Karl Lagerfeld – An unexpected legacy in interior design

When Karl Lagerfeld, one of the world’s most iconic fashion figures, died last week at 85, he was widely memorialised for his legacy, having dressed Hollywood stars, royalty and society figures. But the long-time creative director of both Chanel and Fendi, was also known for interior design in his later years.

The list of his works are long and impressive, including; Monaco's Hotel Metropole Monte-Carlo, Paris's Hôtel de Crillon, Sofitel SO Singapore, The Grand Lisboa Palace resort and casino in Macau, China, set to open later this year, as well as two in-progress condo lobby projects for the Estates at Acqualina, a luxury residential complex in Miami’s Sunny Isles Beach, and Art Shoppe Lofts + Condos in Toronto.

"What he created for us at The Estates was both timeless and of-the-moment," Jules Trump, developer of Acqualina, said in a statement. "His aesthetic will be appreciated and valued by our residents and guests for years to come."

“Lagerfeld's influence extends far beyond just one sphere,” said interior and product designer Elnaz Namaki of Elnaz Namaki Studio in London. "He had an affinity for pushing creative boundaries and is a true inspiration to interior designers as both an icon and creative force. His architectural legacy lives on in the two Les Grands apartments in Hotel de Crillon in Paris, whose striking elegance and spirit epitomise everything Lagerfeld touched," she said.

“His tastes were broad and ever-changing and inspired passionate imitation, seen in the glories of 18th-century France in his Parisian Hotel Particulier on the Rue de l’Universite, Memphis madness in Monaco, and minimal exuberance in his overflowing library," added designer Jamie Drake, partner of New York City-based Drake/Anderson.

Lagerfeld’s growing interest in interior design prompted the creation of his own hospitality brand in 2016, Karl Lagerfeld Hotels & Resorts. The brand looked to channel the designer’s iconic fashion aesthetics into bespoke projects including hotels, residential properties, restaurants and private clubs.

"Just last year he introduced a ravishing collection of limited-edition lamps, mirrors, and tables with Carpenters Workshop," Jamie said. "These designs are rooted in classicism, richly executed in marble, and pay homage to the architecture of Karl Friedrich Schinkel and Lagerfeld’s own beloved Villa Jako in the city of his birth, Hamburg."

Jeffrey Beers of Jeffrey Beers International said of Lagerfeld; "In ‘A Moveable Feast,’ Hemingway wrote, ‘People were always the limiters of happiness except for the very few that were as good as spring itself’; I would say that designers are the limiters of their own creativity except for the very few like Karl Lagerfeld, who are as good as inspiration itself."