Photographer Olivia Richardson had us over to her Bethnal Green home to show us how she combines stacks of kitsch memorabilia with images of Kurt Cobain. With a big, open-plan living area, her apartment is perfect for test shoots but, filled with photographs of her and her friends alongside her boyfriend's collections of skateboards and graphic prints, it is also the perfect insight into her life...
How long have you lived here?
I moved in six months ago – I used to live on Kingsland Road in Shoreditch but I wanted a little bit more space so that I could shoot in my house. I keep all my equipment here and it means that if I want to test something out late at night, then I can!
What do you like about living in east London?
I grew up in South Africa and then moved to Hampshire when I was eight – sometimes I miss it because you have so much more space there; growing up surrounded by fields is amazing. And the country air and pub lunches! But I moved here as soon as I could at 18, and now I love it because loads of my friends live around here and there are tons of great studios nearby.
How do you describe your interior style?
My home is a mix of things that I have stolen from my parent's house and heaps of kitsch – a lot of fake fruit and flowers combined with prints of Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love and old concert tickets.
After a day of shooting, what do you do to unwind?
I love taking a long baths and then getting into my flannelette sheets – they are so cozy and warm, it's joyous!
What are your favourite places to shop for your home?
I'm completely obsessed with Tiger – it's so cheap and you find things there that you never knew you needed but can't live without. There's so much adorable kitsch; my house is filled with it.
Have you shot anywhere that would be your dream home?
I love big, grand old houses. Years ago, I worked on a shoot at Eglingham Hall and that was totally my dream home, filled with grand, old relics – plus, it was amazing to see where Tim Walker shoots. Eaton House is also amazing; it's the perfect place to shoot editorial because every room is completely differently decorated. I adore the baby pink bedroom and the unicorn-filled garden: it's like a little girl's fantasy come true!
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