Seeking a restful escape
A neutral d?cor is often the go-to colour scheme for those wanting to achieve a restful escape, and in recent years, no one has advanced the neutral look quite like Briton Kelly Hoppen, the designer celebrities turn to.
Indigo Living stocks a 50-piece furniture range from Hoppen in Hong Kong that includes everything from coffee and dining tables and chairs, to mirrors and occasional chairs.
Hoppen has a distinctive style based on whites, taupes and beiges. 'It's a very easy collection. I don't try to dictate to people - you don't need to have the entire range,' Hoppen says. 'Whatever piece you pick, you don't need to be a brain surgeon. You can incorporate it into your d?cor and it will work with pieces you bought a year or two years ago.
'I always say the base colours need to be neutrals, so we've got black, a lot of silver, gold, metal and some extraordinary antique glass. I think the bigger pieces of furniture should always be neutral and then you can add flashes of colour with your curtains, carpets and glass. That way you won't get bored with your interiors.'
When Hoppen launched her first book East Meets West in 1997, she was one of the first to incorporate Asian design into contemporary interiors. 'The phenomenon that came from that book took me completely by surprise. When it was launched, suddenly the whole high street was full of buddhas and Indian and Chinese d?cor. My inspiration has always come from the East. I just happen to love oriental art, buddhas and statues and I have a great collection myself.'
She avoids the latest trends in design, preferring to stick to her own beliefs. She says: 'I try to stay away from trends because I don't think they last. And I'm not into chintzes. There are lots of things I don't like, but I'm always open to suggestions.
'Four years ago, if someone had asked if I'd ever use a carnation flower in my home I would've thought that's absolutely mad, but two years ago that's all I put into my home. I think never say never is the answer. It's always your interpretation, anyway.
'There are always design challenges in the same way that you get dressed every morning. There are some mornings you put everything on and it looks great, there are other mornings when it doesn't work and you have to figure out how to make it work. It's all about how you feel.'
Her heroes in the design world are Ralph Lauren and Donna Karen. 'These are people who created a brand philosophy from the beginning. It's like putting roots into the ground - then you can go in lots of different directions but your core philosophy always remains the same.'
