in her life, from the old quince trees in her grandparents’ garden to the inside-out living of her favourite Modernist houses in Brazil. She describes how the birth of her daughter was like a portal opening up, which gave her new confidence and a sense of perspective. She tells me about how she’s managed to bring architecture into fashion, and why she believes that clothes are there to provide shelter and protection in the same way that a home does.Thank you so much for listening, as always, and I really hope you enjoy it!This episode was recorded in person at Roksanda’s East London studio. For more: Visit our website to see images of the spaces discussed Check out Roksanda’s latest collection Check out The Lost House sales listing, over on The Modern House Production: Hannah PhillipsEditing and mixing: Oscar CrawfordGraphic Design: Tom YoungMusic: Father Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jacqueline Rabun: the jewellery designer on why music, meditation and modernism are the cornerstones of life in Los Angeles
Nov 2 2023
Jacqueline Rabun: the jewellery designer on why music, meditation and modernism are the cornerstones of life in Los Angeles
Jacqueline is a jewellery designer whose work I’ve admired for many years, probably because it’s so architectural. As you probably know by now, we try to record these podcasts in the guest’s home whenever possible, and this one is particularly exciting on that front, because Jacqueline lives in a 1960s house perched on a hillside in Los Angeles. As is the custom on this podcast, I asked Jacqueline to talk about a home from her past, her current place, and a home of the future. She told me what it was like to grow up in a big family, and how the soul music that boomed around the house was somehow a form of defiance against the racial tension that African-Americans were feeling at that time. And we also talked about how the pandemic inspired her homing instinct, why she’s enjoying living with less and her love of mid-century modern houses.This episode was recorded in person at Jacqueline's Los Angeles home studio.For more:Head to the Carpenters Workshop Gallery‘s London space, to visit ‘Jacqueline Rabun: A Retrospective’Check out Jacqueline Rabun’s latest workFind out more about her dream home, the Loring HouseVisit our website for images and details of the places discussedSign up to The Modern House newsletter for weekly interiors inspirationProduction: Hannah PhillipsEditing and mixing: Oscar CrawfordGraphic Design: Tom YoungMusic: FatherThis episode is sponsored by Vitsoe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Glenn Adamson: the curator on why a New York ‘love shack’ stole his heart
Sep 14 2023
Glenn Adamson: the curator on why a New York ‘love shack’ stole his heart
Glenn's a brilliant curator and writer with a particular interest in craft. If that conjures up an image of lace doilies and crocheted waistcoats, then don't panic!Back in 2011, he put together the amazing 'Postmodernism' exhibition at the V&A in London, which was a riot of Memphis pattern and colour; and more recently, he's co-curated a show called 'Mirror Mirror' at Chatsworth House in Derbyshire. Glenn writes beautifully – and his book Fewer, Better Things was a really big influence on my own book, A Modern Way to Live. A phrase he uses a lot is 'material intelligence', which is the idea that we should try to understand the things we choose to live with – where they've come from and how they've been made. I don’t know if it's material intelligence or old-fashioned fate that led Glenn to find his home in Upstate New York, but it really is the physical manifestation of everything he believes in. We also chatted about his place in east London, what it's like to be an identical twin, his thoughts on the metaverse and all sorts of other things. Glenn is one of the most erudite people I know and his thoughtfulness is something we could all learn from.This episode was recorded in person at Glenn's east London home.For more: Head over to The Modern House website for images of the places discussed Watch the B-52's 'Love Shack' music video Check out the house built by a librarian's collection of bricksRead more by Glenn AdamsonSign up to The Modern House newsletter for weekly interiors inspiration  Executive Producer: Kate Taylor of Feast CollectiveProduction: Hannah Phillips Music: FatherGraphic Design: Tom Young  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Frances Morris: the Tate Modern director on why she returns to her childhood home
Jul 6 2023
Frances Morris: the Tate Modern director on why she returns to her childhood home
Where does our spirit go when we die? Frances Morris has this question figured out: she will return to the home in which she was born, a Georgian house abreast the Meridian Line in Greenwich. In this deeply personal conversation, Frances explains why her childhood home has such an emotional hold over her.  Southeast London has been the backdrop to her whole life, and it's fitting that she has worked at the forefront of its most important cultural institution: Tate Modern. Not only was she the gallery's first female director, but Frances has also redefined the perception of female artists, spearheading retrospectives of Louise Bourgeois, Yayoi Kusama, Agnes Martin and others. Shortly before we recorded this podcast, it was announced that she will be leaving for pastures new. I've come to meet her in her office within the bowels of the gallery, and, understandably, she is in reflective mood.  