In Conversation With: Kit Kemp
Few designers have left as distinctive a mark on the world of interiors as Kit Kemp. As co-founder and Creative Director of Firmdale Hotels and Founder of Kit Kemp Design Studio, Kemp has built an international reputation for spaces that are bold, layered, and brimming with character. From Ham Yard in London to The Whitby and the Warren Street Hotel in New York, her designs are instantly recognisable for their fearless use of colour, pattern, and craft.
In this in-depth interview, Kemp shares her inspirations, creative processes, and philosophy behind both her hotel projects and private commissions. From the sparks that ignite her design ideas to the collaborations with artisans that bring them to life, she offers a fascinating insight into how she transforms spaces into stories—and how she continues to push boundaries while remaining true to her signature style.
Your interiors are known for their bold use of colour, pattern, and storytelling. Where do you find inspiration when designing for both Firmdale Hotels and your private projects at Kit Kemp Design Studio?
Designing a space is an adventure, an opportunity to create something that satisfies all the senses and bring a building to life in a way that feels unique and deeply personal. Every great design project is an organic process. It may start with a kernel of an idea but this should develop and take shape as the project unfolds. The initial idea could be sparked by a journey, the intricate embroidery on a vintage textile, the way light dances across a painted ceiling in a favourite painting , or even the enduring spirit of someone such as the iconic figures of Duncan Grant and Vanessa Bell of the Bloomsbury Group.
Each Firmdale Hotel feels like it has its own personality — almost like stepping into a different character’s world. How do you approach creating a distinct narrative for each property while keeping the “Firmdale DNA” consistent?
There’s something wonderfully magical about stepping into a space that tells its own story, one that feels utterly unique. That’s exactly how I approach each of our hotels. Why should every room look the same when each one can be individual and different? Every hotel has its own character and handwriting, a personality shaped by its location, architecture, and spirit. From there, I begin to build a narrative that brings it to life, using colour, craft, and storytelling to create a true sense of place. It’s this thread of narrative that connects each of our properties, uniting them not by sameness but through their individuality. My work has an identity but I hope each building and project evokes a spirit of its own.
When designing hotels like The Whitby in New York or Ham Yard in London, how do you strike the balance between creating a cohesive brand identity and ensuring every space feels entirely unique?
Designing our hotels is a very natural journey, a consistent thread woven through every space we create. While our approach remains consistent across each project, it’s never one-size-fits-all. Instead, it’s a wonderfully individual process that allows each hotel to develop its own distinct personality and soul. At the core of our aesthetic are my ‘Five C’s’, colour, craft, character, comfort, and curation, a set of guiding principles that all apply whether we are putting together the largest building or the smallest room. I love the excitement of a new build like The Whitby in New York and Ham Yard in London. Starting from the ground up and watching the building take shape. I have time to commission the best craftsmen and artists to work with us on specific areas within the building. A building should feel collected and not contrived. It requires a feeling of evolving time but never a pastiche of the past.
Firmdale started as a boutique brand, yet your design philosophy now influences projects worldwide. How has the growing international audience shaped your creative process and design decisions?
Design is a language that speaks to people everywhere, so it's always been important to me that our interiors resonate not just locally, but globally. Having an international audience has enriched my creative process; it keeps me curious, open, and constantly looking beyond the obvious. I’m endlessly inspired by the crafts, colours, and people I discover while travelling, whether it’s a handwoven textile from India, a Suzani from Uzbekistan, a ceramic from South America, or a quirky flea market find in Paris. These influences don’t just inform the look of a space; they help shape the feeling of it. I want each room to surprise and delight, no matter where you're from, and still feel like home. That’s the beauty of design: it allows us to connect across cultures, one room at a time. I like bold but not frantic, I like letting pieces speak to each other in unexpected ways.
You’ve created iconic spaces in both London and New York — two cities with very different design cultures. How do you adapt your design approach for these markets while still maintaining your signature style?
Whether it’s designing our latest hotel, Warren Street, in the vibrant neighbourhood of New York’s Tribeca, or Charlotte Street Hotel, nestled in the heart of London’s Bloomsbury, for me it’s about creating spaces that don’t just look beautiful, but feel like they truly belong. I want each hotel to reflect its surroundings, where history, creativity, and comfort come together in playful, unexpected ways. At Charlotte Street, the interiors are a loving nod to the Bloomsbury Set, with guest areas adorned with original artworks and rooms dedicated to Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant. Meanwhile, Warren Street is my love letter to Tribeca, a joyful, blue-skied breath amid the brick and cobbles; a place that embraces the district’s textile-rich past while opening a new page in its vibrant creative story.
Your hotels showcase an incredible celebration of artisans, from textiles to furniture. How important is collaboration with makers and craftspeople in shaping the aesthetic of both Firmdale Hotels and Kit Kemp Design Studio projects?
Collaboration with makers and craftspeople is absolutely at the heart of everything I do. It is a hugely rewarding process to work with people who love what they do, which is always inspiring, so collaborations with my favourite people are creative as well as another way of making new friends. Craft is so integral to my ethos; it brings the human touch, a sense of authenticity that cannot be replicated. I have always believed in celebrating the handmade, whether it’s a hand-embroidered headboard or a beautifully glazed ceramic.
Looking ahead, what emerging trends in interior design excite you the most, and how do you see them shaping future projects for Firmdale Hotels?
I am not really a follower of trends, but I am excited about how many designers are now incorporating craft within interior design, and how craft has been elevated in the design industry, especially with dedicated events such as Freize and the RA’s Summer Exhibition, which are both a joyful showcase of craft and creativity.
What can we expect next from both Firmdale Hotels and Kit Kemp Design Studio? Are there any upcoming openings, collaborations, or projects you’re particularly excited about?
Watch this space! There is a lot to come that we are very excited about with new collections set to launch in collaboration with new and old friends, including Andrew Martin, Christoper Farr Cloth and Chelsea Textiles, as well as new spaces to unveil…
My latest book, called Design Stories for Rizzoli, is coming out next Spring. We have comprehensive collections launching at Deco Off in Paris in January for Kravet/G P &J Baker.
Private commissions in the USA and Europe, and a young, vibrant Design Studio in London and New York.
It has been an absolute pleasure sitting down with Kit Kemp, one of the most influential figures in the hospitality industry, and gaining insight into her life, inspirations, and iconic approach to design. For those looking to explore more of her work, we also have an in-depth design feature on Firmdale’s most recent project, the Warren Street Hotel in New York, which can be read via the link.
