In her illustrious 45-year design career, Kelly Hoppen has put her indelible stamp on everything from homes and hotels to yachts, jets, restaurants, and bars. She has pretty much done it all. Ong Chin Huat speaks to her about her ever-evolving style and which other mountain she wishes to conquer.
Luxurious Magazine: Could you tell us briefly about how you started your design career?
Kelly Hoppen: I was very young, not even seventeen, when I started. It felt like a natural course of action because I had such a vast creative fire in me, and I was already obsessed with design. A friend of my father was aware of my passion for design and asked me to design his kitchen. It wasn’t perfect, but it was my design. After that, I always wanted to do it, and I knew I was capable.
I had just lost my father, too, and I wanted to prove to myself that I could live independently and commit to my passion. Success followed early on, and the word just spread. You just need one job, and if you do it well, you’ll get another job.
LM: Have you ever wanted to become an interior designer?
My grandmother created the most extraordinary home, and I knew that the way I felt when I was, there was something I wanted to be able to give to every single person in my entire life. Even as a child, I was shifting furniture around the house and begging my mother to take me to show flats. I always had a thirst for the feelings and experiences those spaces could create, and I loved using my imagination to enrich my environment and that of others.
LM: Please describe your style and whether it has changed or evolved.
Kelly: Although my style has evolved over the past four decades, I have always stayed true to my philosophy of harmony and order. We didn’t have social media or Pinterest for many of the earlier years of my career, so our ideas were incredibly unique and rooted in us. I think that’s what makes it recognisable. I find a lot of inspiration from travel, and I can see how travelling to different places mirrors the evolution of my style. It always stays close to its foundations of timeless neutral tones and clean lines.
I focus on the flow of space, natural light, and texture and ensure attention to detail at every level—a simple yet luxurious combination of the styles of the Eastern and Western worlds. I’ve been called ‘The Queen of Taupe’, but it’s more than that. It’s about creating the base tones for people to personalise with their own accents of colour or furniture. That’s why people like it; it’s timeless and functional.
LM: You have designed a multitude of projects—hotels, restaurants, private residences, and superyachts—is there one category that you enjoy the most, and which one do you find the most challenging to design?
Kelly: I love each and every project for its own unique challenges and aspects of enjoyment. The British Airways First Class cabin was definitely a different experience for me at the time, we had to test all of the materials to see how they would react in the air before finalising them. I’d never done anything like that before but it was an amazing experience.
Designing the interiors for the Celebrity Edge was exciting in terms of innovation and scale, and we created something completely new in maritime design. I absolutely love designing hotels, too, and creating a home away from home. The challenge with hotels is to create something that works for different types of people who will be using the guest rooms and also ensure that the design is timeless and works in its local environment.
LM: What do you think constitutes good design?
Kelly: I think that good design is providing someone with exactly what they need. I don’t mean that in a literal sense; I mean what they are aesthetically expecting. People often search for a space that will inspire them to relax to create or build their lives. I’m a very instinctive person, and I get very close to people when I design for them. That’s because good design is about understanding the feelings and experiences that people want to find in your work.
It might not be at the surface of what they’re asking for; they might not even know themselves. Good design is seeking it out for them, creating a beautiful, balanced reflection of their needs and desires.
LM: For you, is it form over function or the other way around? Explain your answer!
Kelly: They are both important but function is at the heart of everything we design. All of my spaces are meticulously designed to provide a sense of balance and tranquillity. My designs create a backdrop for people’s lives and you can’t do that without prioritising functionality.
In today’s fast-paced world our homes should be our sanctuary. Creating my style to enhance mood, productivity and well-being is done through harmonious colour palettes, thoughtful space planning and the use of natural materials. It’s giving someone an environment that enables them to relax and recharge with a sense of peace and balance.
LM: What do you think makes a good interior designer? A diplomat who listens to their client’s wishes or someone who imposes their taste and style onto their clients?
Most of the time, however, clients know what they want; it’s just about getting into someone’s head and pulling out the information. I know how to ask the right questions and what to do with the answers. I had a client who was building something in Geneva, and she didn’t want any colour at all. I saw this amazing piece of apple-green furniture, and I said, “You have to have it”.
After that, she just wanted green, green, green. You find things within people that they didn’t know were there; this is part of why I love what I do so much.
LM: You have written books, won many design awards, received an MBE and CBE, partnered with blue-chip brands, hosted your own podcast, and supported good causes. Are there any other mountains you still plan on conquering?
Kelly: I absolutely love what I do and everything about it. I’m incredibly humbled by the experiences and recognitions I’ve received, such as the MBE and CBE. The MBE was the biggest shock of my life. There’s an endless string of exciting things that I get to do, and I’m so grateful for them all; I don’t know that I could pinpoint something I’m still waiting for. So much of what I do, I just think, ‘Pinch me’.
