From London and Paris to LA, there is a rarefied strata of A-list designers; designing for the uber-celebrities, they are famous in their own right and as comes with being famous, have lucrative book deals, TV shows and interior affiliated brands. I take you into the homes of the very best of these designers — a rare glimpse into how those who design for others live themselves.
Kelly Hoppen, London
An OBE pinned to her lapel, the British designer is often regarded as the Queen of Taupe. Soft, ethereal and light to the eyes, her ivory and crème palette has come to be her trademark. “It’s timeless and never boring,” she tells me.
Her palette allows her to play with restrained contrasts — even as stark as glossy black counter tops and grey floors. “It’s the perfect backdrop to play with materials, textures, finishes, even geometries.”
The London home of the talent behind the residents of the Beckhams and others is an exercise in restraint, allowing her to use her favourite furniture pieces and artworks — all from different eras and styles. Some bespoke pieces from her furniture label too find home in a sumptuously layered haven.
Steal the look: This look is perfect if you are more a classics style of person. Get rid of clutter, and strip back your walls to a warm ecru or dove grey. Invest in monochromatic soft furnishings such as carpets, cushions, bed linen, etc, but make sure you buy in a variety of materials and textures. Accent pieces such as metallic lights and runners in earthy but contrasting shades will nail the look.
Sarah Lavoine, Paris
No one does effortless chic like the French and Lavoine is proof. Known for an almost pop-art approach to design — she yet knows how to bring calm and order. Her high ceiling Haussmanian home in the heart of Paris is a salute to her love for colours, respect for the original build and quirky twists — traits that has earned her an enviable client list of fashion designers, models and those who make them big.
Making rooms pop with the hottest teal and yellow wall paints to turning the scheme on its head — black walls and reclaimed floorboards painted in a mature palette of burgundy, the designer’s pied-à-terre is full of character. Add to it some funky pop art sculptures, vintage finds and family portraits that can be best described as installations.
Steal the look: Choose an accent wall in your room. This can be the wall behind the biggest furniture piece (bed, sofa, etc) or the wall that has your collection of art and artefacts. Then paint it with a fun colour. On a neutral coloured sofa or bed, add a flourish of cushions and throw in bright colours that contrast the accent colour.
Martyn Lawrence Bullard, Los Angeles
“Too much?” That phrase just does not exist in the designer’s dictionary. From Cher to Elton John and every celebrity in between, you don’t go to Bullard asking for a simple box of a home. From decadently tiles floors that are Moorish and yet modern to intricately detailed ceilings and walls finished in the richest of colours and patterns, this guy is in his element when working on period properties. His LA home, an Italianate Tuscan-style villa in the Hollywood is an ode to his eye for the perfect find.
“I love shopping for unusual design pieces at flea markets and antique stores across the world,” he says. “Then it is all about re-purposing and up-scaling them so that no one has what adorns your space.”
Steal the look: Embrace contrasting colours, patterns, even design eras and make a bold statement in a brightly coloured, retro tiles floor. Pile on furniture and curious you have accumulated through your world travels. It may help though, you create zones of respite from the visual excess. Keep walls and floors of your dining room and bedrooms simple and let some mismatched furniture and accessories do the work.
Pratyush Sarup edits the design site designcarrot.net. You can follow the site on twitter @DesignCarrot.
