At Home with Chef, Co-Founder, and Entertaining Expert Leanne Citrone

Rip & Tan: Whether it’s a meal or a moment, you’re known for creating such beautiful and evocative seasonal scenes—in a similar way, is there a particular feeling that you wanted your home to evoke? 

Leanne Citrone: I want people to feel comfortable and relaxed at my home. I want them to feel like they can raid the fridge or pantry and feel comfortable doing it. 

I like my house to embody that California lifestyle, that sunny, fresh air, inside/outside living. There is always incense burning and plenty of food to eat and if my husband Michael is home, a great playlist on. 

Rip & Tan: How would you describe your approach to interior style? How did that play out in this space? 

Leanne Citrone: I aim for neutrality and minimalism, constantly tidying and arranging. I have a strong preference for staying organized. Furniture is kept subdued and serene, while the art collection is balanced to maintain a sense of calm amidst the vibrant wall displays.

Rip & Tan: As someone known for entertaining, how did lifestyle influence the design?

Leanne Citrone: One of the perks of living in LA is that dreamy California weather. We try to spend as much time as possible outdoors, so I put a lot of love and attention into our garden. 

We have a great outdoor kitchen with a pizza oven, bbq, and fireplace so we love to entertain outside. We have little lights in the trees which gives a really nice feeling when it’s dark. We want people to feel relaxed and comfortable and don’t want people to feel like they have to be rushed out. 

Rip & Tan: Talk to us about your incredible art collection. What has the curation process been like? What do you look for in a potential new piece? 

Leanne Citrone: We have collected for many years, and my husband is more involved with the art. I like the walls to have less and the feeling of some empty space. He is more open to switching the art around than I am. I get more attached and like to live with the same pieces of art in the same places for a long time. Like any relationship, it’s a balance. 

Rip & Tan: Can you walk us through the process of planning the kitchen? As a chef, which elements were non-negotiable? Which were technically non-essential, but worth it nonetheless? 

Leanne Citrone:  We have lived in our house for 17 years and have done 2 major renovations. The kitchen has definitely evolved over time. We are also working with a limited amount of space. When we originally renovated the kitchen 17 years ago, I had very different needs than I have today. I don’t really feel like there are any nonnegotiables or nonessentials. We did the kitchen so long ago. We make what we have work for how we live now. The whole family is ready for a new move, I spend a lot of time fantasizing and manifesting my dream house. I have so much inspo for my future dream kitchen,  there are plenty of nonnegotiables and nonessentials on that list.

Rip & Tan: Every last piece of décor feels so intentional. What are your thoughts on creating a home that’s full of personality yet still well-edited? 

Leanne Citrone: We have some furniture that I know will be with us our whole lives and there are plenty of things I could happily get rid of today. We have raised our kids in this home so it’s definitely gotten a lot of use and love. I love that we have a home that has been well lived in and walls that can tell many stories. I am ready for a new house and an opportunity for us to start over and live differently with a fresh perspective.

Rip & Tan: This backyard is a true testament to California living at its best. What inspired or informed its layout? 

Leanne Citrone: The backyard has had the most evolution over time. When we bought the house we put in a pool and when my kids were young we used to have four beautiful vegetable gardens. As the kids got older and we found ourselves living differently, we put in a beautiful pergola that has the most amazing wisteria that grows over the top of it.

My favorite time of the year is in the spring. I get so much joy when the wisteria blooms. We added a long table that can seat 14 people so there is plenty of room for long candlelit dinners. During covid, we added the pizza oven, bbq, and fireplace which gets a lot of use. Most recently we added a sauna and plunge pool which has been a great addition. 

Rip & Tan: We’d argue that, in many ways, you’ve become an expert in the art of living well. In this season, and in general, what does that concept look like to you?

Leanne Citrone: Living well has changed for me, especially over the last couple of years.  Launching UDEA this year is a testament to my approach to living well.  Understanding that it’s what is inside that counts and taking care of myself in the most optimal way possible is a priority for me. The food I eat, the supplements I take, working out, meditating, and being healthy are super important to me.

We formulated UDEA’s line of supplements to help bridge the gap between the food we eat and the stresses of everyday living. We want to support people living a balanced, vibrant optimal life. Mindset is the key to living a healthy existence.