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LUXURY CAN BE FOUND
IN SIMPLICITY by Désirée Sormani - ph. courtesy by Kelly Hoppen BE
Dedicated to customising interiors around her clients’ individual lifestyles, Kelly Hoppen tailors every project meticulously down to the tiniest detail. Her work combines practicality and elegance in a seamless melding of East and West. Even – including in her yachts
She has designed homes, yachts and jets for private clients as well as commercial projects across the globe, including hotels, restaurants and offices. Above, de Gournay collection, a sample of the wonderful fabrics designed by Kelly Hoppen
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Kelly Hoppen, who is originally from Cape Town, South Africa, works from the studio she founded in London. She has designed for the celebrity likes of David and Victoria Beckham, and Martin Shaw, who was one of her early clients. Kelly Hoppen is one of the top designers in the UK
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W
ith thousands of prestige projects delivered over the last four decades, Kelly Hoppen’s skilful and constant evolving of her signature East Meets West
style - a subtle fusion of clean lines and neutral tones balanced out with opulent warmth - has made her one of the most sought-after designers of her generation. It has also garnered her a string of prestigious awards and accolades in the process, not least an MBE for services to interior design in 2009. Design has been Hoppen’s all-consuming passion since she was just 16. “My philosophy has always been grounded in a delicately balanced merging of East Meets West,” she says of her 43-years as a creative force. “I love the timeless marriage of the sleek and simple yet luxurious lines and shapes of the West, with the texture, depth and richness of the East, to create a truly modern look”. Hoppen’s eclectic portfolio spans everything from exclusive commercial properties to private homes, turnkey properties, superyachts, private jets and even 5* hotels. “For me inspiration should be broad: music is my main inspiration, but anything that I see inspires me from a belt buckle to the stitching on a shoe. Travel has provided me with fresh inspiration on each trip
Hoppen’s love of the East was sparked when she happened
too. However, it is all grounded in my fundamental East Meets
upon an antique Chinese trunk in the Portobello Market.
West philosophy. I am also a firm believer that luxury can be
“I felt in love with the serenity and ordered design of the
found in simplicity and must be timeless”. With that in mind,
East, and was inspired to combine this with the luxury and
Hoppen typically favours a neutral colour palette enhanced
opulence of the West to curate a truly modern and timeless
with layers, texture and light. “Textures sit at the heart of my
style.” She tailors this approach to each individual client or
designs and I love playing and mixing different types of fabrics,”
project: “Peoples’ lives have become increasingly busy and
she says. “I work with linens, leathers, silks and velvets both
they need things in their homes to be convenient and their
exclusively and together. I also love juxtaposing textures: carpet
spaces to work well for their lifestyle. It is also important for
and concrete, lacquers and metals for an eclectic feel and look”.
many of our clients to find the best ways to be sustainable
Kelly Hoppen, multi-awardwinning designer and TV personality, shares her essential style solutions to transform homes. She has written several books and is a familiar face on TV. These pages feature some of her home interior designs: top, a home in Chengdu and opposite, one in Hangtan, also in China
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with materials and ensure some spaces have versatile and
suites and villas are a home-from-home in a ground-breaking
multiple functions. I’m the conductor and use my design
way, combining luxury with home comforts to ensure that
passion and expertise to create the best interiors for them”. No
guests are totally relaxed”.
surprise therefore that Hoppen found herself dipping a toe in
That same ethic is reflected aboard Hoppen’s work for
maritime design. “I was approached to design Celebrity Edge
Pearls Yachts. The first Pearl 95, splashed in 2019, was a
and was excited at the challenge of changing the face of the
collaboration with Bill Dixon (who did the exterior design)
cruise industry. I loved the scale,” she smiles. The design for
while the recently launched Pearl 62 is an homage to the
Celebrity Cruises Celebrity Apex, the second in the Celebrity
traditional colour palette once found aboard luxury yachts. “I
Edge series, is now also complete. “Every space we’ve designed
approach everything in design the same way: no matter what it
reflects impeccable style and luxury with a modern finish. The
is, it’s about creating luxury”. Sounds like a mission to us!
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Hoppen’s elegantly minimalist East Meets West style works brilliantly aboard. A case in point is the Celebrity Cruises ship, top. Left, the saloon aboard the Pearl 95 and, below, the cabin and saloon aboard the recently launched Pearl 65. Hoppen’s exquisite interior centres around luxury materials such as marble, teak, ceramic and linen
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