From Hotel Design to an Anthropologie Line
OUR Q&A WITH KIT KEMP
Award-winning English interior designer Kit Kemp is killing it. Not only does she own, design and decorate a growing collection of trendy hotels in London and New York with her husband Tim, she also has a book on design under her belt and has recently debuted “Folkthread,” a 13-piece collection of home decor in available at boho-retail giant, Anthropologie. We talked to Kit about what inspires her folky, modern English design, what’s next in her expanding empire and exactly which of all those hotel rooms is her favourite (quick, book it!).
Luxury Escapes
Kit, what inspires you to portray your signature bold combinations with such confidence?
Kit Kemp I
LE We’ve heard that every room in your ho-
tels is different. Do you have any favourites or feel a stronger connection to any of your designs in particular?
break every rule there is, but I have to stay aware of balance and try to make it feel natural. I don’t like interiors that look as if they are wearing high heels or trying too hard – these date. Mixing old and new helps. I usually begin with one element, such as a fabric or a colour, then take in the aspect and the natural light.
KK
LE Your obsession with fabrics is on show-
LE
case in almost every room you touch. What materials inspire you and how do you bring all of your diverse design elements together?
KK
I love tactile objects and fabrics that tell a story and feel and look beautiful. I prefer wood to plastic, and prefer paintings to photographs. Nevertheless, rules are for breaking and I just love good design. I work closely with architects and builders and mostly from plans. It is so important to relate well with all the disciplines and craftspeople involved with a project, and this is the joy of it all.
LE
The buildings that you’ve converted into hotels in London and NYC are diverse – some were former car parks and hospitals. How does the history and skeleton of a building dictate your design on the inside?
KK
It is a luxury to design an existing interior space – the real challenge is to design one where the building is still a figment of someone’s imagination. It’s important to me to grow with the project and make it look so right when completed that no one thinks I have done anything at all. I try to soak up the local area, but I’m not slavish about it – I don’t want a hotel that’s themed.
I like to create interiors with a sense of adventure. With every room, I want to pique people’s curiosity, to encourage them to come in and enjoy poking around. For example, at Dorset Square, my preferred room is 202 – it includes a lot of detail that you simply can’t buy by the metre.
How are things different in your hotels from in your own home?
KK My house has a bit of a homemade look,
which I like. I don’t think homes should be too tailored. It’s like baking a cake. I don’t want it to look like I bought it in a shop – it should have bits falling off the edge! A home should tell a story about who lives there and that’s what my house is like.
LE
Your hotels feature such fun little twists and turns – I’m intrigued by your 1960s bowling alley in the Ham Yard hotel. Tell me a little bit about what inspired the design of the bowling alley bar – it’s certainly one of the most fabulous that we’ve ever seen!
KK I saw the driftwood crocodiles, now hang-
ing on the ‘discotheque’ wall, and I just knew we had to find somewhere to use them. They were completely bonkers, but perfect because many years ago I used to go to a place called The Croc, so I thought ‘fantastic, we’re going to create a new Croc Bar’. That was one of those moments when an idea really comes together.
LE
How did you choose what design elements to include in your new Anthropologie collection, and do you have any tips for de-
sign-rookies on how to incorporate the pieces at home?
KK Anthropologie and I both love folk art and
handmade crafts – this includes embroidery, collage and beautiful materials that last and feel good. I have taken a few of my favourite designs and have adapted them especially for Anthropologie. Interiors should be fun so embrace the colour!
LE
What’s next? Can you give away any details on your upcoming NYC property?
KK We’re part way through the design process for a new New York Hotel, which is another new build. A very exciting prospect for 2016, the hotel is located in Midtown Manhattan on West 56th street between 5th and 6th Avenues and will comprise 90 bedrooms.