CELEBRITY FEATURE

KELLY HOPPEN CBE designer to the stars!

Nothing screams luxury like a Kelly Hoppen design... With nearly 45 years’ experience at the forefront of her industry, London’s worldfamous ‘Queen of Interiors’ has been designing rooms for the super-rich and super-famous for decades.

“Working together with the GREAT campaign has been rewarding and exciting, and I look forward to continuing to support and mentor UK SME’s and entrepreneurs, which is more important now than ever!”

The design doyenne and former Dragons’ Den investor talks to Angela Sara West about her illustrious career, incorporating wellbeing in design, and her secrets on how to let in the light this summer and get the luxe look for less!

BAFTA-nominated Kelly Hoppen’s unique flair has won her abundant accolades, including a recent Luxury Lifestyle Award and becoming the very first recipient of the ‘Oscar’ of the industry, the Andrew Martin Interior Designer of the Year Award.

She tells me her greatest achievement, however, was receiving her much-coveted MBE for her services to interior design. “It was a huge honour to meet the Queen and be presented with such an award!” As a proud Government-appointed ambassador for GREAT, which showcases the very best Britain has to offer, her subsequent CBE for services to the Government’s GREAT campaign recognises Kelly’s exceptional contribution to the UK as an entrepreneurial and self-made female business owner, and a powerful example of the talent and forwardleaning nature of global Britain. “I am truly humbled and thrilled to be honoured for work that I feel so passionate about. Working together with the GREAT campaign has been rewarding and exciting, and I look forward to continuing to support and mentor UK SME’s and entrepreneurs, which is more important now than ever!”

A SIMPLE DESIGN PHILOSOPHY

Known for her taupe palette and minimalist taste, the design doyenne’s cool’n’contemporary signature stamp is emblazoned on copious commercial projects, private jets and superyachts worldwide. Having achieved iconic status, the interiors queen is THE go-to designer to the stars, counting close friends the Beckhams and the Lampards among her A-list clientele.

KICKING OFF A COVETED CAREER…

Kelly’s big break came at sweet 16, when her father’s friend asked her to design his kitchen. “It was my first assignment and I haven’t looked back since,” she says. “The passion grew stronger and the projects bigger!” Constantly in demand, creative Kelly’s currently working on countless exciting projects worldwide. “We have designed lots of projects in London over the years…” she tells me. “But what I love the most about the work we do at Kelly Hoppen Interiors is that it’s so diverse – from Australia to Surrey!”

COLLABORATION, COLLABORATION, COLLABORATION…

Having clocked up over four decades in the industry, the diverse designer’s designed a statement wooden floor tile range with Hakwood, a designer premium electrical accessories collection for Focus SB, and luxury door handles with Joseph Giles. Over the years, she’s also collaborated with Lord Alan Sugar, Samsung and L’Occitane, designed bowls for Wedgewood, wallpaper and rug Mickey Mouse collections, plus a carpet range for Brintons. Always keeping her core values of high quality, simplicity and timeless elegance, Kelly has also created cutting-edge fabrics for Richloom, unique luxury leathers for Pavoni, and joined forces with many other like-minded brands. When she’s not donning her interior design hat, popping up on our screens as an interiors expert or championing and mentoring entrepreneurs, she’s designing products for her copious collaborative home and commercial ranges including Joseph Giles, not forgetting her modish homeware line for QVC.

“My most exciting recent product collaborations are the most stunning collection of wallpaper designs for De Gournay, and exquisite residential rugs for Italian rug experts Loloey,” Kelly reveals. “Both collaborations are each unique, but inspired by everything I love about the East-meets-West aesthetic, combining exquisite textures and elegant neutral tones with classic Asian iconography. I’m delighted with how well received all of my collections have been!”

