PHOTOGRAPHS: MEL YATES
KELLY HOPPEN TRANSFORMED BOY GEORGE’S LONDON HOME FROM A DARK WARREN OF ROOMS INTO A MAJESTIC AND HIGHLY PERSONAL HOME USING HER TRADEMARK FLAIR. ARABELLA YOUENS MEETS THE ACCLAIMED DESIGNER
hen Boy George visited the interior designer Kelly Hoppen’s former west London, home he immediately said: “I want this – in my house.” Culture Club’s lead singer-turned-DJ had owned his vast, Grade II-listed threestorey gothic mansion in Hampstead for 40 years. It was bought on the back of successful hits such as Karma Chameleon and Do You Really Want to Hurt Me. Kelly’s response to George was instinctive: “No you don’t, not really. It wouldn’t make sense.”“Everyone has a singular taste and what I love doing is getting into people’s heads –there ’s a lightbulb moment when all the ideas turn on,” Kelly explains before adding that her projects will take inspiration from the architecture of the house and the story of the owner. “This could’ve been a
CULTURE VULTURES
Opposite page: Kelly and George surrounded by his colourful art collection
Top: Curios and decorative items are artfully arranged
Right: Kelly's signature palette of calming neutral tones refresh the period features
FROM FOSSILISED ELK ANTLERS TO TAPESTRIES, RARE FINDS GIVE CHARACTER AND CACHET TO HOME INTERIORS.
ALEXANDRA GOSS GOES ON A TREASURE HUNT
Adding antiques to modern interiors is nothing new, but it seems collecting has never been cooler. Antiques and vintage furniture are all over Instagram as more interior designers use old pieces to add character and burnish their sustainability credentials. Meanwhile, private collectors are on the hunt for increasingly rare artwork and extraordinary talking points to put their own unique stamp on where they live.
“A house only becomes a home once it reflects the character of its owners,” says Andrew Shirley, head of luxury research at Knight Frank. “The art on the walls, the wine in the cellar or the cars in the garage are all bound up with that.”
This autumn’s auction catalogues o er some amazing treasures. In September, Edward Guinness, the 4th Earl of Iveagh, sold about £500,000 of antiques and furniture to fund essential repairs to Elveden Hall, a Georgian pile in Su olk that was once home to the Maharaja Duleep Singh, the last Maharaja of the Sikh Empire and the former owner of the Koh-i-Noor diamond. The auction, through Sworders (sworder.co.uk), included a George III giltwood mirror in the manner of Thomas Chippendale and a Louis XV floral marquetry bombé commode with a Breccia marble top.
“I believe the vast majority of these items are likely to be heirlooms for generations of the future,” Lord Iveagh says.
September also saw a number of paintings by Sir
Oswald and Lady Rhoda Birley, fringe members of the Bloomsbury group of artists, go under the hammer at Che ns Fine Art in Cambridge (che ns.co.uk). Sir Oswald was one of Britain’s most admired portrait painters from 1919 until the early 1950s – his sitters included George V and George VI; Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother ; Elizabeth II; and Sir Winston Churchill.
Recently, Martin Millard, director at Che ns, has noticed heightened demand in the auction room for items such as tapestries, signed prints, mid-century furniture, Arts & Crafts items and studio pottery. “All have seen rising prices as they grow in popularity, while antique furniture is a good bet in terms of an investment,” he says.
rising
“Buying old is the environmentally-conscious choice, while there is also growing interest in craftsmanship and original works, as well as the rejection of mass-market items.”
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Many collectors are now focussing on post-war British studio pottery, according to Chiswick Auctions chiswickauctions.co.uk). Once a relative backwater for collecting, interest has burgeoned and new artists’ records have been set for the likes of Jennifer Lee, John Ward, Hans Coper and Dame Lucie Rie. Rie is credited with helping to bring studio ceramics to a global audience and a blue turquoise and manganese glaze bowl she created in the 1980s sold for £35,000 at Chiswick Auctions’ design and modern contemporary sale in March.
