‘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.

LB: What’s the best thing you’ve bought for the kids?

LRR: Money can’t buy you love. But I’d have to say their Karl Marrow dressing up box in deep orange with a big black number 2 written abstractly in one corner. They spend enough time rifling through it. Other than that the microphone and amp for Molly as I use it when she’s not looking. Also a vintage Scalextric set for Bert. My husband Adam and I have been known to have a lot of fun with that after the kids go to bed.

LB: What’s the thing that has surprised you in its child friendliness?

LRR: Our Bruno Mathsson leather Pernilla 1970s chair as it fits two toddlers side by side. The kids also love our giant anglepoise lamp [Lucy sells these - pictured here in her living room - £1390, in her shop] and I use it to light up photos of the kids.

LB: Your second cousin (TV presenter Anna Ryder Richardson) famously bought a delapidated zoo in the country - how wedded are you to the suburbs and London?

LRR: Isn’t she amazing? And completely barking mad! I could cope with a second home in the country (I have a bit of a yearning for a small cottage and a log fire) but it will take alot to tear me away from here. I love going out to different places too much at night and am a bit addicted to the South Bank and Borough market. There is so much for free in London for the kids too.

LB: What’s your best family day out that doesn’t cost the earth?

LRR: Walking along London’s South Bank and eating our way around all the tasty tasters in Borough Market. Or going to Soho for dim sum and then checking out a free street festival or art gallery.

LB: What are your best books for kids?

LRR: You Choose for Bert…where you get to choose all the things in your life. And Spy Dog and the Horrid Henry books for Molly.

LB: What new Kids.Modern products have you seen this year that you’re particularly excited about?

Adam Kay’s cardboard rocker, Nine to Nine’s kids desk, Bloom’s kids table with drawers that look like aeroplane food trays, Faye Dearnley’s stools with laundry bags you pull up from the seat, Honeysuckle’s made to order kidsart/photoalbums, Bloq’s chalkboard tables, and By Graziela’s new prints. 

The Eiry Rock stuff (see the Pivoting Chair, pictured left) is expensive but her pivoting chair and storage desk are stunning and clever conceptually.

LB: Describe your sartorial style? And your favourite outfits?

LRR: The foxy cocktail outfit I went to Jacqueline Gold’s Xmas party in (aka Ann Summers!) - a midnight blue feather jacket, a bow hairband with net, a black chainmail metallic undertop, black wrapover floaty dress and patent boots. My mid-life crisis is definitely setting in but it caused a stir!!

LB: And your favourite shops? 

LRR: Top Shop, Zara, Selfridges, Liberty, and Petals in East Dulwich (+44 (0) 20 8299 3939).

LB: What’s your Favourite family holiday destination and why?

LRR: Gozo - off Malta - the views are stunning, the people are barking mad - and we have memories of meeting the lovely Billy Connolly and his family there. Bert got hired to be his roadie in 15 years time as he really took to him. He has a grandson called Walter so it must have been something to do with the name.

LB: Do you have a fail-safe children’s meal?

LRR: Baked gnocchi with broccoli and cheese sauce with toasted cheese on the top, or chicken lemon parsley and toasted breadcrumb pasta.

LB: What’s your sloppiest moment as a mum?

LRR: My office is DISGUSTING! It is also our storage room… It will probably take a week to clear it up. That’s my New Year’s resolution.

LB: And your biggest achievement?

LRR: Having two kids and a business and still managing to remember to pick up the kids from school and make a few home cooked meals….