“When I first saw the place it was basically a squat. The bathroom downstairs was a dark, damp, rotting hell hole! Within six months of buying it, the house was transformed. I’ve been creating plant-filled interiors in the different rooms since then – I always envisioned having a bit of a jungle.
“I was originally looking for a place in east London. I had it in my mind that east was the right place to be. But now I realise I’m much happier here in Brixton.
“I live here with my Pomeranian, Ham, blue parrotlet, Tomato, 12 canaries and four Gouldian finches. I looked after a snake for a friend who was doing a deep-sea diving course for a while too. Tomato wasn’t keen, and Ham just sort of licked it.
“I always had pets growing up. Sometimes I feel bad for my mum when she has to come and pet sit, but then I think, ‘No, you seeded this! You got me my first hamster!’
“I’m a bit of a manic control freak, so I loved the idea of turning this place around from scraps. It was scary at times – when the floor was removed it was like building up from bare earth.
“I put in poured-concrete floors and painted the place white. The kitchen used to be something that would have made you cry. It had those biscuit-brown tiles with floral designs you’d see in grandmas’ houses in the 1980s.
“It was finished in December 2016 and I literally moved in on Christmas Eve – I was so desperate to get in. There were boxes everywhere, but I still had family over… don’t know why I did that! It was so hectic.
“I’ve always sought to create a safe idyll for myself where I can relax, eat in peace and sleep properly. My bedroom is deliberately more calm and uncluttered than the main living area so that I can feel more at rest there.
“Having a nice space is so integral to mental health. It makes me happy to sit in the living room with the sun moving across the plants, knowing it’s keeping them alive; Tomato is doing his thing and I’m watching the birds.
“Then in the summer the plants come to life and start flowering. It’s the most joyous thing. Any work or art is very secondary. It’s always my main love to have a space that’s nourishing me, and that I’m doing the same back. I feel at peace here.
“My plants are from various places. The giant cactus was 100 quid from Gumtree. I had to hack off a branch to get it in! I’m friends with someone who runs Conservatory Archives on Hackney Road and when I told her the price she almost cried!
“I’m lazy and buy the big ones when they’re 10 or so years old. The most important thing is making sure they get enough light. People put plants in the middle of a room and wonder why they die.
“All of my furniture is from Newark antiques fair. I love it there, it’s like going to a theme park for me! All the pieces cost less than my mattress.
“Some of the pieces are a bit shabby and old but that’s why I think plants are so good. They make anything vintage look alive and fresh, and not too heavy.
“When I first saw the place, I thought that the first area was the only main space, and then we went next door to the studio; I almost screamed.
“Normally a studio is a bit of a compromise. It’s so unusual to have such an open, light space with height. If I didn’t need it for work I would be inclined to knock the dividing wall down… but maybe that would be too big.
“It’s ironic that I don’t really shoot in the house that much but it’s a good space for lookbooks and personal projects. I was a painter before my work as a fashion photographer ramped up so now I use the studio more as a painting studio.
“It can be tricky having lots of friends over with all the animals and plants, so I normally just chuck everyone in the studio and tell them not to leave.
“My long-term aim is to purchase a place in Sussex, or somewhere near London that I can commute to London from. I think the country and having fresh air is my thing. Essentially, I just want to be around as many plants as possible.
“I always joke that I will end up living in a little wooden hut and put all my money into building a large Kew Garden-style aviary to fill with plants and birds that need a home.
“I’ll probably end up with 70 Pomeranians, and Tomato will be the governor of it all. That’s my dream anyway.”
Steph, how do you define modern living?
“For me, modern living, or specifically modern urban living, is about creating a space that remedies the anxieties triggered by city life. Either by creating an area of solitude and peace, or tailoring your surroundings to suit your practice, enabling it to grow. A house doesn’t necessarily have to look ‘modern’ but it should feel like an extension of its dweller. Certainly not a space that demonstrates wealth or ego.”
If you were to move, what would be the first thing you’d take with you?
“The first things would obviously be Ham and Tomato. If we’re talking about non-respiring things (house plants included), I’d take my mattress… or a photograph of Ham.”
Is there a property on The Modern House website that has caught your eye?
“Blenheim Gardens is pretty beautiful.”