The moment you don’t pinch yourself, you’ve become bored. I would just love to continue with my work and bring my designs to as many people as possible. I’d like to do lot’s more work with burgeoning designers, and keep expanding my work with the Prince’s Trust.
A project I think would be very exciting to work on would be the interiors of a train. We had an amazing time with British Airways, and I learnt so much. I also enjoyed working with Celebrity Cruises. There is something about travelling in style, the sense of adventure, and the possibilities of the places you’ll explore and the people you’ll meet on board. I love translating those feelings into a space that so many people can enjoy, so that would be a very exciting opportunity.
LM: What advice would you give the younger generation who are starting out today if they want a career like yours?
Kelly: Follow your gut and instincts and believe in yourself, for starters. It helps to find a mentor you admire and try to learn from what they have done, but you have to be prepared to put a lot of work into believing in your ideas.
Working out your style is also key; it’s important to always come back to those elements. It’s also important to remember that sticking to your vision doesn’t mean never reevaluating your ideas; often, going back to the drawing board brings your best ideas into reality.
Work experience is the best way to learn; it is hugely beneficial when you are surrounded by like-minded, creative people – at any level. I have people on my team who have been with me for over twenty years. You really can grow within a company, and you learn so much that way and be ready to put in the work.
Someone once told me that you can never reach the top; there is always further to go and more to do. He also said that if you step down from where you’re standing, you’ll fall much further than you think. One of my main mantras is ‘Nothing’s ever too big or big enough!’
LM: Is the marriage between artistic capabilities and business acumen underrated in your industry?
Kelly: I think it depends on what the individual is looking for in their career. I can appreciate that some creatives may not have a business-oriented mind and would, therefore, want to focus solely on the artistic side of designing. However, business acumen comes into design more than you might think. It’s essential in all parts of the designing process to maintain an open mind, look at an idea from all angles, read between the lines and orchestrate effective relationships.
Strategic vision and determination can take this a step further and translate your style into a thriving brand and business with the right business acumen and the right people around you. So yes, I do think the synergy of artistic capabilities and business acumen is important and having your designs reach their full potential.
LM: Are there any current or future projects which can tell us that you are excited about?
Kelly: That’s a hard one. Every day, something new comes in. We are incredibly excited about an exclusive collaboration with Marks & Spencer this autumn. It’s a really unique opportunity to bring my work to the high street and make my designs accessible to everyone – which I’m very passionate about.
It’s a collection of 75 elegant, modern, yet welcoming pieces that we’ve put a lot of care into. It’s been an amazing experience, and I think it’s produced something for everyone, which is exactly what we set out to do.
LM: Where is your favourite place in the world when you want to go to relax?
Kelly: It would be impossible for me to narrow down my favourite destination. I love exploring new places, and I would say my favourite holidays are often my first times in new countries. When it comes to relaxing, I love spending time with family and friends, and a sandy beach is always a lovely addition.
I love unwinding in the sun; it definitely helps me reidentify my centre of gravity. I also like to keep exercising, and I find it very meditative on holiday; it really clears my head.
Kelly: There are many designers I really admire. Sir Terence Conran was a big one for me; he really prioritised simplicity and functionality, which are things that are really important in my work. His work really brought together form and function to improve quality of life, and that’s exactly what I set out to do.
He was also an amazing person; he spent his whole career looking for ways to make life better for everyone. I had the privilege of working with him a few times; he actually published my first book. I will always remember him very fondly as both a personal and professional role model.
LM: Where does your inspiration come from?
Kelly: My inspiration comes from everything. I’ve always found a lot of beauty in the world around me. So I travel and explore and dig deeper into those things that I feel make me feel as though my brain is moving faster, and that includes music and art.
Recently, I fell in love with Antwerp and Brussels. Beautiful cobbled streets filled with such mystery, there are so many amazing things to find, including antique furniture that you wouldn’t believe. Linen also comes from Brussels, and I love linen.
New places always inspire me in new ways. The creation of my style was heavily rooted in the East. Even before I began to travel, I would read about China, Japan and Thailand. Then I started to travel and find pieces that I felt really connected to. I felt as though I had lived there before. The best thing to inspire your most authentic work is doing what you love and being in an environment that makes you feel your most authentic self.
LM: How do you define good taste?
Kelly: I think that taste is very personal and relative. My idea of good taste may be the opposite of someone else’s – and neither would be more right. It’s how something feels to the individual. I find comfort in harmony, elegance and serenity. Others may find it surrounded by loads of things from their past – books, toys, ornaments. I think the key, however, is not to blindly follow trends.
For me, good taste is prioritising meaning and longevity – whatever that may look like for you.
You can learn more about Kelly Hoppen’s design projects and philosophy at www.kellyhoppeninteriors.com.