Beverly Hills has a new jewel in its crown with the arrival of Margot McKinney’s first standalone boutique outside Australia. “It is a thrill to be opening my first independent Margot McKinney store outside of Australia,” she says. Located within The Peninsula Beverly Hills, a five-star hotel, the new store reflects the designer’s vibrant aesthetic and her deep-rooted love for storytelling through sumptuous gemstones and pearls.
A fourth-generation jeweler from Brisbane, Margot has long captivated clients through Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus. Now, she offers a dedicated space to enable her clients to immerse themselves in. This outpost, for Margot, is more than just a retail space. It is an extension of her world; one she’s dreamed of bringing to the United States for a long time.
The luxurious boutique, elegant and inviting, is inspired by her Brisbane flagship, which Margot describes as “affectionately” known as the Green Door. She brings her signature Kelly Green gloss lacquer to cabinetry and trim, complemented by an eclectic mix of textures and color: the green finishes envelop visitors in a calming ambience, while sound insulation ensures a quiet, tranquil atmosphere. The interiors are warm and whimsical, with a recessed ceiling dome highlighted in gold, adding grandeur. The room hovers above leopard-print chairs and a regal antique writing desk sporting a restored leather writing surface in sky blue. “It was our intention to replicate the aesthetic of the Green Door in Brisbane as closely as possible, albeit on a smaller scale,” she adds.
A feature wall in teal wallpaper featuring floral and exotic bird motifs in a style inspired by classic chinoiserie, handpicked antiques, and mirrored sconces layer the space with a distinct personality. “It is at once playful and yet timelessly elegant, and I love its quirky celebration of the boundless beauty to be found in nature,” she says of the wallpaper. This setting provides the perfect backdrop for the gemmy jewelry on display: necklaces and collars to earrings, rings, bracelets, and show-stopping cuffs.
Her creative process begins with a stone, she informs. “The gem tells me what the piece wants to be,” she explains. Her pieces are vivid compositions built around Australian opals, South Sea pearls, and rare colored diamonds. Margot is of the belief that jewelry should uplift its wearer. “It’s incredibly satisfying to see the joy on a woman’s face when she experiences one of my pieces for the first time.”
Although her jewelry has been in the U.S. market since 2007, the opening of a permanent space marks a new era in expansion. With the response in the US always being enthusiastic, Margot is excited about being in Beverly Hills. “This is a milestone moment in the 141-year history of the McKinney family business,” she adds. “I could not have asked for a more fitting environment to showcase my jewelry to a whole new group of collectors.”
