bay area-based artist and photographer leigh beisch is one of my long-time favorites, so when another of my favorite photographers peggy wong and stylists philippine scali invited me to share their latest shoot of leigh’s home, i couldn’t wait. her marin county home is sublime — a victorian flipped on its past and reinvented as a modern, serene, and whitewashed palette perfect for an artist to build on. leigh says she’s gravitated to the concept of beauty — in nature or in the things humans have created and when expressed with simplicity, the ability to seduce, empower and heal. And given that, she believes our environment will make for a happier, more inspired person and that in order for creativity to thrive, you need to surround yourself with simplicity and beauty. looking at these photos, it’s clear she’s achieved just that.
For a long time, leigh found the need to have lots of inspiration around her — either found, purchased or created objects that inspired with texture, color or shape. Now with the internet and computers, she instead gathers much of this ‘collecting’ from observing things online — the world is now her source. In addition, years of photographing food has demonstrated the need for simplicity in leigh’s compositions and in her life. she still wanted to have her husband’s collection of artwork and books present, but in a simpler cleaner looking house in which to live their lives, and she found that her teenage daughter, Eva was ecstatic with this idea, as somewhat of a modernist herself.
in designing her home, leigh looked to involve a team of talented and creative friends whose personal style and work has been inspiring her throughout her career as a photographer, and so first reached out to her close friend art director, stylist and merchandiser philippine scali (who’s also been instrumental in helping me launch super marché!). the two met when philippine hired leigh to collaborate on shoots and leigh has since developed a deep respect for how artfully philippine puts things together to create a rich and unique style — a style that reflects her European and modernist California roots.
Once the house was finished, it seemed appropriate for it to be photographed since it felt much more than just a redecoration, but more of an art project, and a collaboration between creatives, so she looked to another friend, photographer peggy wong, who she also met through work when peggy moved to California from New York. Clean, impeccably composed photographs showing respect for the space are peggy’s signature forte, bringing a highly refined sensibility to every project she takes on — she’s become a social media collaborator for many big brands and her personal travel photographs landed her commissions for Vogue Living Austraila, Condé Nast Traveler, Food and Wine, among other notable magazines. leigh, peggy and philippine are all inspiring ones to follow on instagram as well, and all of these women have created their own inspiring and beautiful environments in which to live. have a look at their amazing creative collaboration.
• styling by philippine scali and photography by peggy wong.
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