Laurence Leenaert left her native Belgium for Morocco in 2015 with just a few hundred Euros and a sewing machine. Since then, she and her husband Ayoub have established an internationally recognised line of handcrafted ceramics, paintings, mirrors and tapestries, which she markets under her brand LRNCE. The pieces draw on Moroccan traditions and craftsmanship, but have a distinctive style characterised by a simplicity of line and bright colours, prompting comparisons with the art of Picasso and Miró.
Laurence puts the company’s success down to sheer hard work and the influence of Instagram, saying, ‘When I moved to Marrakech, I had 90 followers. Now I have 304,000’.
The couple recently relocated to an apartment in Gueliz, a neighbourhood known for its wide, French-era boulevards, art galleries and Yves Saint Laurent’s Majorelle Garden. Built in the 1980s, the place has original terrazzo floors in perfect condition, but was entirely redecorated in 2018 by Italian architect Bruno Melotto of Trab Design. The area’s dynamic energy captured Laurence’s imagination immediately, and one visit was all the couple needed to decide on their new home. ‘I love the feeling of being in the heart of a bustling city,’ she enthuses.
What's everyone reading?
Located on the top floor of the building, the 160-square-metre apartment has an internal lightwell in the traditional style of Moroccan architecture, ensuring that the greenery thrives. ‘We bought a lot of plants, did some repainting and moved in,’ recalls Laurence.
A large part of this home’s relaxed charm is the deeply personal collection of items (many found during trips to vintage stores and galleries in Belgium and Holland) that are proudly displayed throughout the spaces. Laurence explains how these dictated the simple decorative approach the pair adopted: ‘Because of the colourful objects and art that we live with, we chose more neutral colours for the walls.’
On those walls hang textile pieces and artworks by Laurence, as well as designs by the art collective Leo Gabin (formed of Gaëtan Begerem, Robin De Vooght and Laurence’s friend Lieven Deconinck, and based in her hometown of Ghent). While the vintage ‘Pagrù’ chairs in the living room are a personal favourite, Laurence is also branching out into designing her own furniture. Prototypes are brought home to test before making refinements. ‘I love to experiment with new materials and combine different textures,’ she says.
‘Our work table, for example, has a burl-veneer top and massive travertine balls that are stacked to form its legs.’ Stones are scattered throughout the home – treasures pocketed from past travels – as are books, stacked in towers. ‘I love both,’ she adds. ‘They bring a special quality of personal comfort.’
Her home may be a creative hub, but it’s the daily scooter ride to her studio that many of her artistic influences can be traced to – the images of the city flashing past often appear in her art. Sometimes, on weekends, she drives to the desert. ‘Out there, I have the time and space to reflect. I just sit and draw. In the desert, there is almost nobody, just palm trees and open spaces, and I have this sensation that life is so beautiful. These are the best moments.’ lrnce.com