Her furniture designs can also be found at Andrew Martin’s flagship Chelseabased showroom, as well as online at www.andrewmartin.co.uk/collections/ kelly-hoppen-retrospective. Kelly’s collection encompasses vintageinspired pieces in organic textures and blended material combinations, all exuding the desirable luxury, shape and cleanliness that has carved the adored Kelly Hoppen aesthetic. Oh, and she’s also busy writing books…

GET THE LUXE LOOK FOR LESS!

Despite her struggles with dyslexia, Kelly has written bounteous books on style and design. Penned in lockdown, she’s launched a new title just this month. “My new book, ‘Essential Style Solutions for Every Home’, is a manual that everyone with any design scheme can use to create their ideal home,” she discloses. “It’s full of all of my tried-and-tested techniques to curate a beautiful and functional home that suits each individual’s needs and priorities. With easy-to-follow advice and costcutting suggestions, I purposefully made this book small in size so that you can easily carry it around to consult when visiting showrooms and stores.”

TELLING YOUR STORY… IN YOUR HOME…

When at home in London, the multiaward-winning interior goddess says her own homelife is all about cosiness and serenity. “I like to feel a sense of harmony in my house, cocooned in comfort and surrounded by gorgeous pieces that I have discovered and acquired over the years, in order to create that sense of calm and relaxation within my home,” she reveals. “The best feeling is breathing a sigh of relief as you step inside the door, to a home that really fits like a glove. It’s so important to capture that feeling when I’m working with all of my clients. For me, that’s what accessories do... they act like jewellery; they’re the finishing touch bringing everything together, telling your story in your home...”

LIFE IN THE DEN – AN AB FAB SMALL & SILVER SCREEN STAR!

Frequently starring on ‘This Morning’ as an interiors expert, Kelly’s loves giving home improvement advice and showing how to get a luxury look for less. In September 2020, she helped give the ITV show’s green room a makeover, unveiling the new look to delighted presenters Holly and Phil on their return from their summer hols.

She has also starred as a discerning judge on BBC Two’s ‘The Great Interior Design Challenge’, and even graced the silver screen in a cameo role in the much-loved ‘Absolutely Fabulous’ movie alongside Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley. “When I was asked to be in the movie, I jumped at the chance… Filming was so much fun and I loved being part of such an exciting, star-studded film.”

As a former ‘Dragons’ Den’ star, Kelly enjoyed her time investing as a TV Dragon on the hit BBC Two show. “Filming ‘Dragons’ Den’ was great!” she says. “I’m really pleased with the investments that I made and I met incredible people. Unfortunately, with the size of my business, it was too much to do as a long-term project, but I had an amazing time there…”

A HIGHLY-INFLUENTIAL SOCIAL DESIGNER & BUSINESS ADVISOR

In 2017, Vogue listed the global game changer among their list of 100 Inspirational Women, and Kelly also clinched the Inspirational Award from WIE (Women: Inspiration & Enterprise), the network set up by June Sarpong. With hundreds of thousands of followers on her social media channels, Kelly’s among the country’s leading design influencers, and regularly puts out positive messages on her public platforms. “I feel incredibly lucky to have such a large social media following,” she says. “It allows me to offer insight into my work, as well as other aspects of my life, on a personal level. I always try to make my social media a positive and inspiring space for my followers.” Her digital platforms also allow her to mentor and nurture both emerging and established entrepreneurs. “I try to offer advice as much as I can. This helps me channel everything I’ve learned over the years and pass the knowledge on to young creatives all around the world. I have a real desire to encourage the next generation of entrepreneurs… there is so much fresh talent emerging, and I love how social media allows me to connect directly with them.” Altruistic Kelly always makes time for both her apprentice and well-established followers alike. “During lockdowns especially, I really want to help people stay positive and feel less alone, so I post daily videos on Instagram, chatting to my followers and giving a little advice and encouragement for the day. If it helps even one person feel better and more motivated, then it’s all worth it!”

THE KELLY HOPPEN SHOW!

