The hallmarks of Kit Kemp’s hotels are their whimsical interiors, filled with vibrant colour, statement furniture and unusual art …
Hotel connoisseurs will know Kit Kemp, creative director of Firmdale Hotels, which she co-founded with her husband Tim in 1985. As an antidote to often bland corporate, cookie-cutter hotel designs, their decidedly quirky hotels are defined by their use of colour and approach to pattern.
Arguably, Kit is also responsible for kickstarting the trend of using statement headboards, with many beautifully embroidered by Pippa Caley. She also popularised the use of ikat textiles, which she’s fond of incorporating into lampshades – see her collection with Christopher Farr Cloth. Other design signatures include using zigzag patterns on walls, furniture and cushions, and adding sculptural mannequins to rooms, providing a focal point (they can also be bought online).
When I’m in London, I often stay at The Knightsbridge or Number Sixteen; these lovely townhouses on tree-lined streets are close to museums, parks and boutiques, yet far from the madding crowd. They’re welcoming, immersive spaces that hit that sweet spot of balancing comfort with a fresh, contemporary take on artisanal techniques and craftsmanship. If you stay at one of her properties, you’ll find framed moodboards of elements used across the hotels, from fabric swatches and trimmings to sketches and paints, all providing décor inspiration galore.
As author of four books, Kit’s latest is Design Stories, in which she documents global commercial and residential properties, including her own homes. “It’s so exciting to be designing in two of the most vital and stimulating cities in the world, London and New York. In our portfolio, we have historic buildings such as the Haymarket Hotel, designed by the renowned British architect John Nash in Regency-period London, and also new-build hotels, including Ham Yard and The Soho Hotel in London, and Crosby Street, Whitby and Warren Street hotels in New York.”
“I always think from the inside out, so floor-to-ceiling windows are a priority, especially in cityscapes. We use Crittall windows, which look perfectly at home in a wide range of architectural schemes, whether a warehouse in Paris, a loft apartment in London or a studio in Manhattan. We put tailored cushions beside the window on a wide ledge, so guests can sit and watch the world go by.”
“It’s sometimes good to be away from home in a new environment. Staying in different places gives space to dream and to watch another world. Many ideas arise when one spends time just observing, especially with a notebook in hand to jot down notes or sketch a few lines. It encourages us to look at our surroundings with a new eye.”
“To wake up each morning and be surrounded by comfort, colour, character and a sense of wellbeing is what we try to achieve in our rooms. It elevates the experience of travel to a new level. At Ham Yard, we designed apartments and suites for longer stays. The aim was to make it feel like your own place in town, to feel the heartbeat of the city with an added sense of belonging and, of course, to make you smile. I was keen that the dominant colour was as cosseting as possible. Hence, a palette of rich, rusty reds plays an important role in the schemes, providing a solid foundation for injections of greens, blues and yellows.”
“When designing spaces in new buildings, I always include strongly architectural features such as fireplaces and fitted joinery that create structure and symmetry. Texture plays an important part, too, with the use of wool and appliqué and reeded cabinetry that add a tactile, layered feel to the success of spaces. Most important of all, however, is that the spaces feel distinctive, each with their own personality intended to put guests at ease.”
From: Design Stories by Kit Kemp with Giles Kime, Rizzoli, £45stg.
