Lorraine Kirke Biography: Geminola Founder & Interior Designer

Lorraine Kirke is a British-born interior designer, fashion entrepreneur, and author best known for founding the beloved West Village boutique Geminola and for raising a family of talented artists and performers. If you have ever admired the eclectic, colorful homes featured in high-end design magazines or the unique vintage looks worn by her daughters on screen and in real life, chances are Lorraine Kirke had a hand in shaping that aesthetic. Her story blends old-world privilege, fearless creativity, and a deep love for upcycling fabrics and reinventing spaces. This Lorraine Kirke biography explores how a self-taught designer built a cult-following business while nurturing one of New York’s most artistic families.

Lorraine Kirke was born Lorraine Dellal on March 29, 1954, in London, England, into a family that mixed British upper-class roots with international flair. Her father, Jack Dellal, was a prominent British businessman of Iraqi-Jewish descent often described as a billionaire in real-estate and trading circles. Her mother, Zehava Helmer, was an Israeli flight attendant. This blend of cultures gave young Lorraine an early appreciation for bold patterns, rich textures, and global treasures.

The family enjoyed a privileged lifestyle, yet Lorraine developed a practical, hands-on approach to creativity. She began making her own clothes in a back room in London simply because she disliked the ordinary options in stores. “I don’t like fashion,” she once explained. “You don’t want to be on that page in People magazine, ‘Who Wore It Best,’ in the same designer dress as somebody else.” Instead, she focused on fabric, texture, and the joy of transforming something old into something uniquely hers.

In the early 1980s she married Simon Kirke, the drummer and co-founder of classic rock bands Free and Bad Company. The couple welcomed four children: Domino (the eldest), Jemima (born April 26, 1985), Lola (born September 27, 1990), and son Gregory. The family lived in London until around 1995, when they relocated to New York City’s West Village. That move planted the seeds for everything that followed.

Lorraine never attended fashion school or design college. Her training came straight from the streets, flea markets, and her own sewing table. She learned by hunting vintage textiles across London’s Portobello Road, New York flea markets, and wherever her travels took her. She would buy a dress or robe even if she hated half of it, just to salvage the perfect silk or lace. This fearless, experimental style became her signature long before “upcycling” was a buzzword.

Her early interior design work happened quietly at home. She decorated the family’s Washington Square Park brownstone in a way that mixed antiques, bright colors, and unexpected touches. Friends and visitors noticed, and soon she was helping others create homes that felt personal rather than perfect. Those formative years taught her a simple rule she still follows: everything in your house (or on your body) should be something you never tire of looking at.

First Breakthrough In 2004 Lorraine opened Geminola, a tiny boutique at 41 Perry Street in the West Village. She named it by combining the first syllables of her children’s names (Greg, Domino, Jemima, Lola). The shop quickly became a destination for one-of-a-kind dresses made from vintage fabrics. Lorraine and her small team of seamstresses would dye, cut, and piece together limited-yardage textiles into fresh patterns inspired by 1930s and 1940s silhouettes. Each piece was truly unique because there simply wasn’t enough fabric to mass-produce it.

Growth Phase and Major Projects Geminola grew beyond clothing. It offered custom wedding dresses (often in unexpected colors like red or black), children’s pieces for her growing brood of grandchildren, and home goods that matched her interior style. Celebrities such as Mariska Hargitay, Mary-Louise Parker, Nicole Kidman, Naomi Watts, the Olsen twins, and Sienna Miller became fans. Her designs even appeared on HBO’s Girls, where daughter Jemima wore several pieces on screen.

At the same time, Lorraine continued her interior design work. She created homes in New York, the Hamptons, and Miami that mixed antique books, magical wallpaper, doors on ceilings, and fearless color combinations. In 2016 she published her first book, Would You Like to See the House?: Unapologetic Interiors, with Rizzoli. The coffee-table volume featured more than 200 photographs of her projects and included essays from Lena Dunham, Julianne Moore, and Mariska Hargitay. It celebrated the quirky, inventive style that defined her.

