Sophie Keegan Baum
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JEWELLERY DESIGNER Sophie Keegan Baum spent her childhood traveling between Sydney, London and some of the most far-flung destinations. As a result, the mother of three, Alfie, Casper and Max, has a carefree yet idyllic outlook on life. Photographed at home in Hamburg – the latest in a Country Road x Moda Familia instalment – she shares her viewpoint on design and motherhood.
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Welcome To The Neighbourhood: main picture top, Sophie Keegan Baum with her sons, Alfie and Max, in the entrance of her Hamburg home. Sophie wears a COUNTRY ROAD cotton top and jeans with a GOYARD tote and her own SOPHIE BAUM jewels, the boys wear COUNTRY ROAD; Home Sweet Home: above, the jewellery designer's chic estate. |
- YOUR SIGNATURE JEWELS ARE SO DECADENT, LIKE FIRECRACKERS – WHAT IGNITED YOUR LOVE OF DESIGN AND FINE JEWELLERY? It has a lot to do with my childhood. I have an English father and an Australian mother who both loved traveling to exotic countries. I remember when they first took me to Paris I was so inspired by the richness and the pure beauty of the city and all the incredible deco objects. My dad is a typical English gentleman. He had an old-fashioned dressing room, complete with enamel hairbrushes and cufflinks; I was fascinated by it. My mum’s great passion is gardening, I was always encouraged to be outside exploring nature with her and that also made a big impression on me.
- CAN YOU DESCRIBE YOUR CREATIVE VISION? Beautiful, precious stones are a big part of my design process. I’m always on the search for new ones; they speak to me. At the end of the day, I love classic shapes but with a twist, and I am always inspired by colour.
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Easy Does It: above, Sophie wears COUNTRY ROAD canvas hat and Broderie blouse with MISSONI pants and her own jewels. |
CAN YOU SHARE YOUR VIEWPOINT ON MOTHERHOOD, IN PARTICULAR ON RAISING BOYS? My life is all about my three boys, Alfie, Casper and Max, whom I absolutely adore. I think they help me in a way because they love that I’m creative, and in fact they’re very creative too. I try to always be there for them in the moment when I come home, I think that's very important. I’ve also decided that at this stage of my life I’m not taking my business to the next level, as I want to be able to work around my children's lifestyle. It's important to have balance.
YOUR PERSONAL STYLE, BOTH IN THE HOME AND IN YOUR WARDROBE, IS CHARGED WITH A RICH KIND OF ALLURE AND FEMININITY – HOW DOES YOUR AESTHETIC CROSS OVER? I love collecting things and going to antique markets to find decorative oddities and treasures. In particular, I love coloured glass, I have a small mineral collection, also the garden coming into the house and I adore my children’s paintings in frames.
Let's Lie In: above, Sophie with her sons. The designer wears a COUNTRY ROAD Broderie blouse and MISSONI pants, the boys wear COUNTRY ROAD; Secret Garden: below, Sophie wears COUNTRY ROAD with her own jewels. |
HOW DO YOU PULL YOUR LOOK TOGETHER? DO YOU HAVE CERTAIN STYLE CODES? I love clothes; I really am a bit of a luxe addict in a sense. Having said that, I don't buy a lot. I think I am always quite focused on beautiful quality and timelessness. In a way, I see my clothing style as part of my creativity – when my parents took me to Paris, I remember designing clothes, hats and bags on the hotel stationary and that has always stayed with me.
CAN YOU SHARE AN ANECDOTE ABOUT LIFE IN HAMBURG? My husband and I make a conscious effort to be low-key with the boys at the weekends. We have a long breakfast in the garden, and then just hang about. If the day is good we might take the boat on the river or watch an old film in the afternoon — we love a James Bond classic. It’s the perfect way to recharge for the week ahead.
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- IT IS ALWAYS SUCH A THRILL TO FIND IN ONE PERSON A GREAT SENSE OF STYLE IN EVERYTHING – PLEASE SHARE YOUR CURRENT INSPIRATIONS:
- YOUR SIGNATURE FRAGRANCE: Bonpoint's eau de Senteur. It's so fresh and without alcohol which suits me as I have super sensitive skin. I also love the body tonic by Santa Maria Novella, in Orange Blossom. THE MOVIES YOU COULD WATCH OVER AND OVER AGAIN: Classic films such as Rear Window, Rebecca, To Catch A Thief and the James Bond box-set; all the styling from these movies have inspired me in some way. YOUR MOST MEMORABLE READ: I adore classics and romance, like Somerset Maugham's The Painted Veil or books by the Mitford sisters. However I'm a real magazine girl and love to look at World Of Interiors, Vogue and Elle Decor. YOUR WORKOUT: I take a yoga class or go for a run.