Whitford Fine Art has also seen rising interest in
From trained therapy dogs to cuddly companions offering moments of joy during a long day of lessons, pups are being enrolled into schools across the capital and beyond. And with claimed benefits including improved attendance, reduced anxiety and enriched cognitive development – not to mention the cuteness factor –there’s much to recommend having a dog on campus. We think of dogs as man’s best friend, but can you imagine 188 children sharing one canine charge? Grimsdell’s school dog Holly can claim that level of popularity. Deputy head Jenny Ticehurst’s cavapoo settled into the north-west London pre-prep seamlessly just as Covid-19 restrictions began to lift. With anxious youngsters returning to or starting school in the throes of a pandemic, Holly established herself as a soother of wobbly chins, wearer of super-cute costumes and helpful distraction for those struggling to settle into school life.
Nowadays, her packed timetable includes two-tothree nursery visits a week, outdoor play during forest school lessons and one-on-one sessions in the office’s chill-out corner. “She’s very good-natured, which means that we can also teach the children how to behave around animals,” Ticehurst says. She may sound like a star pupil, she still has her naughty moments: “When Holly’s off the lead she makes a beeline for the nursery to see what snacks might have been dropped on the floor,” laughs Ticehurst. “She’s still a dog, after all.”
Although Holly’s well suited to her under-eight audience, students of all ages can have their education enriched by a four-legged confidante. Francis Holland School Sloane Square, an all-through girls’ day school in Chelsea, is home to fully trained therapy dog, Kanga. The much-beloved Hungarian vizsla has been part of FHS’s ContemPlace team for four years.
While autumn term is particularly busy for her with helping newcomers adjust, her role during exam periods is crucial. Senior students often take the opportunity to walk and talk with Kanga and a therapist around the streets of south-west London, relieving stress and
“It’s well-documented that stroking an animal can release endorphins, which helps create a sense of calm within the individual”
restoring a sense of perspective at a tense time. She also provides a route for children to explore therapy, with some girls dropping in to pet her and then finding themselves opening up to one of the counsellors.
“It’s well documented that stroking an animal can release endorphins, which helps create a sense of calm within the individual. This is particularly pertinent for those students who may be suffering from anxiety or have neurosensory needs,” explains the school’s lead counsellor Zoe Juniper, Kanga’s owner. “Vizslas are known as ‘Velcro’ dogs because they’re affectionate and rarely leave your side. For some of the girls, the simple
act of lying down with Kanga makes them feel better.”
Meanwhile, at Berkshire boarding school, Ludgrove, a veritable village of pups are on hand to give its prepage boys comfort as they settle into fortnights away from home. Headmaster Simon Barber’s dog, Quila is the leader of the pack and relishes this role, often greeting visitors at the front door, sitting with a boy while he calls his parents and observing games sessions.
House parents’ dogs – including Libby the spaniel (p61) and Ringo the labrador – also provide canine comradery, from cuddling up to boys while they drink their nightly cocoa to joining Welly Walks and woofing sideline support to players on match days. Barber says: “Dogs add to the family feel of the school. It’s important that our boys feel that Ludgrove is their home and living alongside well-behaved dogs aids that.”
Friend, therapist, family member – a school dog wears many collars, but Grimsdell teaching assistant Azeroo Noobakhsh puts it best: “A dog not only helps children with their emotional and social needs; it also instils values, such as understanding, love and care.” L fhs-sw1.org.uk; ludgrove.net; millhill.org.uk
In King’s Cross the energy is palpable. “Since its rejuvenation, the area has established itself as an exciting hub for a variety of demographics. House hunters and tenants alike are drawn to its new developments and lifestyle o erings , while big corporations such as Google favour King’s Cross for its national a nd international travel connections,” says Emlyn Parks, sales director at Chestertons.
There ’s the £3bn regeneration of Coal Drops Yard, the ten new public parks and squares, and pedestrianised areas lined with bars and restaurant. “King’s Cross has undergone a complete transformation and is now one of the world’s most successful redevelopments,” says Michael Keaton, of Savills. “This once industrial hub wear s its history through a host of property styles, from the Grade I-l isted apartments of St Pancras Chambers to
the townhouses in the Hand Axe Yard conservation area.”
Huge corporate brands such as Google, Meta, Sony and Nike have bases there, leading to a high demand for homes. “P roperty prices have increased steadily, with the average asking price for a flat starting at around £650,000 while larger properties and terraced homes can easily exceed the £2m mark. Tenants, on the other hand, will fi nd onebed apartments from £2,000 pc m upwards,” says Parks.
