As Kit Kemp says, every room tells a story. The designer sees 鈥渕aking use of interesting creatures, textiles, art and objects, and using them in a creative way鈥� as part of her job.
Kemp鈥檚 impressive career as one of the U.K.鈥檚 most unique designers for her upscale boutique, Firmdale, hotels and private homes in the U.K. and U.S. demonstrates how her daring and inquisitive character never rests. It鈥檚 an exciting ride to visit rooms that Kemp has designed. I venture to say that you will have seen nothing like these spaces that combine bold and whimsical fabrics with quirky elements and colour and pattern mixes.
In 鈥楰emp鈥檚 book, Every Room Tells a Story, with photography by听Simon Brown, published by Hardie Grant, the author shares her secrets and introduces us to many of the talented artisans whose work she reveres. There is听always something that draws you in and keeps your eye moving. A series of unique lamps made from old plastic bottles with woven raffia shades hang in a hotel bar. Large marbles decorate a wrought iron balustrade in a foyer. Two benches, one sitting on听top of the other, becomes a bookcase. A picture meant to hang on a wall is transformed into a tabletop.
Kemp says that 鈥渁nything can be a feature if framed properly,鈥� and she illustrates this point repeatedly as everything from art to fabric to bowling shoes takes center stage. Transparent plastic Perspex box frames are a favourite, but any material from ornately carved antiques to distressed wood frames decorated with sea shells, buttons or iron hinges has been employed. Kemp has also used old mobile phone cases, printing press letters, belts and buckles. The list goes on, and Kemp says that the stranger the artwork (or object to be framed) the more inventive the frame.
Kemp has modernized the British look for comfort in traditional homes by making them bright and cheerful with an eclectic mix of fabrics. Comfort is a priority for Kemp, and you will see that her sofas and chairs are plump and inviting. Whatever the upholstery fabric, it must be soft and pleasing to the touch. There should never be a 鈥渉ands off鈥� feeling to anything in a room that is meant to be lived in and enjoyed. A riot of patterns proliferates in the drawing room shown here, but rather than fight each other, they each add a special note to the overall picture. Blue is the base colour, while pink makes the colours pop. I counted 12 individual patterns throughout the drawing room and adjoining master bedroom, textiles designed by Kemp, who admonishes us all to be brave and let our spirits soar.
Folk art is a vibrant theme that runs through Kemp鈥檚 work. She explains that 鈥渇olk art covers a multitude of skills from painted ceramics and decorated travel chests to intricately woven bed linens and pictures. They have all been made with gentle hands and big caring hearts. They have soul.鈥�
Kemp has designed a collection of furniture and wallpaper for lifestyle and fashion retailer Anthropologie. Her favourite piece is the Winged White Rhino armchair with flying monkeys dancing around the bright orange base and contrast piping in bright blue. The White Rhino, an endangered species, has wings to save it from its enemies. In the sitting room shown here these delightful chairs are surrounded by richly textured woven rugs, some used as throws, and above the mantel, a听custom frame with hinge detail.
Kit Kemp鈥檚 playful style is highlighted on each page of her book, accompanied by words that explain how she and her talented group formulate design plans and the art of pulling together a room that is unforgettable, yet inviting and comfortable.
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Debbie Travis鈥檚 House to Home column is produced by Debbie Travis and Barbara Dingle. [email protected], Twitter twitter.com/debbie_travis, debbietravis.com.
