Nicholas Ponsonby Haslam (born 27 September 1939) is an English interior designer and socialite, and founder of the London-based interior design firm, Nicky Haslam Studio.

Early life and education

Haslam was born at Great Hundridge Manor,

Amersham Amersham ( ) is a market town and civil parish in Buckinghamshire, England, in the Chiltern Hills, northwest of central London, south-east of Aylesbury and north-east of High Wycombe. Amersham is part of the London commuter belt. There ar ...

Buckinghamshire Buckinghamshire (, abbreviated ''Bucks'') is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South East England and one of the home counties. It is bordered by Northamptonshire to the north, Bedfordshire to the north-east, Hertfordshir ...

, the third son of diplomat William Heywood Haslam (1889–1981) and his wife, Diamond Louise Constance née Ponsonby, known as Diana, who was a granddaughter of the 7th Earl of Bessborough, a goddaughter of

Queen Victoria Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until Death and state funeral of Queen Victoria, her death in January 1901. Her reign of 63 year ...

, and the former wife of Dr. Henry E. Marks, an American physician. Haslam's brothers are Ralph Michael Haslam (born 1931) and William John Heywood Haslam (born 1933). He also had a half-sister, Diana Marks, known as Anne (1925–1987), who in 1949 married John Hilder Loeb, son of a founding partner of the Brillo Manufacturing Corporation. Haslam was educated at a private school, and then at

Eton College Eton College ( ) is a Public school (United Kingdom), public school providing boarding school, boarding education for boys aged 13–18, in the small town of Eton, Berkshire, Eton, in Berkshire, in the United Kingdom. It has educated Prime Mini ...

Career

In 1966, Haslam and his lover at the time, American banking heir James Davison, bought Black Canyon Ranch, near

Phoenix, Arizona Phoenix ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities and towns in Arizona#List of cities and towns, most populous city of the U.S. state of Arizona. With over 1.6 million residents at the 2020 census, it is the ...

, for breeding and showing

Arabian horse The Arabian or Arab horse ( , DIN 31635, DMG ''al-ḥiṣān al-ʿarabī'') is a horse breed, breed of horse with historic roots on the Arabian Peninsula. With a distinctive head shape and high tail carriage, the Arabian is one of the most easi ...

s. From 1970, he combined breeding show horses, working in

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

as a photographer and designing rooms and parties for clients such as

Natalie Wood Natalie Wood (née Zacharenko; July 20, 1938 – November 29, 1981) was an American actress. She began acting at age four and co-starred at age eight in ''Miracle on 34th Street'' (1947). As a teenager, she was nominated for an Academy Award f ...

. Haslam broke up with Davison, and in 1972 returned to London, where he was soon asked to design and decorate a townhouse for Alexander Hesketh. In the early 1980s, Haslam owned and operated the Nicholas Haslam Showroom on Holbein Place, London, together with his then-partner, Paolo Moschino. When the pair split in 1995, Haslam took control of NH Design as the interior design side of the business, with Moschino taking ownership of the Nicholas Haslam shop. The two businesses today operate separately. In 2002, Haslam published a book of his work, ''Sheer Opulence''. His autobiography, ''Redeeming Features'', was published in 2009; in it, he mentions his affairs with numerous individuals, including architect

Philip Johnson Philip Cortelyou Johnson (July 8, 1906 – January 25, 2005) was an American architect who designed modern and postmodern architecture. Among his best-known designs are his modernist Glass House in New Canaan, Connecticut; the postmodern 550 ...

and photographer

Antony Armstrong-Jones Antony Charles Robert Armstrong-Jones, 1st Earl of Snowdon (7 March 1930 – 13 January 2017) was a British photographer. He is best known internationally for his portraits of world notables, many of them published in ''Vogue'', '' Vanity Fai ...

(who later married

Princess Margaret Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon (Margaret Rose; 21 August 1930 – 9 February 2002) was the younger daughter of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. She was the younger sister and only sibling of Queen Elizabeth II. ...

). He is a frequent columnist for ''

The London Evening Standard The ''London Standard'', formerly the ''Evening Standard'' (1904–2024) and originally ''The Standard'' (1827–1904), is a long-established regional newspaper published weekly and distributed free of charge in London, England. It is print ...

'' and ''

The Sunday Telegraph ''The Sunday Telegraph'' is a British broadsheet newspaper, first published on 5 February 1961 and published by the Telegraph Media Group, a division of Press Holdings. It is the sister paper of ''The Daily Telegraph ''The Daily Tele ...

