‘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!
LB: What’s the best thing you’ve bought for the kids?
SS: A Noah’s Ark wall-hanging [pictured below - from the Rug Company], and sheepskin bedspreads.
LB: What’s the thing that you didn’t buy for your kids (and probably had anyway) but has surprised you in its child friendliness?
SS: My sewing machine - they absolutely love it, even my 18-year-old-son!
LB: How wedded are you to where you live?
SS: Totally… We live in Notting Hill, and I love that it’s so multi-cultural and the streets are so alive. And it’s great to be near Portobello Market.
LB: What’s your best family day out that doesn’t cost the earth?
SS: A day at the Natural History Museum [it's free], or a picnic in the park.
LB: Best book (s) for kids?
SS: Harry Potter - all my children loved it - and Gerald Durrell’s My Family and other Animals.
LB: What new products have you seen this year that you’re particularly excited about?
SS: The solar charger for the kids’ iPods!
LB: What’s been your sloppiest moment as a mum?
SS: Feeding my son Jack his bottle while I was half asleep, then waking up to realise it was in his ear!
LB: What’s your biggest achievement as a mum?
SS: Being friends with my teenage kids.
LB: What’s your sartorial style?
SS: Understated and comfy. My favourite outfit is a smock over skinny jeans.
LB: And your favourite shops?
SS: The Cross, Harvey Nichols, and Urban Outfitters.
LB: What’s your favourite family holiday destination?
SS: Kenya, for the people, the climate and the nature - mostly in camps by the coast, but we recently stayed in the Serena hotel in Nairobi.
LB: Do you have a fail-safe children’s meal?
SS: Pasta with Marmite and butter!
LB: Which of your rugs work best in a family home?
SS: The Paul Smith Stripe - it never seems to look dirty even though it gets trashed and the bright colours are perfect for a kid’s room. Cowhide Flower (shown left) is also really popular with the little ones - perhaps it’s because of the texture…
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