Kelly Hoppen | My West London Life

Interior designer Kelly Hoppen on her MBE, market stalls and her aversion to the colour blue

Posted by Shannon Denny on 22/04/10

Where is Kelly Hoppen HQ?

We’re in Chepstow Road in an amazing yard, St Stephen’s Yard [W2], which is kind of like a kasbah. I love it.

What’s your relationship to the area?

I love Notting Hill. I like the village feeling of it. It’s the nicest place. I was always sort of Chelsea way, but I love walking out of your door and being in that environment where there are cafes. I was up early this morning and everyone was having breakfast at Daylesford’s [208–212 Westbourne Grove, W11] and 202 [202 Westbourne Grove, W11] – I love that whole atmosphere.

Do you shop locally?

If I’m in London on the weekends I will walk the whole of Portobello and will buy from the stalls. At Christmas I try to buy my gifts from there. I love the banter; ‘Hey darlin’, what you want?’.

What is it about Portobello that’s so special?

If you ever want to have your feet touch the ground, you just have to walk down there, or Columbia Road market or Spitalfields. Those are young, small businesses trying to do something for themselves. It’s such a great atmosphere. That’s kind of what I love most about Britain and London, inparticular, and being around this area.

What’s your favourite market memory?

I’ll never forget going down to Columbia Road and seeing this guy who sells white phalaenopsis orchids. I walked past one day and he said, ‘Come on, buy three in a row like Kelly 'oppen does!’. He became my good mate.

Last year you received an MBE. What are your thoughts on being British?

I’m very patriotic. We have phenomenal design coming out of Britain – more so in the last 10 years than ever. We used to always think, ‘Oh you’ve got to go to America, to Italy, to France.’ But we have such an amazing culture of design here. Whenever I leave London I’m always thrilled, as you are when you go away on holiday. But then there's that moment of coming back to the grey skies and the rain – I’m home! I think we tend to complain an awful lot in Britain about what we don’t have. I think we have a lot.

What are your interior design pet peeves?

I don’t like chintz. I’m not crazy about blue fabrics, unless they’re navy blue and white.

What’s the best-selling product in the Kelly Hoppen range?

I suppose the best-selling item ever is probably our Scent 1 room spray and candle because people just become addicted to it. It’s an incredible smell.

What’s the best part of your job?

The great thing about what I do is working in so many different countries in the world. And I just think, ‘How lucky am I?’.

www.kellyhoppenretail.com