If any area epitomises our obsession with home interiors and interior design, it must be the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
Over The Resident’s 20 year history, a time during which London became entranced by home interiors and beautiful design, a plethora of word class interior designers emerged from Kensington and Chelsea to help us radically transform our homes.
One of our most celebrated British designers is Tricia Guild at Designers Guild. She has consistently designed uplifting and trend-setting fabrics and home furnishings, all evident within her flagship store on the King’s Road. Her meteoric rise can be seen with a turnover that rapidly grew from £3 million 20 years ago to over £50 million today with collections in over 40 countries worldwide.
Another interior designer who needs no further introduction is Nicky Haslam. The South Kensington veteran famed for his impeccable style and taste has had a career spanning 40 years and his enviable celebrity clientele list has included Princess Diana, Bryan Ferry, Helena Bonham Carter and Rupert Everett, amongst many others.
Sir Terence Conran is synonymous with furniture design around the world. Having established Habitat in 1964 to great success as a design-led furniture store, he later set up the hugely influential Conran Shop on the Fulham Road which significantly revived the fortunes of the area known as Brompton Cross. His son, Jasper Conran, OBE, a hugely successful and distinguished British fashion designer, became Chairman of The Conran Shop in 2012 and Chairman of Conran Holdings Ltd in March 2014 and has been pivotal in revitalising the brand during that time.
Undoubtedly, one of the biggest names to emerge locally in the last 20 years is Kelly Hoppen, who prominently rose to fame with the release of her 1997 book, East Meets West and is a pioneer of the growing fascination with neutral colour palettes such as taupe and beige. As a result of her influence, neutral colours and highly textured surfaces of natural materials became increasingly trendy over time.
Other leading designers of this period include Jane Churchill, Michael Reeves, Todhunter Earle and Nina Campbell, whose fabulous wallpaper and fabric collections combine luxury with her personal sense of wit. Many interior design companies have also established a strong presence with defined roots in Kensington and Chelsea and are sure to continue to continue their growth into the future.
Soane, which was founded by Lulu Lytle and Christopher Hodsoll on the Pimlico Road, is known for its exquisitely made furniture, lighting and accessories and the company is an example of British craftsmanship that can be found locally.
Similarly, William Yeoward continues to be a leading presence on the King’s Road since opening in 1985, and has won numerous awards with its crystal collections.
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