The bright colour ‘Queen of Neutrals’ Kelly Hoppen loves – and it’s totally not what you’d to expect

Speaking on a podcast called Life and Soul by Emma Forbes, Kelly Hoppen once said the only thing she hasn't designed was a train. The interior designer famed for her neutral palette has taken on all manner of projects - many of which have been for celebrity clients, from Elton John to the Beckhams.

Related: Paint trends 2021 – key colours setting the tone in our homes

When we spoke to the 'Queen of Taupe' as part of her work with Samsung and their Bespoke Refridgerator range, we couldn't resist asking if there was one bright, bold colour she secretly loves to use - a guilty pleasure.

'Contrary to what many people might think, I am by no means against colour and I love the extra dimension that cleverly selected accents can bring to a space,' says Kelly Hoppen. 'Used in the right way, colour accents can inject instant energy and vitality.'

Kelly Hoppen's design philosophy centres around creating calm and balanced environments, and neutrals offer a soothing backdrop upon which you can layer other colours. Her recent book, Kelly Hoppen's Essential Style Solutions, available on Amazon offers practical advice for decorating your own home - neutral or otherwise.

'Any bright colour looks amazing,' Kelly tells us, 'but I have a very fond memory of a deep ox-blood red Chinese trunk I found in a shop on Portobello Road when I was 16.

'I immediately fell in love with it. From bright scarlet and crimson to deep burgundy, red accents work in all fabrics and materials and go wonderfully with neutral colours and especially taupe.'

Bright scarlet might feel intimidating for many of us, but an old armchair reupholstered in a cherry red fabric would look beautiful in a reading nook. Or you could try incorporating some deep burgundy in a study for a traditional, old library feel.

Equally, a red feature wall could work as a living room idea, contrasting against neutrals elsewhere and creating real impact. Painting the back of your front door red is another option - for more hallway colour schemes to make a bold impression, take a look at our guide.

Kelly Hoppen CBE has partnered with Samsung to launch its new modular and customisable Bespoke Refrigerator range. To learn more about the Bespoke Refrigerator range, visit the Samsung website.

Kelly believes it 'will certainly shake up the market with its innovative modular styling and cutting-edge design' and says that it 'allows people to express their personality and satisfy their evolving tastes in new ways.'

Related: Neutral living room ideas for a cool, calm and collected scheme

As part of the campaign, British fashion designer Charlie Casely-Hayford has created modular clothing inspired by the Bespoke Refridgerator. Each item creates multiple looks.