What my home means to me Julien Macdonald
Flamboyant designer Julien, 46, lives in London’s Notting Hill, where his home is a dazzle of Hollywood glamour and Miami glitz
WHERE I LIVE
Since I first came to Notting
Hill 20 years ago, I’ve lived in a one-bedroom flat, then a little mews, and today a Georgian townhouse, which was always my dream when I was younger. Now I have it I’m happy.
My home was a bit like an old William Morris house when I moved in five years ago: shabby chic, lots of decorative wallpaper, and family life was all round the house – the previous owner had even made wallpaper out of photos of all her children growing up. I lived in the house like that for a year, so I knew everything about her family!
When it came to redecorating, I started with the kitchen. It’s all white and silver, with lots of Carrara marble, decorative urns and orchids. I have various containers filled with fresh bread – which I don’t eat! – and fruit, and big bowls of M&Ms… It looks amazing, but when people visit they ask if I cook, and I say: ‘No, the microwave is hidden behind that cupboard door!’ It’s just a show kitchen. The downstairs is very neutral – white walls, marble and dark floors. Then visitors go upstairs to my vaulted living room, with its huge windows looking out over Notting Hill, and go: ‘Wow, I was not expecting that!’ It’s inspired by late-1970s style and Art Deco. The walls are dove grey and the furnishings are rich with textures: dark chocolate and burgundy velvets, antique golds and silvers. It’s a bit like Yves Saint Laurent’s house – very decadent, lots of textiles put together in a chic and sophisticated way. I have a Salvador Dali sculpture and an eclectic mix of things I’ve collected from round the world.
MY INSPIRATIONS
As a Piscean I love water, driftwood and anything to do with the ocean. There’s a lady in Cornwall who makes me very flamboyant, over-the-top coral and shell mirrors. I also have my mother’s wedding dress encased in a silver frame. She was, and is, very glamorous and tiny. The dress is almost like a wall hanging – I like how clothes can become art. I’m always looking for inspiration from my life. With
my Debenhams’ Star homeware collection, I might see a dress worn by Jennifer Lopez and use it to inspire a bedthrow or a cushion.
After every fashion show, I go travelling to places where I might find new ideas – Bali or Madagascar, the Seychelles or Las Vegas. I always go back to Miami because I just love the Art Deco buildings there. My favourite designer is Kelly Wearstler and I like to stay in The Tides hotel, which she decorated.
There’s a design room in my house and with each collection it turns into a place of inspiration. One range was influenced by Bali, so I filled it with pictures, textiles, pieces of art and cultural references, so when you walked in, it looked and smelled like Bali.
Countryside is not for me. I was brought up in Wales in a small valley, surrounded by mountains and greenery. If somebodyescape to the says country’,to me, ‘Let’sI say, ‘No way’. I’d much rather escape to the beach. I like a party lifestyle, but I’m not going to be sitting in a country house, ever.
HOME LIFE
Serving cocktails is my way of entertaining rather than cooking for guests. I have an amazing drinks trolley and collect vintage and Venetian glass. I started when I worked for Karl Lagerfeld at Chanel – he always used to drink out of a Baccarat goblet.
I find it hard to switch off and read. My mind is always so active. My passion is to watch TV – I press a button in my living room and the TV comes out of a cupboard. I like the ITV series Vera, and the American series
Devious Maids, as well as old Hollywood movies with James Dean and Audrey Hepburn.
My garden is quite tropical. I have palm trees in huge white containers and exotic plants.
It’s wonderful to go home on a summer’s night and sit out there on sofas and relax. I like the evening – I’m very much a nocturnal creature and have lots of vintage lamps and candles to make it smoky and seductive. HB
l To see the latest Star by Julien Macdonald at Debenhams homeware range visit debenhams.com