The celebrated designer also chats candidly with gamechanging, successful businesswomen renowned in their industries on her eponymous podcast series, ‘The Kelly Hoppen Show’. Among the UK’s top entrepreneurs, famous faces including Karren Brady, Dame Kelly Holmes, Jo Malone, Melissa Odabash, Lisa Snowden, Amanda Wakeley OBE, Trinny Woodall and the CEO of BAFTA Amanda Berry, talk about building their businesses, successes and failures, along with love, life and business for Kelly’s popular podcasts on iTunes and Spotify.

DESIGN INSPO

A big believer in visualisation, the multiaward-winning designer designs to music, which serves as inspiration for her work, as does her London locality. “I think that wherever you live or hang out will always have an influence on your inspiration. I loved living in Chelsea, and generally in London.” Her ‘go-to’ interiors shops? “There are so many nowadays! The Cloth Shop in Notting Hill is one of my favourites and Portobello market.” As for trade fairs, “London Design Week is exciting; it’s where I often find something inspiring and unique,” she says. “Decorex is another great one… always packed.”

BRING THE OUTDOORS IN!

In order to bring natural light into the home, Kelly says Steel-Style windows and doors will continue to be a huge trend in 2021. “Not only are they a perfect way to ‘zone’ an open-plan space whilst maintaining a natural flow, they allow so much natural daylight into the room and elevate the feeling of spaciousness. She advises adding plants aplenty. “I find that a lovely way to feel connected to nature and the outdoors is to have copious amounts of plants and flowers throughout your home. However, don’t fear if you don’t have green fingers – nowadays you can get amazing-quality artificial plants; I especially love using artificial eucalyptus in different-sized vases to bring the feeling of nature into a space.”

DESIGNS ON WELLBEING

When it comes to wellbeing, Kelly focuses on the positive… and has a rule. Her secret weapon? “Wellness! I work out every morning… it helps set me up for the day. Starting the day with exercise and without my phone is a non-compromise.” Stylish Kelly’s a firm believer that age doesn’t matter. “I’ve never thought about it, which is why I’ve always been honest about my age.” Celebrating her 60s, she says she feels amazing and comfortable in her skin, and despite her full-on work schedule, the flawless inspirational style icon never fails to look amazing. “My daughter, Natasha, who is a cooking author, has taught me many delicious and healthy recipes. I’m not a natural cook, so I follow her recipes to a T for best results. And sleep and drinking loads of water are essential with my workload.” With wellness now an extremely important factor in everyone’s daily life, and offices becoming firm fixtures in our homes during lockdowns, Kelly told her staff to take advantage of the commuting time saved to start working out. “Exercise not only makes you feel better, it helps you to thrive on both a professional and personal level,” she says. “It’s my daily motto, and one of my driving forces as a creative.” The dedicated fitness fanatic has even encouraged fans to join in with one of her workouts live on Instagram with one of her personal trainers, Cecilia Harris.

DESIGNS ON HOME GYMS

As a long-time Technogym collaborator and cheerleader, the fitness ambassador says the pandemic has automatically changed the way we all view design and our homes, which have never been more important. “Because we’ve been spending more time at home, design has become a main focus and, for many of us, our home and office spaces have intertwined with the gym,” she says. Many people have created garden rooms to give themselves homes gyms, but fear not if you don’t have the room for workout apparatus – Kelly has the answer! “For those lacking space, gym equipment has become a natural part of the design in combined areas. Juxtaposing with different textures and spaces remains at the heart of my design process, as it brings life and energy to any interior. I love exploring the boundaries…” She says Technogym’s designs fit her ethos. “I enjoy merging all the equipment throughout. I think it looks brilliant to see a running machine in the living room just as one would view a beautiful piece of furniture, and Technogym has an incredible affinity to making beautiful, aesthetically-pleasing machines with great design lines. They almost look like pieces of art – sculptures, spheres… so cool! They also make you feel good and get you into shape. The amount of exercise from just one of the Technogym products is amazing!”