Transport links are second to none, with six Tube lines and Eurostar to whisk you to Paris. The City is a walk away, making the area attractive to professionals. “King ’s Cross also draws in a lot of domestic and international Central Saint Martin’s College and UCL students ,” says Sarah Curtis, of Savills. “There’s always something going on which creates a buzz, especially of a weekend or evening.”
Transport links are second to none, with six Tube lines and Eurostar to whisk you to Paris
Once one of the capital's main industrial hubs, today King's Cross is an international neighbourhood bringing together tech, travel, leisure and canal views to boot. Feeling bookish? Delve into the British Library's collection, below
9 AM
Canalside chilling
Start your day with a brisk or leisurely wal k along Regent’s Canal, which runs through the heart of King’s Cross. P ass by the Granary Steps, where you can picnic or simply watch the boats go by. Cross the bridge to Camley Street Natural Park (wildlondon.org.uk), a hidden oasis where inhabitants include mallards, stag beetles, kingfishers and more.
11 AM
Read the room
Synonymous with Harry Potter’s platform 9¾, King’s Cross is a reader’s paradise. Founded 50 years ago, The British Library (bl.uk) on Euston Road houses more than 170 -m illion items , from Leonardo da Vinci’s notebook to Jane Austen's manuscript s.
1PM
Jazz brunch
Transport yourself to a bygone era of Art
Deco decadence at St Pancras Searcys (stpancrasbysearcys.co.uk). S everal menus are available, with the latest addition being the Sunday Brunch Feast, an unlimited culinary experience featuring live jazz musicians. Cheese stations, roasts, premium seafood, champagne and more await diners.
3PM
Shop till you drop
With trading roots since the Roman era, Coal Drops Yard on Stable Street is your one -stop shopping destination here. For green wellbeing , head to the Botanical Boys (botanicalboys.com) where plants, homeware and masterclasses await , or Blomma Beauty (blommabeauty.com) for eco products and treatments. At Wolf & Badger (wolfandbadger.com) you ’ ll find a range of indie designers across fashion and interiors.
5PM
On Cubitt Square, adjacent to Coal Drops Yard, the Lightroom (lightroom.uk) has been one of London’s most exciting cultural openings since it first opened its doors in February this year. The collaborative programme with revered British artist David Hockney is open until 3 December The large-scale work invites visitors to experience the world through Hockney’s eyes.
NIKO DAFKOS , CO-FOUNDER OF EARL OF EAST
King’s Cross has to be one the best destinations in London for shopping, dining and hanging out. There’s always so much going on in the neighbourhood, from free music festivals, cinema screenings and art exhibitions to our own weekly candle making workshops at our Coal Drops Yard store. There's a really creative atmosphere, which is elevated by the other independent brands here, making it the perfect shopping destination.
Lunch breaks are best spent eating at one of the brilliant food vendors, walking along the canal or in one of the hidden gardens – it's so peaceful it’s hard to believe you’re in the middle of London!
earlofeast.com
Set over two floors within the Grade I-listed former Midland Grand Hotel, this spectacular two-bedroom apartment comes with Victorian gothic features, open-plan living and upper deck spaces for both bedrooms –ideal for home-working. Guide price £3.55m Agent: savills.com
Within a popular new development with concierge service and access to an on-site gym, this three-bedroom townhouse sits at the heart of the area's social scene. £1.6m Agent: dexters.com
This one-bedroom apartment in the Grade II-listed Gasholders development benefits from concierge service, access to communal roof gardens and a residents' spa. £1m Agent: knightfrank.com
“The buzz around King’s Cross is electric, with its regeneration having a profound impact on sentiment to invest in the area. There are a multitude of amenities to enjoy, whether it is boutique shopping, dining at one of the many restaurants, or jumping on the Eurostar for lunch in Paris – which truly emphasises the connectivity that King’s Cross offers. With a range of architectural styles present in the area, there's been a drive for modern developments in recent years. However, there are still some lovely pockets of period properties, not forgetting the iconic St Pancras Chambers, George Gilbert Scott’s gothic Grade I-listed masterpiece. The market has been challenging this year but in some cases we've achieved record prices, demonstrating that buyers are will pay a premium for the right property.''
knightfrank.co.uk
