A Rock Drummer With an Eye for Modernism Tunes Up a Los Angeles Midcentury

Originally designed in 1952 by Schwen Wei Ma for Chinatown cofounder Peter Soo Hoo, this midcentury gem had gone untouched save for a few changes in 1965. More recently, it was purchased by Arctic Monkeys drummer and avid photographer Matt Helders, who wanted to update the 2,680-square-foot home for himself and his daughter. So he tapped interior designer Corinne Mathern to bring back its soul while inserting contemporary amenities and finishes.

"The house had so many great details that guided the design," says Corinne Mathern, founder of her namesake studio. "Repurposing some of the original architectural details guided us in keeping the home’s character intact."

This design approach dovetailed with, and was in part guided by, Matt’s own visual references: the works of modernist icons across film and design like Jacques Tati, Jean Prouvé, and Michelangelo Antonioni.