photographs by Brittany Ambridge text by brittany s. chevalier interior design by Julia leach
Julia Leach–the founder of Chance, a
lifestyle and clothing brand–transforms a
Victorian-era abode into a reflective retreat.
lifestyle and clothing brand–transforms a
Victorian-era abode into a reflective retreat.
Built in 1890 by a wealthy Scottish family, Julia
Leach’s upstate New York home was once
called Applegarth for its orchards. Now
christened The Gray Lady because of the
shade of its exterior, the house has become
the spirit that immediately spoke to Leach
during her first visit in 2002. She felt a
connection with its scale, soul, and history, and
knew that this was the place she was meant to
call home. “I had an innate sense, an intuition,”
she says. While its outer structure needed
tremendous amounts of work, including a new
porch and windows, its rooms were
remarkably well preserved. “Structurally, not
much has been done to the interior,” observes
Leach. “The changes we did make were really
about simplifying the space."
Leach’s upstate New York home was once
called Applegarth for its orchards. Now
christened The Gray Lady because of the
shade of its exterior, the house has become
the spirit that immediately spoke to Leach
during her first visit in 2002. She felt a
connection with its scale, soul, and history, and
knew that this was the place she was meant to
call home. “I had an innate sense, an intuition,”
she says. While its outer structure needed
tremendous amounts of work, including a new
porch and windows, its rooms were
remarkably well preserved. “Structurally, not
much has been done to the interior,” observes
Leach. “The changes we did make were really
about simplifying the space."
Walls the color of unbleached cotton,
ebony-stained floors, and open-weave linen
curtains create an unobtrusive backdrop for
Leach’s treasures. Over time, she’s focused on
slowly collecting special pieces. “I was more
interested in layering my discoveries than in
urgently decorating the house,” she explains.
She purchased the dining room’s four
botanical landscape panels–originally created
for an apartment on Chicago's Lake Shore
Drive–from an antiques dealer in Hudson,
New York. “I love their subtlety and mystery,”
she says. “Each time I look at them, I notice
something new.”
ebony-stained floors, and open-weave linen
curtains create an unobtrusive backdrop for
Leach’s treasures. Over time, she’s focused on
slowly collecting special pieces. “I was more
interested in layering my discoveries than in
urgently decorating the house,” she explains.
She purchased the dining room’s four
botanical landscape panels–originally created
for an apartment on Chicago's Lake Shore
Drive–from an antiques dealer in Hudson,
New York. “I love their subtlety and mystery,”
she says. “Each time I look at them, I notice
something new.”
A “visual storyteller,” Leach utilizes her home
as a showcase for her collections of art and
midcentury design. Her Danish roots are
reflected in the Scandinavian furnishings,
including the living room’s Hans Wegner sofa
and the kitchen’s Kai Kristiansen chairs.
Throughout, she freely combined investment
pieces with more accessible items. This
high-low mix is central to her style, which
Leach describes as "simple and modest with
strong, clear statements."
Leach’s love for her home is mutual:
while she’s put effort into keeping the
house in working order, it’s reciprocated
by providing her with comfort and serenity.
She looks forward to her lazy Sunday
mornings in the country, spent reading or
watching movies in bed, surrounded by
favorite works of art. “I love my busy city life
in Los Angeles and New York,” she says, “but
my upstate home is an oasis.”
as a showcase for her collections of art and
midcentury design. Her Danish roots are
reflected in the Scandinavian furnishings,
including the living room’s Hans Wegner sofa
and the kitchen’s Kai Kristiansen chairs.
Throughout, she freely combined investment
pieces with more accessible items. This
high-low mix is central to her style, which
Leach describes as "simple and modest with
strong, clear statements."
Leach’s love for her home is mutual:
while she’s put effort into keeping the
house in working order, it’s reciprocated
by providing her with comfort and serenity.
She looks forward to her lazy Sunday
mornings in the country, spent reading or
watching movies in bed, surrounded by
favorite works of art. “I love my busy city life
in Los Angeles and New York,” she says, “but
my upstate home is an oasis.”
