Neutral products see a renaissance in homes that ooze sophistication
| Text : Rebecca Lo | Photo : Photos courtesy Kelly Hoppen, Tai Ping Carpet |
Aneutral palette in the home is like a little black cocktail dress in your closet. Hemlines may come and go, and avantgarde designers may introduce tempests that storm through the season, wreaking havoc in their wake. But the tried and true staple of every woman’s wardrobe is the classic black number that she feels sexy and sophisticated slipping into, no matter how fancy the event. It is the same with the home. While bright colours and wild patterns certainly make a splash, the most confidently stylish home are often the most neutral. Instead, textures, forms and contrasts are used to create visual interest, with colours acting as quiet backdrops that allow the drama of living to unfold. Without cliches such as a red armchair demanding attention, homes get a chance to tell narratives through thought provoking accessories and objects from the homeowner’s personal collection of treasures.
English interior designer Kelly Hoppen has been dubbed the queen of taupe with good reason. She has elevated designing with neutrals to an art form, and her star-studded client list boasting Gwyneth Paltrow, Elton John and Victoria Beckham underscore her popularity with the rich and famous. With a body of work that includes six coffee table books on her trademark East meets West style, a design school run out of her West London studio, a TV show coming up in February, home accessories, bathroom fittings, wallpaper, home fragrances and, yes, even an iPhone app, it is no wonder that Queen Elizabeth II honoured her with an MBE in 2009 for services to the interior design profession.
Last year, she launched Kelly Hoppen Home Collection in Shanghai and High Point, North Carolina, the latter known as the furniture capital of the world. Her first collaboration with Hong Kong-based Indigo Living includes sofas, armchairs, coffee tables, trunks and dining furniture, along with cushions and accessories. “I never thought we would carry any other brand besides our own,” admits John McLennan, Indigo Living’s managing director. “This is a very exciting time for us. I really admire Kelly’s design and her passion.” The full collection can be viewed at Indigo Living’s Ap Lei Chau showroom, while its boutique in Prince’s Building will contain signature pieces.
“The essence of my design comes from the spirit of the east,” says Hoppen. “It seemed the right thing to do for the product to be made in China. And Indigo is a perfect fit. I only work with people that I like, and John adores the products. It is perfectly made — I went to see it manufactured and the first batch was already 90 percent correct.” Hoppen’s simple, timelessly classic approach to design can be sensed in every piece, from the lacquered trestle legs on refined dining tables and consoles that allude to their rustic ancestors, to perfectly stitched leather trunks. “The collection can be put together easily for a harmonious look,” Hoppen notes. “It is not a trend.”
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