Kelly Hoppen : All Confidence and Gut Feeling

Auteur : Kris | 05-01-2010

Is it worth spending £ 3000 to attend the Kelly Hoppen School of Design?

Axelle and I, decided to try out the internationally renowned decorator’s school of interior design in London. Main objective: to overcome our fear of neutral linens and find out just how Kelly has been so successful and just what her secret is to rising to the top.

It’s not what Kelly Hoppen has done that is so stunning, but how she has become the internationally-known interior designer for the jet set. She has successfully created her own sleek, sophisticated style that has pleased her clients so much that they have asked her to design their offices, jets, and yachts in the same spirit.

We were impressed to see Kelly working hands-on with us throughout the week which allowed us to uncover what she and her particular style were all about. According to Kelly, her key to success has been all “confidence and gut feeling” which she sincerely tries to teach throughout the design program.

Main Objective to “Graduate”: Master the critical difference between the taupe family and the sand family of linens and other fabrics.

Step one for the interior design of a room is to select various upholstery and drapery fabrics in taupe or sand tones, never to be mixed. This is where most people get it wrong when designing their own homes and why the course, or hiring a decorator, can prevent you from making costly mistakes. If it’s not too late already!

We learned to place our fabrics on a design board as a palette base before choosing furnishings, lighting, paint and accessories.

A quick guide from Kelly’s book The Golden Rules of Design, Aurum Press Ltd, 2004

Taupe loves: pure white paint, dark-stained wood, purple undertoned natural linens, grey or blue limestone, silver and chrome, companionship with grey or brown, dramatic accents of green, purple or red, and clear glass.

Taupe hates: anything with yellow, golden woods (oak), yellow-hued linens, tan leathers, beige stone, accessories with yellow, dark cream or porcelain.

Sand loves: cream, white, rich-coloured woods (i.e. wenge), yellowy linens, bronze or verdigris metals, caramel, toffee, rust, bronze, pearl, and a touch of orange.

Sand hates: pink, steel, aluminium, stones with blue, woods with pink tones (i.e. cherry), bold colors, and too much black.

I was very frustrated when choosing our fabrics as I felt there was a lack of colour to choose from in the Kelly Hoppen palette.

Lesson 2 learned: don’t overdo it! “Just like when you get dressed in the morning, don’t put on too many contrasting colours nor too many accessories”, says Kelly, “you know when it’s too much.” One colour as an accent may be added and again only in star pieces, cushions & bands, curtain borders, flowers or art.

Kelly boasts that one of her most memorable compliments from a client was a “thank you for the best night sleep I’ve ever had”, due to the setting she had created in his bedroom. All fabrics are so well thought out and done with such taste and harmony that she avoids overdoing the design concept at all costs. All the time spent choosing fabric carefully allows for this harmony in a room and piece of mind.

Once over the fabric challenge, we were ready to shop the catalogues for furniture and lighting – money was no limit - so what fun…

Can’t you just learn the basics from reading her books?

Yes you definitely have a head start if you read all the books however the practical exercises were the most memorable and fulfilling (designing with floor plans, decorating shelves & tables in her shop, working with top designer fabric swatches and catalogues, lighting, soft furnishings and floral workshops…).

If you are considering a career in interior design, you definitely need to know how to read floor plans to scale, quote your customer accordingly and really know how to mix colours and fabrics which takes years of practice.

What sets apart the Kelly Hoppen Style?

The KH Style is not just about the expert blending of fabrics, (especially linens) but the: puddling effect on curtains on the floor, the layering effect (staging on shelves, pillows, fabric on fabric) velvet-coloured bands & XXL shell buttons on cushions, farmed corals, which all create a natural, sophisticated effect. She is also known for using star pieces with a splash of colour.

At any rate, Kelly is a very modern designer that doesn’t hesitate to share her savoir-faire, which is truly a Web 2.0 attitude, and which cocotte-design highly appreciated.

Up to you to create around this solid, stylish design base.

Thank you Kelly, for a very memorable week in your design studio.