Kenneth Partridge: 1926-2015

The interior designer Kenneth Partridge, who has died aged 89, was an influential 1960s tastemaker best known for creating outlandish, proto-psychedelic homes for two of the Beatles and for their manager, Brian Epstein, who was his friend. Partridge’s work straddled the worlds of design and fashion; he also created showrooms for Hardy Amies and Norman Hartnell.

His exuberant aesthetic was ahead of the curve: in the early 60s, it was vibrant and extrovert long before the late-60s advent of psychedelia. Partridge’s outré style was a direct expression of his ebullient, often outrageous personality and showmanship. An anecdote from the late 50s points to his chutzpah: working then as chief window-dresser for Jaeger on Regent Street, London, one of his displays, based on the rough-hewn wooden sculptures of Louise Nevelson, prompted accusations of plagiarism from her agent. He cheekily turned the tables, insisting his design was a homage to a great artist...

The Guardian.