WELLNESS – “A SILVER LINING”

With wellness our ‘Silver Lining’, Kelly says wellness in design is here to stay. “And I think great design will come out of the pandemic. It’s certainly given me that push to become more creative with space. Even very limited space can be exciting and different. Collaborations will be important, too, and design communities… People have to support people.” “We’ve all spent an unprecedented amount of time in our homes over the past year, and it’s so important that the home is a relaxing sanctuary and escape from the anxiety of the current times.”

However, our homes also now need to serve us in other ways. “We’ve been forced to work, exercise and socialise from home, and ‘zoning’ an open-plan living space to separate the home office from the kids’ play area and chill-out zone is really helpful to avoid stepping on each other’s toes and to keep a productive and positive mindset.”

WORK HARD, PLAY HARD!

Striking a life/work balance is especially important to Kelly. “I work in a very focused way, and when I finish, and at weekends, I relax and recharge my battery, unless filming. I’m lucky... a great team of people behind the scenes helps me balance everything.” As former stepmom to Hollywood actress Sienna Miller and sister Savannah, with whom she remains very close, Kelly always finds time for loved ones. “They’re the most important thing, and for now, as we can’t see each other, I always try to make time to call or video call my family.” But her business is also very important to her, so is never far behind. “There’s a lot to do, but I enjoy every bit of it and my family and amazing team’s support makes things a lot easier. I think it’s about working hard, putting all that you have into your projects and making sure the relaxing time is the most incredible holiday or time out!” When it’s time for R&R, South Africanborn Kelly chooses the coast: “I have such a hectic schedule, so my downtime is very valuable to me to recharge. I love a beach and some real relaxation, and when I can, I head to the LUX* Belle Mare in Mauritius, which I designed. A couple of years ago, I launched my designs at LUX* Grand Gaube, and have another exciting new hotel which I will be launching soon for LUX*”

2019 saw a self-imposed social media ban on a family trip to Italy. “I wanted to just be present with my loved ones and give myself a creative break. I highly recommend a regular digital detox; I was anxious for the first few days but after that, it was so nice to be engaged without any interruptions.”

She says statement design pieces will be a key feature of 2021 trends, especially with lighting. “Huge centre ceiling lights will be popular, and will be paired with hidden up-lighting for a warmer glow in bedrooms and living rooms. Hanging lights are a beautiful way to make an impact in a room, whilst still offering a soft and homely feel. Larger beds are also a key way to make a statement, as well as making a bedroom appear bigger whilst fulfilling our need for comfort.

And she also recommends adding antiques. “There are incredible statement pieces to be found in vintage shops; with the urgency for sustainable living growing, investing in statement antique items will become an increasingly-popular and resourceful way to reuse and recycle when curating a space.” One of the main ways that the pandemic has already impacted on design is in the area of hygiene. “At Kelly Hoppen Interiors, we have worked in Asia for 25 years, and increasingly the UK and the rest of the world is adopting the hygienic design measures that have long been popular in Asia. Going forward, designers will factor specifically-dedicated rooms for washing and sanitizing into their projects, and utilise more easy-toclean materials with minimal grooves or indentations. The necessity of having facemasks, sanitisers and shoe covers in the house will mean more of us investing in beautiful baskets or vases to store these essentials in a stylish way.”

TEAMING UP WITH TESS DALY FOR THE PRINCE’S TRUST

A dedicated supporter of good causes and the championing and nurturing of young entrepreneurs, philanthropic Kelly is an ambassador for the Prince’s Trust and sits on their committee, cultivating young talent and inspiring young people to pursue their business ideas. “Helping young people to realise their dreams and be mentored to live the lives they deserve has been one of the greatest achievements in my career,” she says. She’s teamed up with Tess Daly in the past to raise funds for the charity, most recently developing a limitededition TRUST candle collection with the ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ host, with 100% of the profits donated to the Trust. “This was the second time Tess and I had come together to create something on behalf of The Prince’s Trust. It’s always fun working with Tess and she’s a great friend. I’m so proud to be an ambassador for this charity, and it was fantastic to be able to celebrate HRH’s 70th birthday by creating this collection in honour of him.”

