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25 Feb |
Interview with Kelly Hoppen Designer, Interviews
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“Learn to look not just with your eyes but with your heart. The truth is that style and taste are all relative. It is not a question whether or not someone has good taste. It is how something feels to the individual…Open your heart and mind to the world, and find the things that connect with you. How else will you know how to design your home?”
photo: amazon
Kelly Hoppen is simply unstoppable. The South African born British designer has achieved iconic status designing houses, hotels, yachts and jets. Kelly has her own collection of paint, fabrics, rugs and ceramics. The Queen of Taupe is also an author of 7 design books. Her new book “Ideas: Creating a home for the way you live” (published yesterday in the UK!) is about the creative process involved in turning a concept into reality. The key theme is to find the look you love and also to create a spiritual experience. The book will be released in the US at the end of March. The title of the US edition is Kelly Hoppen Interiors: Inspiration and Design Solution for Stylish, Comfortable Interiors. Interesting to know: Kelly has a design school, a blog and even an app. She is a fan of Picasso, Zaha Hadid and Jamie Oliver.
photo: Kelly Hoppen
How would you categorize your own personal style?
Timeless elegance with a twist.
What needs a designer in order to be successful?
A good creative eye, talent and a strong team or business head.
When did you know that you would tie your life with interior design?
I was fascinated by interiors at a young age, I used to ask my mother to take me to show houses every weekend! I loved looking around the different style, seeing how the spaces had been designed etc. I would then return home and rearrange the furniture in our house to make everything look at its best.
How did you get your first assignment?
My first assignments was for a friend of my father, he asked me to design his kitchen and my business started from there. I was 16 1/2 years old.
Is it different to design for high-profile clients?
Not really, at the end of the day you are designing someone’s home so people will always want it to be perfectly suited to them, whether they are spending £1m or £150, it is all relative.
photo: Kelly Hoppen
Are great designers born or made?
I think a little bit of both, you have to have creativity, the functionality can be learnt.
How do you transform the ordinary into the extraordinary?
With good project planning, taking time to source your star pieces, adding your mark to the space.
How do you evoke emotion in a room?
Lighting is a great way of adding emotion to a room, it makes all of the difference. Soft low level lighting creates a snug or sexy feeling in a room where as harsh over head lights make a space feel uninviting and clinical.
How do you define elegance?
A style that stands the test if time, like Audrey Hepburn or Marilyn Monroe.
What is your idea what the perfect home should feel like?
The perfect home should feel like your safe haven, the place that you go to run away from the pressures of the world, you enter it and you feel safe, secure and loved.
photo: David Garcia for Metropolitan Home via Elle Decor
Why would you prefer a neutral color scheme in a room?
Neutral colours work so well as a base as it keeps an interior looking fresh and styled without appearing dated. You can then use colour to accent or highlight using star pieces of furniture, accessories or art.
What books are you currently reading?
I like to read business books or spiritual books, Synchro Destiny by Deepak Chopra changed my life!
Where in London do you go to be inspired?
I love to wander around Notting Hill, visit the market, sit and have a coffee at a street cafe, just generally chill out.
What does success mean to you?
Expanding my design skills into other areas, learning new mediums.
My signature Design Element question – what are the most important design elements?
Planning, Balance, Texture and Taupe!
Kommentare
32 Kommentare zu “Interview with Kelly Hoppen”
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Willkommen
Willkommen auf Design Elements - mein Blog über Interior Design, Inneneinrichtung und Inspiration.
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Maria – yet another fabulous interview!
I am huge fan of Kelly Hoppen and I am lucky owner of two of her design books.
I love what she says about the perfect home being a place where you feel safe, secure and loved. Not only is she talented – she has her priorities right.
Happy weekend to you dear friend.
ox, Mon
So much talent and gorgeous to boot! I love her aesthetic – so dramatic. Thanks so much for a great interview and some nice piccies too! Have a great weekend, Stephie x
love the interview with Kelly, and I agree it takes a strong team and a head for business to be successful…gorgeous home…
maureen
Kelly Hoppen!!! How did you make this happen? Fabulous.
One of my faves! Awesome interview! XX
Interesting interview. Have a lovely weekend!
Great interview!! Have no idea how she manages to do all she does but she is successful at all!!
Great to read, thanks for posting!
so nice interview!! this girl is stunning!!!!! congrats for this post
Great interview and gorgeous photos!
Thank you for a fascinating interview with this very talented woman. I also enjoyed the photos of her work.
Beautifully insightful interview. “Planning, balance, texture and taupe” is a cheeky but true mantra…I say the same about white..
Have a gorgeous weekend!
Ich liebe Kelly Hoppen und hab mittlerweile schon das ein oder andere Buch von ihr! Ihre Art der Innenarchitektur spricht mich total an! Tolle Idee, das zu posten.
Schönes Wochenende und liebe Grüße von mir!
Solveig
Fabulous interview! I just love Kelly Hoppen. She’s my favorite!
Have a wonderful weekend
Fantastic interview yet again Maria! Kelly Hoppen is pretty amazing, right? big hugs
what a fantastic interview!!!
ich danke dir für diesen tollen einblick in den kopf dieser frau. ich tue mir mitm englischen text zwar immer etwas schwerer durchzuhalten, alles zu lesen. aber ich habs geschafft
das heißt was…
lieben gruß dani
Wonderful interview…absolutely love her work!!
Hi, Maria!
I have her book “Home – from concept to reality”, it’s fantastic, I’m a fan, love her style.
What a great post, wonderful interview.
I wish you a nice weekend.
Hugs
Tereza
Great design and she looks fav, too!
The way she accessorizes a room is really interesting.
Hi,
Thanks for the comment at my blog ! I’m glad for it
And thanks for writing about that book, I might buy it.
Take care !
XX
Anci
Por aquí ando otro domingo más. Siempre genial las cosas que nos dejas.
Saludos y un abrazo.
wunderschöne Impressionen & Design… komme wieder vorbei um näheres zu erfahren und zu lesen
Freue mich! Auf bald und einen schönen Sonntag wünscht Dir, LISA LIBELLE
PS: Danke für Deine Zeilen von Anfangs Februar!
Great interview, I love her work. I love the answer to your question about transforming ordinary into extraordinary. Good planning, sourcing your star pieces, and adding your mark. Such great advice to other designers.
Maria, I loved this interview especially, it really captured my attention from the first paragraph–I guess I really identified with her style. Love your interview series and I’m going to look for her book when it comes out! Hope you’re having a wonderful weekend!
xo Mary Jo
thank you for sharing this great interview with Kelly Hoppen. I will look out for this book as her style and the photographs are wonderful.
Have a great week
Hugs
Carolyn
Great interview! I need to buy this book now!
Beautiful pictures, I really love your blog:)
Ragards from Norway;)
Lovely images and absolutely LOVE the quote at the beginning of this post. It´ll really help me, when I´m feeling unsecure about something!
Wishing you a happy new week!
Hugs!
Oooh, black and white paradise on earth. Absolutely beautiful.
Have a good week.
Silvia
I simply love this!!!
Kristin xoxo
She likes the drama.
That kitchen *is* lovely.