Kelly Hoppen CBE is one of the most sought-after designers, best known for her subtle fusion of clean lines and neutral tones balanced with an opulent warmth. Having founded her eponymous brand more than 40 years ago, she has won numerous awards and is passionate about making her designs accessible. 

So, it goes without saying that we’re thrilled to have collaborated with her on a stunning collection of tiles. We caught up with her to chat about the new collection, her design philosophy, and her illustrious career in interiors…

Working with British brands such as Fired Earth is something that’s really important to Kelly, particularly as she is an ambassador for the government’s GREAT campaign, which aims to showcase the very best of UK creativity. 

“I had the pleasure of working with Fired Earth many years ago on a Perfect Neutrals paint range,” Kelly says, “so it was a joy to work with them again on this new tile collection. This year, I’m celebrating 48 years in the interior design industry and Fired Earth is celebrating 40 years, so this collaboration has been a fantastic opportunity for us to merge our expertise and inspire homeowners and design enthusiasts alike.”

The Fired Earth & Kelly Hoppen Collection is a combination of Kelly’s trademark neutrals – as seen in the new Signature and Brick tiles – alongside the contemporary organic shapes seen in the Strip and Puzzle tiles. 

The collection has been designed to be totally usable and to have a classic, yet modern feel. Every tile reflects Kelly’s distinctive design philosophy, and each one is truly versatile and perfect for hallways, dining rooms, bathrooms, living spaces, kitchens and bar areas. 

“Fired Earth has an esteemed history with beautiful, quality tiles and we designed this collection to be totally usable and to have a classic, yet modern feel, with each tile being truly versatile. They can also be used in small quantities – almost as art – and still make a large impact.”

Each tile is informed by Kelly’s neutral colour palette. She loves neutrals and explains how they’re great when layered with textures and for bringing in pops of colour through accessories like plants and art. 

“The balance is so calming and timeless so it just made sense to implement that throughout this range,” Kelly says. “I instantly knew the patterns in my head. It was a combination of many designs that created this collection, from the many homes and bespoke floors we have done in wood before. I also get so much inspiration from my travels when it comes to patterns. All you have to do is take a look at architecture, organic shapes and artwork.”

For as long as she can remember, Kelly has been “obsessed with homes" and the way people live. Surrounded by creativity from an early age, her dream was – and still is – to create homes that make people feel as though they have lived in them all their lives but “with an added bonus of the new”.

“The balance is so calming and timeless so it just made sense to implement that throughout this range,” Kelly says. “I instantly knew the patterns in my head. It was a combination of many designs that created this collection, from the many homes and bespoke floors we have done in wood before. I also get so much inspiration from my travels when it comes to patterns. All you have to do is take a look at architecture, organic shapes and artwork.”

For as long as she can remember, Kelly has been “obsessed with homes" and the way people live. Surrounded by creativity from an early age, her dream was – and still is – to create homes that make people feel as though they have lived in them all their lives but “with an added bonus of the new”.

“I recall times when I wanted to go and look at show flats with my mum, rather than playing with my friends, and this love of interior design developed into a career when I was 16 and was asked to redesign a kitchen for a friend. It wasn’t great, and looking back I should have panicked, but I've always been completely fearless and knew I was determined to make my passion for design a success. Shortly after, when I was 17, I secured an amazing job designing for Formula 1 race car driver Guy Edwards and that was really the beginning of my career.”

Kelly’s design philosophy has always been a delicate fusion of East meets West, and this style was actually developed by her having come across an incredible Chinese trunk in a vintage shop. Her approach centres on neutral palettes, clean lines, textured layers, and sculptural shapes. This combination of the elegance of sleek and simple lines and shapes of the West, with the richness, depth and texture of the East creates a truly eclectic and balanced look and feel.

“I can’t imagine I’ll ever stop being excited by design and by the opportunity to challenge myself. I’m always evolving my style to suit my client’s needs and the changes of modern lifestyles, and there’s no doubt that the Covid-19 pandemic impacted key aspects of interior design. I definitely noticed the requirement of multi-functionality in home spaces increased and priorities shifted as people needed to evolve and adapt the spaces they live in to suit a work-from-home lifestyle.”

Kelly uses a lot of whites, greys, beiges, and taupes, explaining that they are versatile, timeless and create the perfect base to any design. 

“Neutrals are just incredibly soothing and harmonious and are great for playing around with different furnishings and accessories and adding a pop of colour. It sets the tone and offers the perfect canvas to layer on personal touches and characteristics to define the space and make it unique. With that said, I also break every rule all the time! That’s what creates new design.”

An interior that makes you feel calm, peaceful and at ease is vital for Kelly. She has described a good interior as being “a harmonious blend of functional design, aesthetic appeal, and personalised elements that create a comfortable and visually captivating space”. 

“Neutrals are just incredibly soothing and harmonious and are great for playing around with different furnishings and accessories and adding a pop of colour. It sets the tone and offers the perfect canvas to layer on personal touches and characteristics to define the space and make it unique. With that said, I also break every rule all the time! That’s what creates new design.”

An interior that makes you feel calm, peaceful and at ease is vital for Kelly. She has described a good interior as being “a harmonious blend of functional design, aesthetic appeal, and personalised elements that create a comfortable and visually captivating space”. 

As well as launching the tile collection with Fired Earth, Kelly is working on a host of exciting projects all around the world, from private homes to hotels and yachts. 

“No two days are the same when it comes to design. It’s all very exciting. I also have one or two things launching next year that I can’t actually discuss yet but will be able to soon.”

Statement-making and perfect for walls and floors, these tiles come in three colourways that perfectly set off the distinctive pattern. Use them alone or alongside other tiles from the Kelly Hoppen collection. 

This range has a striking geometric pattern and comes in three stylish colourways, making them a versatile choice. They work brilliantly with alone or with other tiles from the collection. 

These tiles with their contemporary, organic pattern are perfect for creating statement-making walls or floors. Their pattern is perfectly set off by the three opulent neutral shades they come in. 

This range offers the perfect balance of clean lines and stylish colours. The tiles are versatile, too – you can use one colour for a linear look, mix and match shades for a feature wall.