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Celebrated interior designer Kelly Hoppen shows a penchant for living the high life as she takes us through her awe-inspiring penthouse home
Fusing Eastern and Western details, creating her own inimitable style, the renowned interior designer Kelly Hoppen takes the art of living beyond complementary color schemes, creating stylish sanctuaries for the senses.
Kelly Hoppen's definition of luxury:
Luxury to me is not only about big and bold statements of wealth, but about attention to detail and quality. Spirituality, peace of mind and a balanced life are also luxuries of today's busy life.
If luxury were...
An object
A taupe Hermes Birkin Bag.
A place
The Reethi Rah in the Maldives - everything is thought through in great detail, making a stay there an unforgettable experience.
A person
Mahatma Gandhi- his spirit and wisdom make him one of the richest people in the world.
A moment
The day my daughter was born - it brought the greatest happiness to my life.
Interior designer Kelly Hoppen has been at the top of her game since she began her career as a teenager in the 1980s – and shows no sign of abating. Credited with infusing Western interiors with an Eastern design philosophy, coining the term "East meets West," she was recently awarded the prestigious European Women of Achievement Award for Entrepreneurship, in recognition of her tireless 25-year contribution to interior design.
Her use of neutrals in shades of soft taupe, rich chocolate and warm beige is an inherent feature of the designer's inimitable style, for which she garnered the nickname "the queen of taupe." The classic, muted palette of her signature look creates a simple, sensual backdrop to the rich blend of natural materials, such as wenge, dark oak and sumptuous cashmere, creating glamorous, organic environments. "At the heart of my work is a feeling of harmony with the organic world. Not only is this important in a spiritual sense – to feel at one with the world is to feel at one with yourself – but it also provides inspiration on many levels," she notes. Her calm, classic style has earned her remarkable success. In addition to a flagship store in London's Brompton Cross and concessions within the world's most prestigious stores, she has created an exhaustive number of signature ranges, covering everything from bathroom brassware to furniture. Kelly's classic decorating tomes have also become bestselling style bibles for fans of her subdued, sensual interiors.
Inspired by the large open plan design of New York-style loft living, when searching for a new home, Hoppen's brief to herself was to find an apartment, like those in Manhattan's über-cool Meatpacking District. Upon entering the converted 19th century school in southwest London, she instinctively knew that she had found the perfect place to put her plan into action. The 4,700 square foot space, which was once owned by her close friend Viscount David Linley, was ideal. "I walked into this place and it completely took my breath away," she recalls.
The fundamental aim was to create a combined kitchen, living and dining area within the main space, along with a more formal dining section beyond the staircase. This meant moving the bedrooms into the adjacent hallway, in line with the master bedroom. At the summit of the newly erected staircase, Kelly created a nest-like chillout retreat in the eaves of the high-vaulted ceiling
Kelly is known for her instinctive talent for creating tactile environments by combining textures. In the main living space, soft, sumptuous leather Christian Liaigre couches are juxtaposed with silky velvet club chairs, while the bedroom boasts deep, plush carpet. Even the soft grey coats of William Wegman's Weimaraners complement the color scheme.
Within the main area, traces of signature taupe are evident, but this home heralds a new style. The striking black circular ring screen, the yellow upholstered antique wing chair and an Eero Aarnio-inspired bubble chair inject a refreshingly youthful spirit. Interspersed with classic contemporary pieces from Kelly's signature furniture collection for Century and a large collection of prints, many of which she amassed from her brother Michael's gallery, she admits, this is a much more daring design. "I really wanted to step out of the mold and do something more eclectic. My homes before have been quite structured, in an unstructured way; very harmonious. I think this is a much more daring home, much more feminine." This modern home marks a milestone for Hoppen; a change of life, style and artistic direction, and she couldn't be more content. "I just love every single bit of this place; I never get bored with it. I'm so happy to get home every day."
Kelly Hoppen Home: From Concept to Reality is available, priced $31.36