Ceramicist Leslie Kern has no interest in keeping up with the Joneses. In fact, if the Joneses or anyone else on the block have something special, that’s reason enough for her to avoid it. “I don’t want to fit in and look like everyone else,” she says. “As an artist, I feel everything you choose makes a big statement. You can blend in, or you can say, ‘I’m my own person, and I have my own vision.’ I know what I like, and creating a space I want to live in is important.”
That’s why Leslie focused on making the Estero home she shares with her husband, Andy, so special. Surprises abound around every corner, whether it’s a colorful portrait of John Lennon or a one-of-a-kind powder room sink made by Leslie’s own hand. Contemporary chandeliers add sparkle and walls are rich with texture from a variety of eye-catching tiles. While the home is highly personal now, crafting the space around her distinct design sensibilities required a team effort.