Following the opening of M&S Pantheon, we caught up with interior designer Kelly Hoppen CBE to discuss the furniture every home needs, the decorating detail that always impresses her and the advice she would give to anyone decorating their home.
We meet Kelly in M&S’s new flagship store on Oxford Street, where she helped advise on the design of the Home section. From its sleek neutral palette and sharp finishes to its bold chequerboard floor, her influence is instantly recognisable as you walk around the store.
The chequerboard floor is a standout feature. In the Cook Shop section, it immediately catches the eye – but Kelly tells us it was something she had to fight for.
She wanted the space to feel like an original kitchen, and the lino was her way of achieving that. Two years ago, she even used the same flooring in her laundry room. 'And everyone thought I was mad, but I love it,' she says.
When we caught up with Kelly, we asked her to share some quick decorating tips. From the one thing people should stop doing in their homes to the great small-light-versus-big-light debate, she covered it all. Here’s what she had to say.
What’s one piece of furniture every home needs?
A bed.
What’s the one thing people need to stop doing in their homes?
Buying things just because they think they’re going to love them without thinking about it properly.
When you go into other people’s homes, what is one thing that always impresses you?
I think, for me, it’s the smell that always impresses me. That somebody’s thought about having a smell – a candle – that belongs to them.
If you could give one message to everyone decorating their home at the moment. What would it be?
Think about what it is that you want. Don’t shop for your home like you do for fashion, which is, ‘I need another pair of shoes – I’m going to buy them.’ This is a thought-out purchase so think about it first and it will save money, time and heartache.
Quickfire round
Pillow chop or no pillow chop?
How can you ask me that? No. Pillow. Chop.
Millennial Grey or Gen Z Brown?
Oh, grey! Definitely grey. [I] hate brown.
Oversized or compact furniture?
Depends on the scale of the room but oversized normally makes a room look bigger.
One big light or lots of small ones?
Lots of small lights.
Open concept or closed concept houses?
Open concept for me.
Polka dots or stripes?
Stripes.
Chrome accents or gold accents?
Depends – but for me, chrome.
