A stylish warehouse apartment full of art

The past two decades have held three constants for Amy Henderson: her passion for the creative arts, her love of entertainment and her directing.

Henderson moved into his Richmond warehouse flat when he was just 20 years old, and has been there ever since. Maybe it was kismet. The flat was owned by a photographer who had spent years creating in the space; moved with the goal of pursuing a career in the creative industries, a goal he achieved when he founded his creative agency THE ARTL–NE (also based in Richmond).

Now her portfolio of clients includes designers, artists, image makers and makers including photographer Lillie Thompson, kitchen stylist chef Sian Redgrave, art director Cristina Guerrero Fernández and creative director and stylist Natalie Petrevsky. Together with his team, Henderson has worked on projects with local and international names from fashion houses such as Louis Vuitton, Chanel and Scanlan Theodore, and publications such as Vanity Fair i The New York Times to companies such as Porsche, Google and The Australian Ballet.

When Henderson moved into the apartment in 2003, she threw a lot of parties. She describes this early years space as “reflecting a girl who was in college and had put together bits and pieces to create a home.” As he got older and was able to invest in art and design, the space evolved, although there have been some sentimental conflicts that have lingered.

“It’s pretty obvious when you walk into the apartment—there’s not necessarily a real style. It’s kind of coming together based on buying pieces that are meaningful to me,” she says.

Henderson has lived alone and with partners over the years, and spent a decade living with his beloved dog (who died last year). Throughout this change he has supported his home. “It’s kind of a real sanctuary. It’s the anchor. I go back and forth from that all the time.”

Name: Amy Henderson
Lives: In a warehouse apartment in the heart of Richmond
From: 2003
With: herself

What made you fall in love with the space when you first saw it?
I actually fell in love with the exterior. What I liked the most was that it has a red brick warehouse facade with a small Juliet balcony. He felt European. Once I walked in, I really fell in love with the concrete floors, the natural light, and those big high ceilings. It also has a pretty amazing bathroom (with) very old turquoise tiles that I’ve considered updating, but I think it adds a lot of character to the space.

Do you remember what it was like when you first moved into the apartment?
I remember feeling very lucky. I was in college and it was the perfect place to be in my 20s. Then, as I have evolved as a person, the apartment has evolved. I’ve had multiple relationships in these 20 years and partners who have lived with me in the space, so the style, layout and feel of the apartment has probably changed as much as I have in those two decades.

When you moved, did you think you would stay 20 years?
I didn’t do it. When you’re 20 you have this image in your mind that you’re going to take these natural, traditional steps in life. And while I’ve caught a few, I haven’t caught much. I’ve had property, I’ve had different partners, I’ve had a dog. I always thought I’d probably move to a house in the suburbs with a garden and have kids and all that stuff, but that hasn’t been the journey. Instead, it has been a house that has evolved a lot with me and my lifestyle (and) come on a journey with me.

Have you made any changes to the space?
I haven’t made any big changes. Because her bones and structure are so strong, I’ve never done anything major to her. I think once you start doing something to a property that’s been (intact) for so many years, you start to unravel something. So I just let it be what it will be.

What was the first significant piece you bought for the space?
The first design piece I bought was a Metafora coffee table by Italian designers Massimo and Lella Vignelli. It was a table I had always wanted. It has marble-shaped legs, so a triangle, a circle, a square, and a cylinder. It was a table I had always hoped to buy, and one day I saw one in Fitzroy.

How would you describe the feeling in your home?
I really wanted to create a space that felt almost like a gallery Still very homely, still very much a sanctuary. A space where people can sit and not feel like they’re going to knock things over. But it was important to me to be able to be in the space and (always) be looking at something that I bought that I really like to look at. From that perspective, it’s changed a lot (in the last 20 years) because it’s found a real balance between being a home and being a place where I can show art.

What is your favorite room in the house?
The living room. I spend a lot of time there because it’s open plan with the kitchen. It’s so easy to entertain. I love having people in the space and I love having the balcony doors open to the street (and) the sounds of the periphery coming in.

Speaking of the living room, can you tell us about your couch?
The sofa is B&B Italia, which was a very important purchase for me. I got it from Space Furniture around the corner, a store I’ve probably spent 20 years passing and admiring. I had planned to take a sabbatical just before the arrival of Covid and then when I couldn’t make it I decided it was time to invest in a sofa, a piece I always wanted and knew I would have with me. for a long time (I wanted something) I could lay back and relax, but that when I had people there, people could sit and not fall asleep.

What has it been like spending so much time in Richmond?
There was a time when, having lived in the apartment for over 20 years, I wondered whether or not I was progressing as a person. (I went) through a phase of wondering if change was important for growth — being surrounded by a new community, new dog parks, new restaurants, all of those things. But Richmond has evolved over the last 20 years as much as the apartment has for me, and it continues to evolve.

I love having a sanctuary, a very quiet space in a very busy area. We also work in Richmond and during the day there is a lot of work. It has always been an area full of art and design. I love that it’s a place with a real sense of community. It’s becoming an area that also has some really great new restaurants.

Do you see yourself staying in Richmond and the apartment for another 20 years?
Actually, I can. I’ve come to peace with it recently. I’m definitely open to change and if that came, I’d embrace it, but I can see a new chapter going forward and that could be in the form of a revamp or just mixing things up. The apartment will (continue to) evolve as I do. And if not, it will become the beginning of a new chapter for someone else.

This article first appeared in Domain review, in partnership with Broadsheet.

To see the homes of more local creatives, go to our Home Visit series.