This is one of the most memorable conversations I've ever had. Frances feels like someone I've known for ever, and her background and story have significant parallels with my own. I really hope you enjoy it as much as I did.  This conversation was recorded in person at the Tate Modern. For more on Frances Morris:Head over to our website for more images of the places discussedVisit the Tate Modern For more from the The Modern House: Sign up to our newsletter for weekly interior inspiration Subscribe to our YouTube channel Follow us on Instagram Check out Matt Gibberd’s latest book, A Modern Way To Live Executive Producer: Kate Taylor of Feast CollectiveProduction: Hannah PhillipsMusic: FatherGraphic Design: Tom Young Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
India Mahdavi: the interior designer on how a rented apartment provides the stable home a nomadic childhood never could
Jun 23 2023
India Mahdavi: the interior designer on how a rented apartment provides the stable home a nomadic childhood never could
Known as the Queen of Colour, India has designed upbeat bars and radical restaurants from Miami to Mexico City. Her Gallery restaurant at Sketch in London became one of the most inspirational spaces of our time, and single-handedly changed the public perception of the colour pink. Last autumn, I hopped on the Eurostar to go and meet her at home in Paris. I arrived completely drenched from a rainstorm, but my frost-bitten cockles were soon warmed by a cup of tea and a fireside chat with India in her beautiful apartment. She told me about how her early years in Massachusetts influenced her love of bright colours, from the strawberry milkshakes she drank to the Technicolor cartoons she watched on TV. One day, she and her family relocated very suddenly to Germany, arriving to a neo-Gothic house straight out of the Addams Family. Her world turned black-and-white, and she felt like an unwelcome foreigner. Soon they moved on again, this time to France, where she started to find a way to express herself through making things and tapping into her creativity. What I found so interesting about our conversation was discovering how India has reacted against her itinerant childhood and established a very defined sense of place as an adult. Her studio, her showroom and her home are all located in a single block in Paris, where she's lived for more than 25 years. She doesn't even have to cross the road to carry out all the functions of everyday life. As India gets older, she feels increasingly drawn to her native countries of Iran and Egypt. She's bought a house in Arles that's hidden among cypress trees and reminds her of Tehran in the 1970s. All in all, India's past, present and future are acutely defined by the notion of home and belonging – everything that this podcast is about.This conversation was recorded in person at India’s home in Paris. For more on India Mahdavi:Head over to our website for more images of the places discussedCheck out India's websiteRead more about The Gallery at SketchFor more from the The Modern House: Sign up to our newsletter for weekly interior inspiration Subscribe to our YouTube channel Follow us on Instagram Check out Matt Gibberd’s latest book, A Modern Way To Live  Executive Producer: Kate Taylor of Feast CollectiveProduction: Hannah PhillipsMusic: FatherGraphic Design: Tom YoungTo get in touch, email us at podcast@themodernhouse.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nick Knight: the iconic photographer on how well-designed spaces make life better
Jun 9 2023
Nick Knight: the iconic photographer on how well-designed spaces make life better
Nick is a legendary photographer and founder of the influential website SHOWstudio, which has pioneered the use of moving image in fashion. I've come to his London studio to find out more about his incredibly colourful life through the lens of the homes he's lived in. He tells me about growing up in a grandiose apartment in Paris, the impact of his dyslexia, and how falling in love with photography unlocked a relentless work ethic. His unlikely entrypoint into image-making was joining a group of skinheads as a teenager, mainly because he liked the look of the girls. He talks about the life-changing experience of building a house in his twenties, with a certain young architect named David Chipperfield. We discuss the future of AI, how being a photographer gives him unique access to anyone in the world, and the day he turned Lady Gaga into a man. As Nick says, 'there’s nothing more important than the spaces you live in, for shaping you, how you feel about things, making you feel positive about life and love.' He's full of wisdom and wit, and this is certainly a conversation I will always remember. This conversation was recorded in person at SHOWstudio, London. For more on Nick Knight: Head over to our website for more images of Nick’s home Check out SHOWstudio  Read more about the David Chipperfield project For more from the The Modern House: Sign up to our newsletter for weekly interior inspiration Subscribe to our YouTube channel Follow us on Instagram Check out Matt Gibberd’s latest book, A Modern Way To Live  Executive Producer: Kate Taylor of Feast CollectiveProduction: Hannah PhillipsMusic: FatherGraphic Design: Tom YoungTo get in touch, email us at podcast@themodernhouse.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.