‘S’ IS FOR STYLE FILE: Suzanne Sharp

SUZANNE SHARP (FAR LEFT) FOUNDED The Rug Company with her husband Christopher 12 years ago in west London. Today they have 15 stores around the world including a new showroom in Miami, and have worked with designers Paul Smith, Vivienne Westwood, Diane von Furstenberg and Kelly Wearstler. Suzanne, who also designs, has, four kids - Jamie, 8, (the youngest) Nick, 20, (the oldest) and Sophie and Jack: click on the picture for a better look.

LB: What’s the one (design) thing you couldn’t live without?

SS: My iPhone.

LB: As a kid, was there an outfit you loved so much you slept in it?

SS: Yes, I had a black velvet dress with a white collar - I adored it!!

LB: What are your children’s favourite things that you also think are quite cool?

SS: I love my son Jamie’s nature collection. It has everything from bugs and reptiles to sharks teeth, crystals, shells and even a snake! Read the rest of this article

Posted 26 February 2009 in Opinion

‘S’ is for STYLE FILE: Lucy Ryder Richardson

EX-JOURNALIST LUCY RYDER RICHARDSON (pictured left, aged 6) masterminded the Kids.Modern design show in Dulwich, South London, with business partner Petra Curtis. The yearly show features the best in designer/makers selling modern toys, clothes and home goodies for kids, and also features kids’ activities such as Ella Doran’s Make a Tray workshop. The latest Kids.Modern show is on 15th February (click here for details). Lucy lives with her architect husband and two children, Molly and Bert, in a hip 1970s suburban house in Dulwich, stocked with mid-century designs she also sells. 

LB: What’s the one (design) thing you couldn’t live without?

LRR: Sadly my iPod - as it has my music, recordings of my children talking when they were tiny, my meditation CDs plus a few backing tracks I like to sing along to all loaded on there.

LB: As a kid, was there an outfit you loved so much you slept in it? 

LRR: My Mum was too OCD to let me sleep in my favourite outfits. I did love a purple beret and my clogs though and would have slept in the royal blue flares with black cherries from Clothkits that my Mum never finished making if they weren’t still in her bottom drawer with the pins in.

LB: What are your children’s favourite things that you also think are quite cool?

LRR: Too many to mention. I love a circus trapeze artist style bright green net frou frou skirt my 7-year-old daughter Molly got from America with gold sequins on, and I wish I could squeeze into the red and white polka dot flamenco shoes she likes to wear it with. She also has a few peaked knitted caps I wear when she’s not looking. And I have been known to dab on some of her bright turquoise eyeshadow before going out. My 3-year-old son Bert has a skateboard I love and I am a bit keen on his new grey and blue diamond patterned fleece lined zip up jacket.

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Posted 6 January 2009 in Opinion