Star style: A home tour with artist and illustrator Kerrie Hess
Celebrated artist and illustrator Kerrie Hess, whose client list includes the likes of Cartier, Louis Vuitton and Tiffany & Co, returned to her home town of Brisbane from Paris six years ago. “Whilst Paris was beautiful, my son Marcel was turning five and I wanted him to enjoy a childhood filled with sunshine and playing in a backyard, not braving European winters in an apartment,” she says.
First settling in a riverside suburb of Brisbane, Kerrie and her husband, Peter, a dietitian, more recently purchased an inner-city Queenslander in need of some love and care. “I find old Queenslanders so charming,” explains the talented illustrator. “They have these beautiful architectural details you just don’t see anywhere else. They also have high ceilings, which allow in a lot of natural light – especially important to me as an artist.” HB was invited inside Kerrie’s gorgeous home and art studio for a chat.
What are your tips for incorporating art in interiors?
“It’s important to get the balance right. For example, the pink sofa is very feminine, so it was balanced out with a more graphic piece (‘The Eyes’ by Kerrie Hess). Proportions are important, too, so large works are more suited to rooms with higher ceilings.”
What’s one part of your work that you love?
“I’m the happiest when painting in my studio. Working on original pieces or watercolours that will become prints is my happy place.”
How would you describe your decorating style?
“A mixture of romantic and eclectic.”
Do you have any decorating tips?
“I always think it’s nice to not have too many things but to really look after and cherish the things you do have. And fresh flowers are always a welcome addition.”
What do you love most about the home’s location?
“I love [that] our street is so leafy and quiet, yet we live right in the inner city.”
Is there anything else on your wishlist?
“It’s a subtropical climate, so we’d love to have a pool. Just a small one to sit in and read a book.”
What do you see yourself doing in ten years?
“I see us living in this house for a long time, so I see myself still happily painting in my studio.”
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