Inside the Knightsbridge home of jewellery designer Diane Kordas
Diane Kordas likes her interiors how she likes her jewellery: polished but striking. We step inside her elegant Knightsbridge home
Having dressed some of the world’s most famous women – think Gisele Bundchen, Madonna, Cindy Crawford, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Saoirse Ronan – in her signature jewels, American-born, London-based Diane Kordas knows a thing or two about design. And, like most designers, her instinct for all things doesn’t stop at jewels and gems alone.
Stepping inside her Knightsbridge home, it is abundantly clear that she likes her interiors how she likes her jewellery: polished, put-together, and, of course, striking. The Grade II-listed period townhouse, which spans three floors, sports a bold palette comprising monochrome undertones inflected with splashes of ruby red, turquoise and soft pink hues. It was originally, Kordas admits, a home they intended to live in for just three years – but, 30 years later, it remains her main base as she divides her time between London, Mykonos and New York.
As she allows us a sneak peek into every room in the house, we sit down to discuss her interior aesthetic, why quiet luxury defines her approach to design and where she likes to shop in London.
We left New York City living on the 29th floor of a high-rise apartment building so the opportunity of living in a period townhouse was exciting. Originally we rented the house but soon fell in love with it so we purchased it, renovated and made it our permanent home in London. We came for three years and it’s now 30 years later and counting!
Quiet luxury with a touch of glamour.
I guess I’m a mix of both maximalist and minimalist as I love the juxtaposition of mixing period pieces along with vintage and contemporary.
Image: Rii Schroer
We brought a few of our favourite pieces from our Manhattan apartment which began the aesthetic of the design process. Our Parzinger dining table, for example, was a great starting point in the entrance of our home and it complemented the newly-acquired Stuart Haygarth light we purchased at a London art gallery. The vintage daybed from our New York apartment is the anchor of our living room as it connects both sides of the room perfectly.
The living room is a place for both entertaining and relaxing so I wanted to have light grey, off white with a few bursts of colour. This palette suited our large, colourful artwork along with our black and white photographs and vintage pieces. We host many parties at our home and I really wanted it to have a calm relaxing feeling with the touch of glamour.
That’s tough! I truly love all the rooms but it would either be a toss up between our bedroom, with our Dialogia bed we brought from New York, or the living room which holds so many fun evenings with family and friends.
We found many pieces at Les Puces Market in Paris, London fairs, fabrics from Donghia and Dedar, and the Chelsea Design Centre.
First and foremost, we made a home where my family and friends feel happy and very welcome. I remember standing outside the house the day before we closed [the deal] and discussing with my husband that our new home will build happy memories for our children which they will hold forever. I think we have achieved this goal.
My advice would be to start a moodboard. Research would be the next step as London has some cool furniture markets and shows which are very creative and inspiring.
I’m a Taurus so home means everything to me as it’s the base for my husband and our two daughters. It’s our safe place, our happy place to grow and build memories to keep within our heart, always.
Get the look
Visit dianekordasjewellery.com
