(Photography by Mel Yates)

ChicTip was lucky enough to receive an advance copy of British contemporary Interior Designer Kelly Hoppen’s new book, INTERIORS, this past week. Kelly Hoppen is, of course, a superstar in the world of interior design, boasting such clients as Jude Law and Gwyneth Paltrow, receiving the ultimate accolade of an MBE from the Queen of England in recognition of her outstanding contribution and influence on the interior design industry. An absolute favorite of ours, and with a foreword by Victoria Beckham, we were nothing short of salivating by the time FedEx delivered our copy.

The first thing we noticed about the book is that, very much like Kelly Hoppen’s work, it is finely balanced. An encapsulating blend of aesthetic and function, INTERIORS combines many stunning images with highly structured narrative which guides the reader through the incredibly complex world of stylish interior design in a easy to understand format that cradles the delicate balance of inspirational and aspirational. INTERIORS by Kelly Hoppen has a ‘can’t put it down’ quality. Whether being used as a study guide, or as a coffee table browse book, it delivers a clean and easy to understand formula through the use of Taupe-colored informational sections. These Taupe sections provide Keynotes, Layouts, Kelly’s Signature Details (a very valuable resource guide on the furniture, fixtures and fittings showcased in the book ) and Checklists which, in addition to Kelly’s Top Pix, provide a rich vein of ideas that serve as a fast track guide to understanding design excellence.

As well as including beautiful images of Kelly Hoppen’s design studio in London, England, Kelly Hoppen INTERIORS takes you on a journey that covers every aspect of designing a home. From Doors to Downtime, through to Bedroom and Bathrooms, to Kitchens and Closets, INTERIORS provides advice and guidance for everything from planning your space, through to color choices and the invaluable ‘what works with’ and ‘what doesn’t work with’ – which serves as both a refresher to the experienced designer and a baseline of best practices for the novice.

Apart from not being able to put it down, the hardest part of reviewing Kelly Hoppen INTERIORS is choosing the sections to highlight for this review. To try and differentiate our coverage of this wonderful book, we’ve chosen to look at several sections of the book that provides solutions and inspiration to areas of the home that we have encoutered challenges with when working with clients. The section on Stairs provides a unique view into how to incorporate the main sculpture piece of a home into the design planning, transforming the staircase into a showcase.

The Media section covers the recent trend of utilizing today’s large, sleek and modern Television designs as a center piece for family rooms and lounges. In particular the obvious, but often overlooked, advice on making sure you plan what to do with the wiring prior to beginning any design project incorporating a modern flat screen TV.

The section on Children’s Bedrooms is inspiring and delightful, focusing on an often overlooked aspect of home design, with many other books focusing primarily on Master Bedroom design. The notion of using inspiration boards and involving the children in providing ideas for a Kids Bedroom is a refreshing take on how to approach this, underscored by the guidance to avoid anything trendy or branded for a Child’s Bedroom – we all know how quickly such things go out of date – to help save you time, money and heartache.

Lastly, I love the fact Kelly Hoppen INTERIORS is current and relevant, even including Home Gyms in its Downtime section. Most modern homes with an abundance of space contain designated living spaces for downtime, beyond the typical Lounge, Study or Family Rooms of the past. With today’s lifestyle of almost all work, with some play, Home Gyms are becoming increasingly popular and Kelly Hoppen has recognized this and provided a dedicated sub-section in her INTERIORS book. Incorporating a need for Exercise Equipment, Media, Lighting and Air Conditioning / HVAC, Home Gyms represent one of the more complex designs, along with Kitchens and Bathrooms. Kelly’s advice on the use of large framed photographs, planted pots and quirky lighting provide
a unique view into how top interior design professionals approach the different moods and motivational elements which good interior design planning can achieve in any room of the house.

A staple for the library of beginners and professional interior designers alike, Kelly Hoppen INTERIORS is a must-own book for anyone considering contemporary interior design for the home. Kelly shares valuable knowledge and insights in an educational and compelling book that, combined with the exquisite imagery, cannot fail to inspire the reader.

Footnote: This book is known as Kelly Hoppen Ideas in the United Kingdom.

Posted by Keren Fathi-Poor at 7 March, 2011

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