Do Not Disturb with Leo Gamboa

Presenting Do Not Disturb, a series uncovering the oasis behind closed doors. We’ve been invited to the homes of indoor enthusiasts—and you’re our plus one. In the next installment, fashion industry veteran Leo Gamboa welcomes us to his serene sanctuary in Berkeley.

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear “Do Not Disturb?”

LG: The first thing that comes to mind is releasing yourself from the everyday—the hustle and bustle of your life. My home, in a sense, is my Do Not Disturb. It's my oasis, it's my escape. Whether I'm traveling, working, or just being out and about, coming home is my way of putting that sign up.

Is your home always tranquil and peaceful?

LG: I'd say 75% of the time it's peaceful. My partner and I host parties once a month and this house lends itself to that. It's an inviting home where we can sit on the balcony and just relax in a quiet environment.

A person wearing glasses and a cap sits in a wooden lounge chair, holding a cat. Sunlight streams through large windows, revealing greenery and a deck outside. A potted plant is beside the chair. Text reads: Classic Lounge Chair, in Walnut and Ivory.

A modern living space with a large window showing green trees, featuring a walnut and ivory lounge chair with matching ottoman and a walnut side table. Text describes the furniture models and materials.

What does good design mean to you?

LG: Good design is classic, timeless design. There's beauty in simple design techniques, and when I see this house, there's a lot of room for beauty. I like to keep the house as minimal as possible—really enjoy the volume of the space. As I've evolved in the different homes that I've lived in, I’m now my most minimalistic self.

A person sits in a wooden lounge chair with an ottoman, reaching to turn on a stone table lamp, next to a beam side table in a cozy, wood-paneled room with a potted plant and built-in shelves.

A marble table lamp with a white shade sits on a wooden shelf beside a wooden tray and a rustic vase, against a backdrop of rich wood and stone. Text reads: Stone Table Lamp, in Italian Arabescato Marble.

A man stands in a mid-century modern living room with wood and stone walls, arranging items on a shelf. Nearby are a potted plant, lounge chair with ottoman, side table, and sunlight streaming through large windows.

Is there a relationship between the minimalism and peace that you feel when you're here?

LG: I like to keep things a lot more minimal now, because having more can sometimes draw anxiety. "Why do I have this? Do I need this? Do I use this? Is this purposeful for me?" It does have a bit of overlap: having less, but loving what you do buy. Buy better, wear longer, use longer—like timeless designs, pieces of furniture, and art that will last you forever.

A person sits on a wooden bench on a sunlit outdoor deck, surrounded by green plants and trees. The scene is viewed through an open doorway from inside a cozy room. Text reads: Pillar Bench, in Natural.

What is the one thing that made you fall in love with this house?

LG: One of the reasons why I love this house so much is all the original wood that still lives in the living space and in the kitchen. A lot of times, as these older houses progress from owner to owner, they change. People modernize houses in different ways, but I think there's a lot of beauty in keeping things original.

A modern armless chair in ivory upholstery and espresso base sits beside a dark side table with a lamp and book, placed in front of large windows overlooking lush green trees. Text reads: Essential Armless Chair, in Espresso and Ivory.

A man wearing a cap and glasses opens a drawer of a dark wood storage table next to a lamp on a side table. Sunlight streams through large windows showing lush green trees outside. Text on image describes the furniture.

What is your perfect day in an empty house?

LG: Listening to music. I call it YouTube karaoke. It's blasting my favorite songs and singing in the living room. It's jumping around on the couch—on the carpet. It's definitely one of my favorite things to do.

A cozy bedroom with a walnut wood bed and headboard, matching nightstand, white linen duvet cover, and a heathered oatmeal waffle blanket, softly lit with wall-mounted lamps. Text in the corner lists the featured products.

Is there one piece of furniture, art, or an architectural design that is your favorite piece?

LG: One of the most important pieces of furniture you should have at your house is the bed, right? You’re in your bed for a lot of time. And the bed that I have from Thuma is one of the greatest beds I've ever slept in. It's one of my favorite pieces of furniture I have in the house.

A man sits on a wooden bench at the foot of a neatly made bed in a cozy, sunlit bedroom, eating from a bowl. Clothing hangs on wall hooks and text on the image highlights the bench and wool rug.

A person wearing glasses, a cap, and a sweatshirt sits on a bed holding a bowl of colorful cereal with a spoon. Clothes hang in the background. Text reads, Thuma + Heller Max Breakfast Set.

If your home had a theme song, what would it be?

LG: Max Richter, On the Nature of Daylight. It's one of my favorite songs for this home. I think it’s super calming for your morning.

In three words, how do you describe your style?

LG: Simple, timeless, and cozy.