It’s been a big year for design doyenne Nina Campbell. As well as continuing to create stunning homes and launching two fabric collections, she has just celebrated the 50th anniversary of her brand. One of the world’s most respected interior designers with an unparalleled list of clients, Nina is renowned for her contagious wit and brilliant sense of style. Using a rich and elegant colour palette, she combines her creative wisdom with her classic, contemporary flair, while retaining both a sense of fun and practicality.
Nina’s interest and love of design started at the age of 19 when she went to work for John Fowler at the prestigious design studio of Sibyl Colefax and John Fowler. Looking back, she reflects, ‘In some ways, it seems like yesterday that it all began. However, it also seems like it’s been more than 50 years. There have been so many changes in the industry over the last half century but the one thing that is so important to me is that quality and craftmanship remain.’ She soon set up her own decorating business, and one of her first commissions was to design a castle in Scotland, before she caught the eye of club owner Mark Birley who asked her to redecorate Annabel’s.
Nina was able to expand the business into a design studio, shop and furniture showroom, as well as designing her own signature products. One of those products was her exquisite fabric collection, now internationally distributed by Osborne & Little, including the recently launched geometric-patterned Turfan and the Persian inspired Macaranda collections. Her shop at 9 Walton Street has remained a firm favourite for the last 40 years. It stocks a range of home accessories, such as Nina’s popular hearts design on a range of fine bone china.
‘The past year has been an incredible lesson in resilience, but the great British spirit has kicked in hugely,’ says Nina. ‘I have found that British craft is stronger than ever which makes me so happy. We have found some incredible new people to work with, as well as continuing to collaborate with people with whom we’ve worked for years. The hurdles and restrictions presented by travelling abroad have made us look even deeper into the abundance of beautiful products available in the UK, which has been so exciting.’
Over her impressive career, Nina has decorated some of the world’s most sumptuous hotels as well as family homes from the Swiss Alps to the East Coast of the United States. Clients include Rod Stewart and the Duke and Duchess of York.
‘While interior design doesn’t necessarily transform people’s lives in the heroic sense of the phrase, I hope we give our clients a haven and a home they feel happy, joyful and secure in as well as deeply comfortable,’ says Nina. ‘We also want our clients to feel they have had a huge part in creating their houses with us on a collaborative journey.’