TONINO LAMBORGHINI CHENGDU

Kelly Hoppen Interiors recently unveiled a new design project in collaboration with the luxury Italian brand Tonino Lamborghini in China. Its interiors expertly curated using Kelly’s signature award-winning “East-Meets-West” style, the project is grounded in timeless neutrals with accents of warmth and touches of dynamic texture, perfectly capturing the sophistication, luxury and modernity of its surroundings. “I am so proud to share the end results of this exciting project with Lamborghini. This apartment is a beautiful sanctuary in the incredible city of Chengdu.” Harmoniously creating a calming home environment to balance the vibrant and busy city buzz, exquisitely highend-sourced marble flooring is graced with Kelly’s trademark runner design features, while natural neutral linens are placed alongside sumptuouslysoft velvets and complemented by magnificent Italian leathers. From hard flooring to soft, plush scatter cushions throughout the bedrooms and living space, contrasting textures bring tactile dynamism to the living areas. Kelly and Lamborghini have worked to ensure that each element has attention to detail and practicality, whilst keeping the essence and elegance of the overall design, with each space masterfully handcrafted to create bespoke and carefully-designed joinery. The warmer tones of timber bring an inviting and softer touch to carefully balance with contrasting modern black timber moments, with the subtle continuity created throughout the rooms elevating this interior design to the next level.

STILL TO COME…

Up next for Kelly Hoppen? Along with the launch of her handy new book this May, the inspirational designer divulges she’s currently launching two dazzling design projects in Asia. Located in the Chinese cities of Shenzhen and Chengdu, the luxury apartment designs are stunning examples of Kelly’s classic “East-meetsWest” aesthetic, for which she has become so well known and sought after. Kelly says she will continue her avid support for The Princes Trust and anti-bullying charity The Diana Awards, alongside her role as ambassador for the government’s GREAT campaign, and 2021 sees a plethora of other projects in the pipeline. “I am working on many exciting projects around the world and can’t wait to share these with you. I’ve never felt so in love with my job or excited about what is to come. I can’t wait to reveal more soon!”

FROM A TOP INTERIOR DESIGNER!

In Kelly’s eyes, cramming a room full of different colours can overcrowd it.

“A room is a beautiful thing, a space to make your own, and I feel that neutral colour palettes always complement best.”

What makes a room work?

“For me, it’s having an explosive mix of textures… I’m all about texture and adore the mood, depth and layers it creates. Linen, velvets and leather are materials that I use a lot, and I love using accessories in these textures to add the perfect amount of sensuality and depth. Materials like velvet and suede absorb light and create warmth, while silks and satins appear cool and alluring.”

Getting the lighting right is crucial, helping to set the tone.

“More styles mean more mood choices, so always plan more than you need. Natural light is always best but isn’t always an option, so beautiful lamps and uplighters help bring a room to life. And always consider your design decisions from different viewpoints.”

According to Britain’s first lady of interior design, the most important element for transforming the ordinary into the show-stoppingly extraordinary is to go the extra mile.

“It’s not always about designing the room to perfection, but looking at the project as a whole and how everything works together. The finishing touches; artwork… lighting… photographs… right down to the scent of the room, are vital. Art and personal stamp are key.”

Limited budget?

“Revamp! Give your home a second life with a lick of paint or shuffle around existing furniture. It’s possible to substitute expensive materials with more affordable ones which are just as sophisticated, and mix textures to result in a high-end look.”

And what should no home be without?

“A dash of personality…your home is YOUR home and should fit your lifestyle like a great pair of jeans, so make it feel that way. No-one wants to live in a show home; fill it with photographs of loved ones and personal touches.”

‘Kelly Hoppen’s Essential Style Solutions for Every Home’, was published earlier this month by Quarto Knows (Frances Lincoln Books) and is available on Amazon.

K by Kelly Hoppen is available from QVC:

www.qvcuk.com/KellyHoppen

Kelly Hoppen Interiors:

www.kellyhoppeninteriors.com