Heads up people. Get ready to set your VCRs - Top Design debuts on HGTV Canada on January 3rd at 8pm. This season the show is hosted by India Hicks, who I've waxed lyrical about in the past (see here - she's the talented and stylish daughter of designer David Hicks). An oppurtunity came up to interview her, which I jumped at, so here's the result.
Take a boo below to get a taste of India's personal style; a relaxed and inspiring slipcovered-and-sandy take on Colonial as seen in her book Island Life (photography by David Loftus). I love all the tones of white, the worn bleached finishes and dark antiqued wood and, that unexpected sorbet-y colour in the outdoor dining room... sigh... is just smashing. The continuing collection she's worked on with Crabtree & Evelyn - India Hicks Island Living- was recently updated with Island Night; scented from memories of a moonlit tropical garden (the eau de toilette and fragrance diffuser are shown below). Click here to check out more 5 Quick Questions interviews.
Arren Williams: What's inspiring you right now?
India Hicks: Everything I learnt from Top Design - How important it is to keep your manners despite appalling stresses and strains. How you can create something from nothing. How a sense of colour and pattern can enrich the world around us, influencing even in a small way everyone's environment.
AW: Is there anything that can make you shudder when you walk into a room?
IH: Bad lighting.
AW: What's the next thing you have your eye on for your own place?
IH: Irish linen tablecloths for Christmas entertaining.
AW: How do you define your personal style?
IH: Modern classic, in all aspects of my life: childrearing, interiors, fashion, and beauty. You can see real aspects of this in the two collections I have with Crabtree & Evelyn, Island Living and Island Night. Both are on trend but not at all trendy and offer women naturally based body care and classic fragrances with a modern twist.
AW: What's next?
IH: I just returned from fashion week in Brazil and now am off to London to launch my newest collection with Crabtree & Evelyn, India Hicks Island Night, to European press. After that, I'll be happy to have my entire family together for the holidays.
