it takes a certain amount of chutzpah to experiment this boldly with colour and texture in the home. Being an interior designer, Kim Stephen has the benefit of years of experience when it comes to trying out varying hues, but she also has a natural affinity with bold decisions. This partly comes from growing up in South Africa, where a rainbow palette is part of the fabric of life. ‘I also had a mother who owned a textiles showroom representing all the significant international labels,’ says Kim. ‘Being around that amount of texture and colour from a young age means it becomes part of you. Often the design decisions I make now are simply intuitive.’
When Kim and her family first moved to London in 2017, they weren’t necessarily looking to buy a house. But then they stumbled upon this home and were smitten. ‘It had just been renovated by a developer,’ reveals Kim, ‘and to be honest, I was bowled over by it. I am pretty confident about the interior styles I like, and when I walked in here I realised there wasn’t a bathroom tile, a paint shade or a kitchen tap that I would have done differently. I loved it all, and so, obviously, we pounced on it.’
This story is from the March 2020 edition of Living Etc Magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the March 2020 edition of Living Etc Magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Rooting For Change
The concept of the 'environmentally healthy' garden is something we should all be embracing - and top designers have the intel on how to get it right
courtyard gardens
THESE COMPACT AND CONSTRAINED OUTDOOR PLOTS CAN FEEL LIKE URBAN OASES IF THE RIGHT DESIGN CHOICES ARE MADE
NEXT BIG THING
Our favourite designers pick aname on their radar that ought to be on yours, too. This month: interior designer Hollie Bowden introduces a London-based furniture and lighting studio
global outlook: interiors report
OUR NEW YORK EDITOR KEITH FLANAGAN UNCOVERS THE US LAUNCHES AND DESIGN NEWS MAKING WAVES OVER HERE TOO
colour decoded
There’s nothing subtle about this scheme, says Livingetc’s Amy Moorea Wong – it’s a celebration of the pure joy of colour
Blazing a trail
Perhaps you know her from her incredible ceramic wall mural or her activism either way, Malene Djenaba Barnett is a groundbreaker in the truest sense of the word
sky high
Harnessing natural light is a goal for every home and the sophisticated skylights seen today are using modern tech and design to ace that objective
PLAIN SAILING
This converted boathouse in Copenhagen provides carefree days on the waterfront for its architect owners
MADE TO MEASURE
Inside and out, the bespoke and crafted elements of this Lisbon abode make for a home like no other
ZEST FOR LIFE
With its palette of sunny sorbet shades and space-enhancing design, this Milan apartment is full of good vibes