INTERVIEW WITH KIT KEMP, FIRMDALE HOTELS

The veritable doyenne of the global luxury hotel group Firmdale, Kit Kemp has made a name for herself as a bold and creative designer who brings her love of colour and pattern to every single room and space she designs...

From cosy restaurants decorated with highly patterned wallpaper, to textured cushions and boldly colourful bedspreads, Kit Kemp’s creativity and expert eye is in evidence in all of her beautiful London hotels.

Dream Escape's Head of Product, Louise Murray, says: “As soon as you step into a Firmdale hotel you know that you are somewhere special.

Kit Kemp's unique design eye is everywhere, and she brings an elegance to using colour and pattern that is unparalleled. Each hotel has its own identity and all of them capture the very essence of London life and style.”

Dream Escape have a unique and trusted relationship with Firmdale, which means any bookings made through Dream Escape include a host of special extras, such as welcome gifts, food and beverage credits and room upgrades.

Providing an inside scoop on her creative process, Kit Kemp sits down with Dream Escape to talk about finding inspiration from London’s extraordinary history, and the joy of working on new collaborations.

Kit Kemp

Do you recall the first time you consciously knew you were designing a space?

Yes, I do! It was my first bedroom at home, which was the size of a postage stamp. I actually just covered the entire wall with pictures from magazines, in a sort of blocking pattern. I didn’t have any glue so I used flour and water. My bed was the same height as the window ledge, so I could sit up there and just look straight out into the garden and the trees. It was my little eyrie. I really love tiny spaces.

Where did your passion for design come from?

I think because I’ve always loved colour and pattern – and so people often asked me about it. Even with the way that I dressed, it shouldn't work, but it did. I didn't know that I was going to be an interior designer because I think I thought it was far too sophisticated for me. But then, wherever I was working, I always ended up redoing things and relooking at interiors.

Charlotte Street Loft Suite

Is colour coming back?

Definitely. Colour gives strength to things. It makes you feel happy, it’s joyful. It's very powerful. You don’t need to have lots of really frantic colours, but you do need that warmth and the joy that opening your front door and finding a lovely yellow hallway can make you feel. It instantly brightens you.

Charlotte Street Hotel, Deluxe Junior Suite

Charlotte Street Hotel, Deluxe Junior Suite

I want each room to have a clear design thread which is congruent and harmonious and that you just love for the time that you're there.

Is that how you want people to feel, when they check into a Firmdale Hotel?

Yes. I want them to say: “Oh, come and have a look at my room.” I want each room to have a clear design thread which is congruent and harmonious and that you just love for the time that you're there. And if I can get someone who just wants to live in beige and white interested in in a fabric or a texture or a colour, then I think I've achieved something. Getting them to look around and look again and be curious and feel like they're having a bit of fun.

The Townhouse Living Room at Haymarket Hotel

So, do you always have a clear vision in mind either when you're designing or sort of redoing a hotel?

I do actually think that the best interiors are those that you haven’t thought through to the nth degree.

Design is an organic process and you're learning along the way. I actually do the common parts of each hotel, and the really important rooms like the penthouse suites last.

So, it’s sort of built up to by that stage. I always say to people to just allow yourself that little bit of time and space to create and know you’ve got it right.

The Soho Hotel

The Terrace Suite Bedroom at Ham Yard

Quite a lot of the buildings that you've got hotels in are quite old or historic. Is that a big influence for you?

Definitely. With Charlotte Street, being in Bloomsbury was such a great starting point. And The Fox Club in London, which was all about Charles James Fox. I love the fact that you're learning about the city you're in, and London is such a rich encyclopedia when it comes to history.

I'm a trustee of Heritage of London Trust, which protects things like fountains, and tops of steeples, and church towers. I love going along to these weird places, like the Wanstead Grotto in E11. Or somewhere in the city. All the time, I’m just assimilating and it's really helping me with my work. →

One Bedroom Crosby Suite

Kit Kemp at work in her studio

You clearly like to get inspiration from lots of different places. Is that why you started working on collaborative design projects?

I think things like that are great for me, and fantastic for my team. Suddenly you have to really think about crockery, cutlery, glassware, textiles – and bringing that together into a collection is exciting. And sometimes a bit frightening too. Which is good.

It's a really great thing for a designer to do because you're thinking outside your comfort zone. And you should always do that.

One of your most recent collaborations was with Annie Selke. How did that come about?

Oh, she's amazing. We actually worked on this throughout the pandemic. She's really funny and fabulous to work with. I immediately liked her. We created three collections of some of our favourite places – London, New York and Barbados. Barbados is bright, bright, bright, New York is sophisticated. And then London, more of those Bloomsbury colours.

LilyPad Spring, Kit Kemp's collaborations with Annie Selke

I love Lily Pad, mainly because of the Strié thread, which means that within one ball of wool, you get several different colours, which gives it a lovely depth and texture.

The Terrace Suite at The Soho Hotel

Do you have a few favourite pieces in it?

I love Lily Pad, mainly because of the Strié thread, which means that within one ball of wool, you get several different colours, which gives it a lovely depth and texture. Eternal Spring – the original inspiration came from wonderful Scandinavian rugs that were made in the '60s. And then Hotline, which has got loads of different colours in it and it comes up at you, and sort of goes back – and yet it can go with so many different schemes.

It’s lovely to hear about your inspiration from all over the world. But I know London is really close to you heart. How do you like to enjoy the city when you’re here?

My London is all about walking. I love to walk and to see all the different areas. I walk all the way from Covent Garden back to my office in South Kensington in a very short time. And within those streets there’s so much love and it's so cosmopolitan. I mean, you know, London is one of those cities where every nation is represented and I love that.

Dream Escape Loves… Exclusive activities to enjoy at the London hotels

Art Tours – take a guided tour of Kit Kemp's personally curated art collection, while also finding out top tips and advice on how to collect and hang art to bring colour and interest to any home. Finish with a delicious three-course set-menu lunch in the restaurant, and a chance to admire much of the art you have been discovering.

Royal Tea Afternoon Tea – Served in the Drawing Room of the Covent Garden Hotel, or their stylish Brassiere Max, the 2022 celebratory tea menu has been designed specifically to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. Toast to the special occasion with a glass of Rathfinny Classic Cuvée or a ‘Lilibet’ cocktail, while a selection of tea and sandwiches is served, including traditional favourites coronation chicken; fresh scones; smoked salmon and cream cheese bagels; Pimm's cheesecake; and Victoria sponge.

Roof Terrace Drinks – On the fourth floor of the Ham Yard hotel is a large, leafy rooftop garden with sweeping views over the London skyline. A lounge area with Whitman benches, upholstered seating and a bar create a beautiful al fresco sanctuary to enjoy a quiet, reflective drink or celebrate a special occasion.

Flower Workshops – Charlotte Street Hotel's renowned floral masterclasses offer a chance to learn how to recreate some of the hotel’s beautiful arrangements in your own home. In the gorgeous surroundings of Charlotte Street Hotel's Vanessa Bell private room, you’ll enjoy a guided demonstration, as well as top tips on how to celebrate the seasons with flowers, and also create your very own hand-tied design that will be presented in a vase for you to take home. Following the session, enjoy a delicious Champagne brunch in Oscar Bar & Restaurant.

Find out more

Louise Murray, Head of Product “I absolutely love the decor at each of the Firmdale hotels. The combination of colour and pattern along with Kit’s fabulous quirky touches make the hotels so individual.

I recently visited Ham Yard and saw the refurbished suites. They are stunning – so fresh and beautiful; a real work of art.”

⬥ louise@dreamescape.co.uk