Going Local: Kelly Hoppen

New Dragon Kelly knows the capital's design hotspots

Kelly Hoppen

BEST SPOT FOR CREATIVE INSPIRATION
PORTOBELLO MARKET
Markets are great because you have such diversity, seeing lots of different things. For me markets are what I love, the banter and all the stuff that’s going on. I don’t really go out to look for inspiration because it just sort of happens with me. I love Portobello market, or East End markets are always great, and Columbia Road for the flowers and food, and all the little shops selling different things. I just think it’s a combination of a lot of things. Museums are great but for me they’re a bit static, I prefer to be in the hub of it all.
Portobello Rd, London, W10 5TE (http://shopportobello.co.uk)

BEST FOR SPLASHING OUT
ALFIE’S ANTIQUES MARKET
Alfie’s market is fantastic for pieces but you could equally go to Kempton market at 5am in the morning, it just depends on who you are and whether you like to delve through things and find something and feel that you’ve actually got treasure, or whether you want to go to a wonderful store. Alfie’s is very good but it’s expensive. I go there for wonderful Murano glass and deco pieces of furniture.
13-25 Church St,  London, NW8 8DT (tel: (020) 7723 6066; www.alfiesantiques.com)

BEST FOR THOSE ON A BUDGET
MARKET/HIGH STREET
Down Portobello or Golborne Road is great. On a Friday all the people have their stuff out on the street at the top of Portobello Road under the bridge, there are some great little bits but you’ve got to look. If people want to buy really nice pieces and accessories and stuff for a pound or two, they can go to Ikea; it’s just knowing how to pull them together. I think that most people that are into art and design want to look and find something that’s old. But along the high street, Heals and BHS, there are lots of places that have got really nice pieces, you’ve just got to be clever in what you buy and what you mix it with it. It’s all about textures and layering.

BEST DESIGN-LED MUSEUM
BRITISH MUSEUM
The V&A and the British Museum are two fantastic ones. A lot of us were brought up having to go to museums as kids and we have that thing of "Oh, do we have to go?" but actually if there’s something that you’re sort of slightly in awe of or you want to learn more about, whether it’s a big blue whale or a piece of earthenware you’ve got all of that in these museums. They are pretty amazing; the British Museum is quite phenomenal, I mean the statue room there is extraordinary.
Great Russell St, London WC1B 3DG (tel: (020) 7323 8299; www.britishmuseum.org)

BEST FOR FINDING NEW DESIGNERS
DESIGN WEEKS
In the East End of London, we have design weeks and that’s the best time to see new artists. I was just in Vauxhall, the art club boot fair where there were some amazing artists and things - you’ve just got to keep your ear to the ground. If you go to Hoxton and Brixton, they have all these wonderful satellites of new designers and things. Those are really inspiring because you meet lots of young people that are coming up with great ideas that are very different. 100% Design is always good as well.
60 Frith St, London, W1D 3JJ; (tel: (020) 7734 6444; www.londondesignfestival.com)