'' magazines. Besides frequently writing reviews for ''The World of Interiors'' and ''

The Spectator ''The Spectator'' is a weekly British political and cultural news magazine. It was first published in July 1828, making it the oldest surviving magazine in the world. ''The Spectator'' is politically conservative, and its principal subject a ...

'', Haslam wrote a gossip column for ''

Ritz Newspaper ''Ritz Newspaper'', colloquially ''Ritz Magazine'', sometimes simply ''Ritz'', was a British magazine focusing on gossip, celebrity and fashion.Puttin' on the Ritz again, Andrew Lycett, Media & Marketing, ''The Times'', London, 31 May 1989 It was ...

'' under the pseudonym Paul Parsons, and has been a contributing editor of British ''

Vogue Vogue may refer to: Business * ''Vogue'' (magazine), a US fashion magazine ** British ''Vogue'', a British fashion magazine ** '' Vogue Adria'', a fashion magazine for former Yugoslav countries ** ''Vogue Arabia'', an Arab fashion magazine ** ' ...

'' and ''

Tatler ''Tatler'' (stylised in all caps) is a British magazine published by Condé Nast Publications. It focuses on fashion and lifestyle, as well as coverage of high society and politics. It is targeted towards the British upper and upper-middle c ...

'' for many years. In December 2010, Haslam started blogging for ''The Telegraph''. Before launching her own retail chain, the designer

Cath Kidston Catherine Isabel Audrey Kidston (born 6 November 1958) is an English fashion designer, businesswoman and author whose company, Cath Kidston Limited, sold home furnishings and related goods online, through franchises and by mail order. She is p ...

worked for Haslam. In 2005, he was reported to be a supporter of the Conservative Party. In 2011, Haslam designed a set for the play ''As I Like It'' by

Amanda Eliasch Amanda Eliasch (born 1960) is an English photographer, artist, poet, and filmmaker. Early life and education Amanda Eliasch was born in 1960 in Beirut, Lebanon, where her father Anthony Cave Brown worked as a foreign correspondent for the '' ...

, and also worked on her house in

Cheyne Walk Cheyne Walk is a historic road in Chelsea, London, England, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It runs parallel with the River Thames. Before the construction of Chelsea Embankment reduced the width of the Thames here, it fronted t ...

. In March 2013, Haslam published a book entitled ''Nicky Haslam's Folly de Grandeur: Romance and revival in an English country house'', which reveals the history and design behind his own home. In September 2013, with

Annabel Astor Annabel Lucy Veronica Astor, Viscountess Astor (, formerly Sheffield; born 14 August 1948), is an English businesswoman and socialite who is the CEO of OKA, a home furnishings design company. Before co-founding OKA, she was the owner and design ...

's furniture company OKA, Haslam launched a collection inspired by Gothick-influenced furniture and accessories from his own house.

Cabaret performances

In June 2009, Haslam performed for five nights singing

Lorenz Hart Lorenz Milton Hart (May 2, 1895 – November 22, 1943) was an American lyricist and half of the Broadway songwriting team Rodgers and Hart. Some of his more famous lyrics include "Blue Moon"; " The Lady Is a Tramp"; "Manhattan"; " Bewitched, Bo ...

and

Cole Porter Cole Albert Porter (June 9, 1891 – October 15, 1964) was an American composer and songwriter. Many of his songs became Standard (music), standards noted for their witty, urbane lyrics, and many of his scores found success on Broadway the ...

songs at Bellamy's Restaurant in London. To celebrate the launch of the new Beaufort Bar at the

Savoy Savoy (; )  is a cultural-historical region in the Western Alps. Situated on the cultural boundary between Occitania and Piedmont, the area extends from Lake Geneva in the north to the Dauphiné in the south and west and to the Aosta Vall ...

in London in November 2010, Haslam performed two nights of cabaret, singing

songs to a private audience that included

Kate Moss Katherine Ann Moss (born 16 January 1974) is an English model. Arriving towards the end of the "supermodel era", Moss rose to fame in the early 1990s as part of the heroin chic fashion trend. Her collaborations with Calvin Klein brought her t ...

Jerry Hall Jerry Faye Hall (born July 2, 1956) is an American model and actress. She began modeling in the 1970s and became one of the most sought-after models in the world. She transitioned into acting, appearing in the 1989 film ''Batman''. Hall was the ...

and Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber. In March 2014, Haslam performed cabaret at the Spectrum Ball at the

Globe Theatre The Globe Theatre was a Theater (structure), theatre in London associated with William Shakespeare. It was built in 1599 at Southwark, close to the south bank of the Thames, by Shakespeare's playing company, the Lord Chamberlain's Men. It was ...

