Peanut Gallery

After the birth of her son, Fin, Michelle Kennedy found herself introduced to dozens of other new moms, only to find that the only thing they had in common was the fact that they both had a child. On a mission to find a like-minded mama to meet for coffee, Kennedy created Tinderlike app Peanut— the hottest new matchmaking tool for finding local mom friends who are just like you.

photography by PAVLINA KLEPRLIK

MINI | Thank you for inviting us into your home— Tell us about the place!

MICHELLE KENNEDY | We live in an old house, so it’s kind of period chic? Lots of dark colors and dark woods.

MINI | Do you have a favorite room in your home? Tell us why you love it.

MICHELLE KENNEDY | I love every room actually, but especially our living room. That big, white sofa from Rachel Ashwell just envelops you, and cozy Sundays snuggled up with Fin watching Disney movies are heaven.

MINI | What are some of your favorite elements in your home? Where did they come from?

MICHELLE KENNEDY | I really now love our kitchen. It’s very modern compared to the rest of the house, but I love the textures. I like that we have this huge marble, bronze, and then wood floors. I love to touch all of the surfaces. It was a labor of love and took a long time to finish. I found the stools in Denmark, the marble is Italian, the taps are German— very European! I also love our art. I am obsessed with Henrietta Dubrey and Andrew Torres.

MINI | Where do you spend the most time in your home?

MICHELLE KENNEDY | Definitely the kitchen. It’s the hub of every home!

MINI | Talk to us about your son’s room. What inspired you in creating his space?

MICHELLE KENNEDY | Oh gosh, I think Fin’s room is due a makeover! I love greys and blues together, so it was really thinking about those colors, and then softening with some stencils.

MINI | What are your favorite elements in his room?

MICHELLE KENNEDY | The smell! I just love the smell of his room. It smells like him. It reminds me of all of the long nights getting him to sleep, the early mornings, the nights when he was sick, ly- ing on his bedroom floor. I love all of that. I love the chips of paint which remind me of when he threw a toy, or the mark on the rug where he threw a juice. The imperfections!

MINI | What do you love most about raising your son in London?

MICHELLE KENNEDY | I suppose London is home. Every street has a memory of life pre Fin and with Fin. I love every part of that. We live near the Heath in Hampstead, so there is lots of open space, which I love, and I love that we live in a small part of London that you wouldn’t stumble across— a hidden gem.

MINI | Tell us about the inspiration behind your founding Peanut. How did it all begin?

MICHELLE KENNEDY | Peanut was born out of two main issues. The first was the emotional aspect of becoming a mother. Before Fin arrived, I felt prepared. I had bought everything I needed, I’d read a few books. Turns out, the arrival of a baby isn’t just about planning. There are feelings and demands that you can’t plan for. My girlfriends weren’t at the stage in their life where they were yet having children, and even if some of my wider friendship group were, we all lived in different parts of the city (and leaving the house to go anywhere further than ten minutes from home with a newborn felt like a military operation). I suppose what I felt most prominently, which isn’t particularly comfortable for a 30-something woman to admit, is that I was lonely. I had lots of friends, I was successful professionally, and yet, when I was at home, I felt lonely. This was further compounded by the fact that I was working in an industry (dating), where it was my day-to-day to produce products people could use to find a match and I was struggling to find a woman who was like-minded to go for a coffee with. A little like dating, I also experienced a lot of “I have to introduce you to my friend, she’s a new mommy too,” only to go through an awkward date where you realize the only thing you have in common is the fact that you both have a child. You don’t share the same outlook on life, values, interests. That’s actually even more isolating to be honest. The second was my frustration with the existing products on the market aimed at mothers. I didn’t recognize the tone of voice the products used, or the look and feel of the products. They felt outdated, old fashioned, and, in some cases, patronizing. To me, I didn’t feel like I’d suddenly aged, or become less modern, less cool, just because I’d become a mom, and yet, the products seemed to have that expectation. I found that confusing. I still had an expectation of great user experience, from products like Uber, or Instagram, but I wasn’t getting that.

MINI | How important are mom friends to you?

MICHELLE KENNEDY | These women are everything. They are the ones who make your day brighter, who remind you that you’re not alone, who will pick up your little one from nursery if you get stuck at work, or who will make you laugh.

