Quick Takes With: Leanne Kilroy

Ever since American expats Leanne Kilroy and her husband, Eric Fulwiler, purchased a dilapidated Victorian in London six years ago, they’ve been in near-constant renovation mode, whether it’s planning for one, in the midst of one, or cleaning up from one. We’ve been admiring their progress all along the way, from their gorgeous kitchen extension (see our 2022 tour of it over on Remodelista) to their dreamily refreshed garden. 

We aren’t the only ones who have taken notice of Leanne’s keen eye and clever DIYs. The interior designer and founder of Good Bones design studio has upwards of 523,000 followers on Instagram, where she documents all the details of her various projects (she also has a Substack). “I love to overshare—my home, bits of life, the sources and secrets of spaces I’ve designed, tips and tricks,” she says. Lucky us.

Below, she shares some more.

Featured photograph above by Rosalind Miller. All other photography courtesy of Leanne Kilroy.

Your first garden memory:

My mother in her sun hat and leather gardening gloves, planting bulbs in our garden in coastal New England. My parents still divide and conquer in the garden without help and with so much confidence.

Plant that makes you swoon:

Hydrangea. Where I grew up in Massachusetts, hydrangea is a summertime staple that seems to thrive in sandy soil. My parents inherited several enormous hydrangea bushes when they bought their home—they must be 70 years old by now. I love the way the flowers fade from pure white to pale pink to an almost reddy brown. I’m not successful at growing my own in London, mind you, but a blousy hydrangea is hard to beat.

Plant that makes you want to run the other way:

Those tall grasses with blade-like leaves are a big no from me.

Proudest gardening moment:

Every year I manage to grow monster supermarket basils!

Unpopular gardening opinion:

You don’t need to plant things in odd numbers. Plant just one! Or just two! Go wild!

Favorite gardening hack:

Making your own wire trellis for climbers! It’s so easy and satisfying. I recommend using 2mm wire and eyehooks and proceeding with blind confidence. If you want a more detailed set of instructions, you can find it on my Instagram or Substack.

Tool you can’t live without:

Retractable hose—I couldn’t do without them for compact urban gardens.

A recent purchase for your outdoor space/garden:

Some small vintage terracotta pots I bought from a shop in the Cotswolds for £2 each. They’re perfect for small, floribund geraniums in the summer and indoor bulbs like paperwhites and hyacinth in the winter.

On your wishlist:

Someone to come over and tell me exactly how to prune my Australian ivy!

Not-to-be-missed public garden/park/botanical garden:

Hampstead Heath is a local favorite and a truly magical part of London.

You’re invited to dinner. What’s your go-to gift?

I’ll usually bring a scented candle, a cutting of a small potted plant,  or something sweet we’ve made, and always, always a bottle of wine.

On your bedside table:

A short pile of books—I’m currently finishing London Falling—one I’m reading and several I’m itching to start. You’ll usually find a tube of my favourite Verden Nocturne magnesium hand cream, too.

Podcast or playlist for when you need inspiration:

My husband made me a playlist 12 years ago and it’s the one I turn to whenever I need to focus or come back to myself.

Your best house upgrade:

There have been so many! Extending the kitchen, adding several bathrooms, planting a garden to name a few.

Simple or budget-friendly design move you wish you’d known sooner:

Oh, I have lots of these sorts of tricks. Hemming tape—it means you can make your own simple curtains, cafe curtains and tablecloths without a sewing machine or any sort of skill really. Using plumbed-in copper piping as inexpensive heated towel radiators for bathrooms and laundry rooms. Auction websites for unusual and unique art and artifacts.

Favorite sheets:

Rise & Fall’s linen bedding is the best.

Unpopular design opinion:

Brilliant White is a great option!

Three words that describe your design style:

Timeless, accessible, elegant.

Thanks so much, Leanne! (You can follow her on Instagram @goodboneslondon.)

For our full archive of Quick Takes, head here.