Whether you are a design enthusiast or you feel compelled to educate yourself on some of the most celebrated designers of all time, these individuals are true connoisseurs and masters of style. They are testimony to what’s possible when we push past the boundaries of design without losing touch with the past and its influence on the present.
Let these interiors serve as an inspiration and a point of reference when reimagining a space that deserves some attention this year.
Iconic interior designers to take note of
Kelly Hoppen
Successful businessperson and multi-award-winning designer Kelly Hoppen has more than four decades of experience transforming yachts and private jets as well as exclusive commercial and residential properties for her clients. Her signature style is a combination of a neutral palette, clean lines and an East-meets-West aesthetic, resulting in sophisticated spaces that are infused with warmth.
“My aesthetic is very much a timeless marriage of the sleek and simple yet luxurious lines of the West, with the texture, depth and richness of the East,” she told Design Week in 2021.
Hoppen has written multiple design books – House of Hoppen, Kelly Hoppen’s Essential Style Solutions for Every Home and Kelly Hoppen: The Art of Interior Design – and collaborated with luxury home accessories retailer SV CASA in the creation of products for the home that express her unique design ethos. As one of Britain’s most prominent interior designers, Hoppen has also designed for celebrities, including David and Victoria Beckham, and championed entrepreneurs as one of the investors on the United Kingdom’s BBC2 series Dragons’ Den.
Kelly Wearstler
With an ever-evolving aesthetic that knows no boundaries, Kelly Wearstler enjoys taking risks and playing with juxtapositions when designing interiors. In addition to authoring interior design books – Rhapsody: Kelly Wearster, Hue, Modern Glamour: The Art of the Unexpected and Domicilium Decoratus – Wearstler has made her mark through brand partnerships and client projects with the likes of Gwen Stefani and Cameron Diaz. Her experiential approach has shaped American contemporary design, which can be witnessed across a myriad of commercial and residential interiors, including the designer’s own product lines.
Robert Couturier
The legendary interior designer Robert Couturier’s signature international style is underpinned by a deep understanding of the classical – thanks to his studies at the École Camondo in his native Paris. It was in his early 30s that his career truly began to blossom when wealthy financier Sir James Goldsmith entrusted him with his palace on the Pacific Coast of Mexico.
This prestigious private commission was a pivotal turning point for Couturier, whose grand commissions hail from different parts of the globe and are paired with impressive clientele, including Anne Hearst and Jay McInerney, Cécile David-Weill and Fred Iseman. A lecturer and contributor to architecture and design books, Couturier’s interiors pay respect to the architecture and movements of the building’s inhabitants.
Joanna Gaines
Synonymous with the modern farmhouse style, Joanna Gaines and her husband Chip Gaines were stars of the popular television show Fixer Upper in which they renovated homes. This then led to the launch of Magnolia, which encompasses a blog, magazine and a home design store. The couple, who are based in Texas, are advocates for white-walled spaces that are beautifully contrasted with darker industrial pieces (typically lighting) and colorful rugs – all while retaining original details, including stained glass windows or wooden beams.
Nate Berkus
Nate Berkus launched the eponymous Nate Berkus Associates in the mid-1990s, however, it wasn’t until he was featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show that his career as a popular television personality took off. Today, he and his partner Jeremiah Brent support families in need through their popular show Nate and Jeremiah by Design alongside his work on international high-end commercial and residential projects. His interiors are recognizable by his use of black and white, which is balanced with accents of warm neutrals and natural textiles that create a sense of timelessness.
Martyn Lawrence Bullard
Martyn Lawrence Bullard is renowned for his eclectic mix of styles and impeccable attention to detail, which have earned him celebrity clientele including Kylie Jenner, Khloe Kardashian, Kourtney Kardashian and Cher. He also oversees high-end hotel and hospitality projects at some of the world’s most exclusive venues. When he’s not traveling, the highly acclaimed interior designer produces collections for fabric house Shumacher and porcelain manufacturer Haviland Limoges, among others.
Jean-Louis Deniot
French interior designer Jean-Louis Denoit’s projects masterfully combine a range of influences and styles that imbue his interiors with a sense of boldness and elegance. His training at the École Camondo in Paris, coupled with apartment restorations, led him to establish his own agency. Denoit travels around the globe, overseeing prestigious projects based in Paris, London, New York and Chicago.