Iconic Moments and Turning Points Geminola operated for twelve years before closing its physical doors in May 2016. The decision allowed Lorraine to focus on private studio appointments and interior projects from her Westchester and East Hampton homes. The boutique’s spirit lives on through online inquiries and word-of-mouth. That same year her book launch cemented her reputation as a design tastemaker beyond retail.

Collaborations and Accolades While Lorraine avoids mainstream awards circuits, her work has earned quiet respect in design circles. Magazines like Architectural Digest and W have showcased her homes. Her daughters frequently model and wear her creations, turning family photoshoots into stylish campaigns. The real accolade, however, comes from clients who say her spaces and clothes feel like extensions of their own personalities.

Lorraine has always valued authenticity over trends. Raising four creative children while running businesses required balance, especially with Simon Kirke’s rock-and-roll touring schedule. The couple divorced in 2016 after more than three decades together, but they remain connected through their large family. Lorraine has spoken little about the split publicly, preferring to focus on her work and grandchildren.

Setbacks, such as the boutique closure, became opportunities to evolve. She now works more selectively, offering private viewings and continuing to design interiors that surprise and delight. Her philosophy remains the same: chase what you love, recycle what you can, and never settle for ordinary.

Today Lorraine splits time between homes in East Hampton and Waccabuc, New York. She stays close to her children and grandchildren. Domino is a singer and doula, Jemima an actress and artist, Lola an actress, singer, and author, and Gregory a photographer. The Kirke siblings often credit their mother’s encouragement and vintage-filled childhood for their artistic paths.

Outside design, Lorraine enjoys flea-market hunting, dyeing fabrics, and creating playful details like crowns and lace for little girls. She supports recycling and sustainable fashion through her upcycling ethos. Her influence reaches far beyond her own family; she helped shape the bohemian-chic look that defined a certain slice of New York creativity in the 2000s and 2010s.

Lorraine Kirke’s exact net worth is not publicly disclosed, which is typical for someone who built a business quietly rather than chasing celebrity status. Her success stems from Geminola’s loyal clientele, ongoing interior design commissions, book royalties, and private sales. She also comes from a family with substantial real-estate wealth. Sources describe her lifestyle as comfortable and creative rather than flashy, with homes that double as showcases of her design talent.

Income streams include custom commissions, private studio appointments (now based in Westchester), and occasional media or book-related projects. Like many self-made creatives, she treats her homes as both living spaces and business cards.

• Did you know? Geminola was literally named after her four kids. The “Gemi” part came from Gregory, Domino, Jemima, and Lola.
• Lorraine once wore an old white Victorian petticoat pulled over her pregnant belly as her wedding dress. Practical and romantic at the same time.
• She refuses to follow fashion seasons. Silk dresses get worn year-round with a coat if needed.
• Her eye for color is so sharp that she can spot the perfect shade across a crowded flea market in seconds.
• A favorite quote: “I think that everything in your house should be something that you never tire of looking at, and what you wear should be the same. It should really represent you.”

Another gem: “The chase is the most fun part. I am not afraid to cut something out… It’s about the hunting and gathering!”

What makes Lorraine Kirke famous?

She founded the cult-favorite West Village boutique Geminola and built a reputation for quirky, colorful interior design. She is also the mother of actresses Jemima and Lola Kirke and singer Domino Kirke.

How did Lorraine Kirke get her start?

She began making clothes at home in London by upcycling vintage fabrics. After moving to New York she opened Geminola in 2004 and gradually expanded into full interior design projects.

What is Geminola and is it still open?

Geminola was a West Village shop (2004–2016) selling one-of-a-kind vintage and custom clothing. The physical store closed, but private studio appointments are still available by email.

Is Lorraine Kirke married?

She was married to musician Simon Kirke from around 1983 until their divorce in 2016. She is currently single.

What books has Lorraine Kirke written?

Her 2016 Rizzoli book Would You Like to See the House? showcases her unapologetic, colorful interior style.

Where is Lorraine Kirke now?

She lives in the New York area, dividing time between East Hampton and Westchester, where she continues interior design work and private Geminola sales.

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