, hosted by Francis Boulle, to benefit the

National Autistic Society The National Autistic Society is a charity for autistic people and their families in the United Kingdom. Since 1962, the National Autistic Society has been providing support, guidance and advice, as well as campaigning for improved rights, ser ...

. In 2013, Haslam released an album celebrating his singing and memories with his friends

Helena Bonham Carter Helena Bonham Carter (born 26 May 1966) is an English actress. Known for her roles in Blockbuster (entertainment), blockbusters and independent films, particularly period dramas, List of awards and nominations received by Helena Bonham Carter ...

Tracey Emin Dame Tracey Karima Emin (; born 3 July 1963) is an English artist known for autobiographical and confessional artwork. She produces work in a variety of media including drawing, painting, sculpture, film, photography, Neon lighting, neon text ...

Bob Geldof Robert Frederick Zenon Geldof (; born 5 October 1951) is an Irish singer-songwriter and political activist. He rose to prominence in the late 1970s as the lead singer of the Irish rock band the Boomtown Rats, who achieved popularity as part ...

Bryan Ferry Bryan Ferry (born 26 September 1945) is an English singer and songwriter. He became known as the frontman of the band Roxy Music and also launched a solo career. His voice has been described as an "elegant, seductive croon". He also established ...

and

Mick Jagger Sir Michael Philip Jagger (born 26 July 1943) is an English musician. He is known as the lead singer and one of the founder members of The Rolling Stones. Jagger has co-written most of the band's songs with lead guitarist Keith Richards; Jagge ...

; called ''Midnight Matinee'', it was produced by his friend David Ogilvy. The album also featured a duet with

Cilla Black Priscilla Maria Veronica White (27 May 1943 – 1 August 2015), better known as Cilla Black, was an English singer and television presenter. Championed by her friends the Beatles, Black began her career as a singer in 1963. Her singles "A ...

, in what would turn out to be her final recording prior to her death in 2015.

References

Bibliography

Books

* *''Redeeming Features'', published in November 2009 by Knopf (US) and Jonathan Cape (UK). *''Nicky Haslam's Folly de Grandeur: Romance and revival in an English country house''. Published in 2013 by Jacqui Small LLP (UK)

Articles

*People. Liz Elliot meets Nicholas Haslam in London and at home in Hampshire, and understands why he has become one of the most important figures – and characters – in British Interior Design. ''House and Garden''. Feb. 2008. *Dreaming of the Côte d'Azur. An NH Design decorated villa and garden in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, France. ''Architectural Digest''. March 2008. *Picture Perfect, Stanley House. Feature on interior in London for a Russian client, designed by Nicky Haslam of NH Design. ''The World of Interiors''. March 2007. *Stanley House, ''Russian Architectural Digest''. May 2007. *House of Tricks. Dublin Townhouse decorated by Nicky Haslam of NH Design. ''House and Garden''. Nov. 2006. *Jungle Diva. By Nicholas Haslam, Article on Dorothy Draper. ''The World of Interiors''. Oct. 2006. *Pradelles, Janet de Botton's house in Provence, ''Vogue Living''. Oct. 2006. *The House and Garden ''Directory of the 100 Leading Interior Designers''. ''House and Garden'', 2006 *Modern English. To redo his Manhattan apartment, writer Hugh Bush calls on British design guru Nicholas Haslam to redecorate. ''Elle Decor'', Nov. 2004. *New Quarters, Nicky Haslam of NH Design re-decorating a New Orleans House. ''House and Garden'', Oct. 2000. *Fresh Eyre. Peter Eyre's apartment decorated by Nicky Haslam of NH Design, ''The World of Interiors''. Dec. 1997. *"Pavilioned Splendour. Leamington Pavilion, Barbados." ''House and Garden''. June 1993. *Haslam's Folly. The Hunting Lodge. ''House and Garden''. Oct. 1993. *In the image of Beaton. Cecil Beaton's one-time house is now home to interior designer Nicholas Haslam. ''House and Garden''. Oct. 1991. *Nicky Haslam: Party Monster. ''The Independent'', 21 March 2004.

External links

*
Nicky Haslam Studio
Photographs of Nicky Haslam:
Getty ImagesZimbio
{{DEFAULTSORT:Haslam, Nicholas 1939 births People educated at Eton College English interior designers English male journalists English LGBTQ journalists English LGBTQ artists English expatriates in the United States Gossip columnists English socialites Living people Conservative Party (UK) people 20th-century English LGBTQ people 21st-century English LGBTQ people