Max + Alice of Nina Campbell
If you could have a second home anywhere, where would you live? (Alice) The Bahamas, it’s really the place my family and I are happiest! Great friends, the best ocean, a healthy dose of racquet sports, a rum dum here and there and most importantly a lot of dancing!
What are three words to describe your style
(Alice) Approachable, Cosy, Colourful
(Max) Classic, Laid Back, Timeless
Tell us about your childhood bedroom? (Alice) So my first memory was my very pink, very 80’s classic English bedroom. I had a teddy bear wallpaper border that went round the edge which I use to pick off at night and then claim my bountiful collection of teddy bears had in fact been up all night and they had peeled it all off.
My teenage bedroom was really cool with painted graduating blue walls and a bead curtain and a very eclectic selection of lamps I collected…I had wanted a disco ball but my mother put her foot down.
I had very cool multi colour shooting star wallpaper from Brunswick. My bedroom window looked out onto an internal light well which was not the most attractive but was made better as I had an imaginary horse that lived at the top of the light well. There was plenty of storage for my Lego and Action Man toys and an unbelievably comfortable bed.
What’s the first investment piece you ever bought for your house? (Alice) Perhaps not the most tasteful but a pink Smeg fridge when I was 18 for my first apartment.
(Max) I bought a picture of Stamford Bridge Stadium, where Chelsea Football Club play, from Trowbridge.
In the history of design, if you could hire any designer, who would it be? (Alice) My sister Rita Konig…
(Max) Other than Nina Campbell it would have to be Rita Konig
No room is complete without:
(Alice) Personality – a piece with a story behind it making personal and meaningful, whether a small painting you bought on your travels somewhere, a photograph that sparks a joyful memory or a random object that means nothing to someone else but everything to you!
(Max) books and artwork.
(Alice) People think of me as a little stand off ish, but I am really quite shy!
Things you omit from
A flower arrangement: (Alice) Birds of paradise and anthuriums those waxy tropical flowers! (Max) Not very good at flowers but the pollen stain one annoys me.
An hors d’oeuvre platter: (Alice) anchovies or anything with a raisin (Max) Egg
A bar cabinet: (Alice) Sambuca (Max) Ouzo
A song for
Dinner at home: (Alice) Reggae (Max) anything classical and in the background
Working at your desk: (Alice) Fleetwood Mac, Elton John, Van Morrison, Bob Dylan (Max) Fleetwood Mac/Supertramp
Going for a run: (Alice) Any 90’s/00’s Hip Hop (Max) U2/Coldplay/The Verve/Snow Patrol
Biggest Vice? (Alice) Chocolate – far far too much of it especially at the 4pm dip! The cheaper the better (Max) Eating cheap chocolate
If you were on an Ambien high and internet shopping, what would you buy? (Alice) A Jessica McCormack piece – very hard to choose which depending on the level of Ambien maybe I would by more than one! Something we did buy on the internet, without the Ambien high but during the slightly crazed, wine induced depths of Covid boredom were two gold palm trees as we couldn’t travel and they made me feel like we were on holiday! We then had them lit with tiny lights and “planted” in painted pots and they now reside in our sitting room and that slightly crazed purchase makes me smile every day. Gold palm trees in a London town house who knew! (Max) Garden Golf Simulator barn by Back Nine Barns - https://www.backninebarns.com – Hopefully with a view to us doing a Nina Campbell colab design with them.
Do your clothes reflect your design sensibility, if so, how? (Alice) Not really, I dress in a pretty simple classic way, I like a “uniform!” I think my design sensibility is more quirky and fun! (Max) Probably as I only like comfortable clothes.
What is the one thing you would never decorate your home with, but don’t detest when you see others do it? (Alice) Leopard print (Max) Leopard print
What book do you find yourself going back to again and again for inspiration? (Alice) Our archive antique French binders which are full of tiny pieces of fabrics and ribbons and prints which provide so much inspiration for print and product. (Max) English Furniture Volumes
For posterity, what would you like your work to be known for? (Alice) I’d like us to be known for creating beautiful, timeless and well made product and furniture that defies trends and remains fun, stylish and comfortable! (Max) Smelling fantastic and to be unashamedly comfortable.
A Few Favorites:
Movie: (Alice) Home Alone or Sister Act (Max) Good Will Hunting
Book: (Alice) Brideshead Revisited (Max) Things I Want to Remember Not to Forget Written by Chris Waddell
Scent: (Alice) Carnal Flower – Frederic Malle (Max) Frederic Malle Vetiver Extraordinaire by Dominique Ropion
Fabric for your home: (Max) Fortuny Damask
Dream project: (Alice) My own beach house one day… (Max) A private members golf club
Meal: (Alice) Dim Sum or Lobster - cold with thick fresh mayonnaise and new potatoes and green salad (Max) Lobster
Drink: (Alice) Margarita – on the rocks no salt. (Max) Dirty Martini
Hotel: (Alice) Lyford Cay Club
Travel Destination: (Alice) Anywhere I haven’t been yet that is on my list (Max) New Zealand
Artist: (Alice) Gary Bunt (Max) Picasso
A cause near and dear to me: (Alice) Child Bereavement or any suicide prevention charity (Max) Naomi & Jack’s Place
Thing to collect obsessively: (Alice) Inspiring, interesting, friends who radiate rather than drain (Max) Cocktail shakers
Era in the history of design: (Alice) Now (Max) Right Now
Museum: (Alice) Louisiana Museum in Copenhagen (Max) V&A
Favorite person to follow on Instagram: (Alice) Friends who I don’t get to see much or who live away…makes me feel more connected to what’s going on in their lives (Max) My daughter & son
Dogs, Cats, or No Pets? (Alice) Dogs! (Max) DOGS!!!!