MINI | We know schedules can be hectic— so tell us about yours! What does a typical day look like right now?

MICHELLE KENNEDY | My day starts at 6:30. I try to get a bit of work in before Fin wakes up. Once we’ve had the circus of getting breakfast, dressed and out of the house, I drop Fin at school and head straight to the office. There is no typical day for Peanut. We might be head down working on product development, or speaking to partners, or engaging with our users. It’s full-on, but I am so passionate about what we’re doing, I love it.

MINI | What helps you to juggle motherhood and career?

MICHELLE KENNEDY | You know, it’s tough. I am very open about that. I try to get it right, a lot of the time I get it wrong. Some days, I am super mom, some days I’m super boss, very rarely, when the stars are aligned, I am both, at the same time! But ultimately, I try to be kind to myself, and accept that I can’t be perfect. It doesn’t exist.

MINI | How would you describe your personal style?

MICHELLE KENNEDY | I suppose it’s casual elegance. I love classic pieces with great tailoring. I equally love a masculine cut on a blazer or trousers. I also have a lot of jeans— so much denim! A great pair of highwaisted jeans with a blazer can make you look together, even if you’ve just thrown it on.

MINI | Has your style changed since becoming a mom?

MICHELLE KENNEDY | No! I didn’t want it to! I wear a few more flats, but really, my style is part of who I am, so is motherhood, one didn’t affect the other.

MINI | What is your ideal holiday ensemble? What will you be wearing most this season?

MICHELLE KENNEDY | I love the deep colors this season, and the velvet! So luxe. Some wide-legged velvet pants and a vest, and my favorite maroon velvet dress by The Vampire’s Wife.

MINI | Where do you like to shop?

MICHELLE KENNEDY | For me, I love Reformation. For Fin, I love Rockets of Awesome— such fun pieces.

MINI | How has motherhood changed you?

MICHELLE KENNEDY | It’s opened my eyes to the wonder of life. The moments which Fin is in awe of, that I take for granted. It’s changed my outlook on life. In terms of challenges, it’s difficult to switch off from the worry about the babes. I worry if I am getting it right.

MINI | What is your greatest joy of motherhood?

MICHELLE KENNEDY | Seeing the world through Fin’s eyes.

MINI | On the flip side, what is your greatest parenting worry?

MICHELLE KENNEDY | Everything! It can range from diet, to education, to happiness, to should I have his hair cut. It’s endless, sometimes big, sometimes small, but I try hard now to stop worrying, and live in the moment— and speak to mama friends if I need some reassurance that I am not being neurotic (I usually am)!

MINI | What is most important to you in raising your son?

MICHELLE KENNEDY | Keeping him questioning. I want him to always recognize when something isn’t right. You can only do that by questioning why we do things a certain way, and challenging that if it feels wrong.

MINI | If you could give your son one piece of advice, what would it be?

MICHELLE KENNEDY | It’s ok to fail. We learn from failure, don’t worry about it, it’s a good thing.

MINI | Since it’s the holidays, tell us about your own family traditions. What do you look forward to doing with your son this time of year?

MICHELLE KENNEDY | We’re creating new traditions! I am Catholic and my husband is Jewish. Finlay’s birthday is also in December. It means we spend the month of December in constant celebration! From lighting the Hanukkah candles, to putting up the tree, and of course, the

Elf on the Shelf keeping an eye on Fin’s behavior in December, I love every minute of it. Since Fin was born, we’ve been taking him to Santa’s Grotto at Harrods. More than anything, I love that I have a photo of him every year, and can see how much he’s changed.

FAST FACTS

BEFORE KIDS, I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD Not be grossed out by snot.

TYPICAL COFFEE ORDER Skim single shot latte.

IF THERE WERE MORE HOURS IN THE DAY, I WOULD See my friends more.

CAN’T STOP LISTENING TO Lemonade.

FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANT I love Scott’s in London.

ON MY NIGHTSTAND A million books I intend to read.

FAVORITE KIDS BOOK Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

FAVORITE KIDS MOVIE Currently Trolls in our house.

ALWAYS IN MY FRIDGE Cheese.

IDEAL DATE NIGHT Red wine, take out, my husband, my sofa.

SIGNATURE SCENT Nasomatto, China White.

GUILTY PLEASURE Really terrible reality TV.