Motherhood taught you me…
Patience, true love and staying in the moment.
I’d tell my younger self to…
Never worry about what anyone else thinks of what you do and remember to be kind to yourself.
“ My greatest personal achievement is definitely my son ”
I honestly love the work that I am able to do but...
Even billboards in Paris don’t compare to the feeling of knowing that my little guy is happy and healthy.
My daily beauty routine consists of…
Morning is sunscreen (Invisible Zinc) followed by make-up and perfume (La Vie est Belle by Lancome is my current favourite.) Evening is double cleanse, serum and moisturiser before bed.
I don’t have an exercise routine…
Honestly I just try and fit in a 20 minute walk somewhere into every day, and some extra Pilates and stretching whenever possible.
Someone very wise once told me that there is one basic key to raising boys…
It’s this: sport, sport and more sport. My son is six now, so he can ride his bike while I run with him, which makes me get out and exercise too. I also want to make sure that as a boy, he grows up with a huge respect for women and understands the idea of equality very well. I want him to learn how to cook too. His future partner will thank me!
“ I was that child in school that was drawing all day during class and painting on weekends ”
I worked as a graphic designer in London...
At The Independent Newspaper Magazines. There was a week that a stock image didn’t come in so I illustrated the space of the editorial as we were going to print. The feedback from this one published illustration was really positive and I decided to try one year of my life as an illustrator at 19 and just see if I could pay my rent from painting. I didn’t know anyone at the time who was a fashion illustrator, so it was many years of finding my way. That was over 16 years ago now and I still wake up grateful that this is really my job! I never looked back.
I am inspired by strong women…
Who have had independent careers as well as those with a sense of elegance more so than beauty. Grace Kelly is an inspiration in many of my illustrations, and Audrey Hepburn is the main inspiration around my capsule range of Ballet Flats with Ballettonet. The range being two years in the making, working with a lovely family of shoe makers in Italy along the way. Designing a range of shoes was completely out of my comfort zone at first, but one of the most creative experiences I have ever had. And I love that there are only 50 to 100 pairs of each style worldwide.
It was a real honour to exhibit a solo exhibition in Paris recently…
At Le Meurice Hotel in a salon where both Picasso and Dali had previously exhibited. It was an amazing experience and one I will never forget. Illustrating for Chanel, as well as 13 metre billboards in Paris for Printemps Department Store was also incredible to see. As well as creating prints each month for my little print shop is a real pleasure for me personally. Some of my prints selling out world wide (to my surprise) in just over 2 minutes.
“ There is something really magical and calming about seeing your child peacefully sleeping. ”
My parents are a great help…
I do often find myself working a little more once my son is in bed, although I am trying to avoid this as much as possible!
I have lived here for almost a year…
When I found the place the walls were yellow and the flooring was orange, but there was beautiful old Queenslander details in every corner. I couldn’t wait to just paint the whole place bright white, sand back the floors to the original wood and stain them a glossy dark walnut. Most of my furniture was shipped back from Paris, so these classic Parisian tones feel like a lovely mix of European styling in a Queensland setting. I like colour in my office and sons bedroom, but keep the rest of my house very neutral and monochrome because I find that most calming.
For children’s clothes...
I like Seed and (just discovered) Atelier/Child in Australia; Petit Bateau and Tartine et Chocolat in France…
In winter I live in jeans, a blazer and ballet flats….
In summer it’s all about print skirts and dresses. Although I often have to change to paint during my day. I have a Longchamp Le Pliage bag for everyday.
The hardest part of motherhood is definitely not having time to myself anymore…
I think every mother struggles with that to some extent. But the best part is that the focus of my life isn’t just on myself anymore. When you are thinking about what is best for someone else most of the time, there is suddenly no room left to really worry too much about your own concerns, which is a blessing. That and raspberry kisses on Sunday mornings. Or a whole day on the weekend, my son and I both staying in pajamas.
I love my morning coffee…
I’ll have it while running through my work day. I also love the school pick up and the way home when I get to hear about Marcel’s day. Finally checking on him before I go to bed. There is something really magical and calming about seeing your child peacefully sleeping.
Marcel has a heavily stamped passport…
He has travelled to Paris many times to see family on his dad’s side and of course back and forth when we lived there. Although to be honest most of our favourite holidays have been just to the Sunshine Coast or to Noosa since back in Australia, by the beach, enjoying water and ice cream.
Kerrie Hess might have lived everywhere from London to Hong Kong to Paris, but her elegant Queenslander home in Brisbane is distinctly inspired by her time spent over in Paris. Over a year ago, the renowned international fashion illustrator moved back to her hometown with her son Marcel and transformed their house into a chic Parisian-inspired abode.
“When I found this house, the walls were yellow and the flooring was orange,” says Hess, laughing. “There were beautiful old Queenslander details in every corner. I couldn’t wait to just paint the whole place bright white, sand back the floors to the original wood and stain them a glossy dark walnut,” she says. She got to work and has since converted the space into a bright, airy home filled with a mix of old and new. There’s Hess’s beautiful canvases on virtually every wall, chic chandeliers, antique mirrors and piles of beautiful coffee table tomes.
Downstairs is where Hess works her magic. Her sleek office is located next to the garage, which is where she spends hours painting. While there might be pops of colour on her canvases, Hess’s house is very monochromatic. “I like colour in my office and son’s bedroom, but keep the rest of my house very neutral and monochrome because I find that most calming. These classic Parisian tones feel like a lovely mix of European styling in a Queensland setting,” says Hess.
The talented illustrator has worked for luxury brands such as Chanel, Printemps Paris, Kate Spade, Louis Vuitton, Collette Dinnigan and Net-a-Porter and had her work featured in publications such as Vogue, Talter and Harper’s Bazaar. She is also the author and illustrator of style book Shoestring Chic, as well as a range of limited edition fashion prints. “I was that child in school that was drawing all day during class and painting on weekends. I then worked as a graphic designer in London at The Independent newspaper magazines. There was a week that a stock image didn’t come in so I illustrated the space of the editorial as we were going to print. The feedback from this one published illustration was really positive and I decided to try one year of my life as an illustrator at 19 and just see if I could pay my rent from painting. I didn’t know anyone at the time who was a fashion illustrator, so it was many years of finding my way.” That moment was over 16 years ago and Hess hasn’t looked back. While she might be kicking seemingly countless career goals, ultimately her greatest achievement is her son. “Although I honestly love the work that I am able to do, even billboards in Paris don’t compare to the feeling of knowing that my little guy is happy and healthy,” she says.
Hess has long been inspired by graceful women and applies this elegance to both her personal style and home interior. “I am inspired by strong women who have had independent careers as well as those with a sense of elegance more so than beauty. Grace Kelly is an inspiration in many of my illustrations, and Audrey Hepburn is the main inspiration around my new capsule range of ballet flats with Ballettonet.”
Kerrie’s little list of loves:
Buttery croissants in Paris
Peonies in bloom
Swimming in aqua blue water in Hawaii
The Cristal Room restaurant in Paris
Brisbane weather (where I live)
My son climbing into my bed for cuddles on weekends
Reading Life and Love by Lisa Messenger
Taking a morning coffee back to bed on the weekend
High Tea at The Langham in Melbourne
Picnics in the park in Bulimba near my place
Photography: Grace Alyssa Kyo Words: Georgie Abay