View source for Kit Kemp

{{Short description|British decorator (born 1950)}}
{{Undisclosed paid|date=June 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Kit Kemp
| image              = Portrait of Kit Kemp.jpg
| birth_name         = Judith Kit Kemp
| birth_date         = {{birth year and age |1950}}
| birth_place        = Southampton, England
| spouse             = Tim Kemp
| occupation         = Interior designer
| website            = {{URL|www.kitkemp.com}}
}}
'''Judith Kit Kemp''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|MBE}} (born 1950), is a British interior designer, and founder of Firmdale Hotels,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://businessofhome.com/articles/kit-kemp-on-why-designers-should-stick-to-their-guns|title=Kit Kemp on why designers should stick to their guns|date=May 6, 2019|website=businessofhome.com}}</ref> a chain of ten hotels in London and New York. She is married to Tim Kemp. They were jointly awarded an MBE in 2012,<ref>{{cite news |title=Queen's Diamond Jubilee Birthday Honours List: Firmdale Hotels co-founders and Patrick Dempsey among hospitality figures recognised |url=https://www.bighospitality.co.uk/Article/2012/06/16/Queen-s-Diamond-Jubilee-Birthday-Honours-List-Firmdale-Hotels-co-founders-and-Patrick-Dempsey-among-hospitality-figures-recognised |accessdate=7 November 2020 |work=bighospitality.co.uk}}</ref> for services to the hotel industry and charity.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ltd |first=Jacobs Media Group |title=Tourism bosses honoured in Queen's birthday list |url=http://travelweekly.co.uk/articles/40792/tourism-bosses-honoured-in-queens-birthday-list |access-date=2023-07-09 |website=Travel Weekly |language=en}}</ref>
==Career==
Kemp commenced working for an auctioneer, and then for Polish architect Leszek Nowicki. She met her husband Tim Kemp through the architectural practice in the 1980s, and together they started to develop boutique hotels.<ref>{{cite news |last1=McCarthy |first1=Fiona |title=Inside Kit Kemp's colour-filled pop-up at Bergdorf Goodman |url=https://www.vogue.com.au/vogue-living/design/inside-kit-kemps-colourfilled-popup-at-bergdorf-goodman/image-gallery/cb2dc60065cb7943b58c1b21b6ce413b |accessdate=8 November 2020 |work=Vogue Australia |date=23 May 2019 |language=en}}</ref>
Kemp's first establishment was Dorset Square Hotel in 1985. Firmdale has 10 properties, with eight hotels in London including Ham Yard Hotel, the [[Soho Hotel]], [[Covent Garden Hotel]], [[Charlotte Street Hotel]], Haymarket Hotel, Number Sixteen Hotel and Knightsbridge Hotel, and two in New York, The Whitby Hotel and Crosby Street Hotel.{{Citation needed|date=March 2024}}
Kit Kemp and her husband Tim Kemp have converted properties such as warehouses<ref>{{cite news |last1=Joyce |first1=Tabitha |title=The Soho Hotel, London: More Brooklyn warehouse than Soho five star |url=https://www.cntraveller.com/article/soho-hotel-london |work=CN Traveller}}</ref> and car parks into hotels.<ref>{{cite news |title=Top 100 Tim and Kit Kemp Firmdale Hotels |url=https://www.thecaterer.com/news/in-depth/top-100-tim-and-kit-kemp-firmdale-hotels |accessdate=7 November 2020 |work=The Caterer |date=19 April 2018 |language=en}}</ref> In 2007, they were awarded the [[Crown Estate]]'s Urban Business Award for the regeneration of Haymarket Hotel.<ref>{{cite news |title=Caterer and Hotelkeeper 100 Tim and Kit Kemp... |url=https://www.thecaterer.com/news/hotel/caterer-and-hotelkeeper-100-tim-and-kit-kemp-firmdale-hotels |accessdate=7 November 2020 |work=The Caterer |date=1 July 2011 |language=en}}</ref>  They have received press coverage for the Soho Hotel and Ham Yard Hotel<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wogan |first1=John |title=Inside London's New Ham Yard Hotel |url=https://www.cntraveler.com/stories/2014-09-03/inside-london-s-new-ham-yard-hotel |accessdate=7 November 2020 |work=Condé Nast Traveler |language=en-us}}</ref> in London, as well as Crosby Street Hotel<ref>{{cite news |title=24-hour room service: Crosby Street Hotel, New York City |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/hotels/24-hour-room-service-crosby-street-hotel-new-york-city-2232294.html |accessdate=7 November 2020 |work=The Independent |date=5 March 2011 |language=en}}</ref> and The Whitby Hotel in New York.<ref>{{cite news |title=How The Whitby Hotel is redefining luxury in midtown Manhattan |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/travel/the-whitby-hotel-new-york-city-review-a3955796.html |accessdate=7 November 2020 |work=Evening Standard |date=7 October 2018 |language=en}}</ref>
She has won awards for her work including ''[[House & Garden (magazine)|House & Garden]]'s'' Hotel Designer of the Year, Andrew Martin International Interior Designer of the Year<ref>{{cite web |title=Interior Designer of the Year Award Winner Profile: Kit Kemp MBE |url=https://www.andrewmartin.co.uk/design-awards/directory/kit-kemp |website=Andrew Martin |accessdate=7 November 2020 |language=en}}</ref> and [[Conde Nast Traveller]]’s ''Best Hotel in the World'' for Design.{{citation needed|date= October 2021}}
Kemp has collaborated with brands including [[Wedgwood]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Brown |first1=Simon |title=Wedgwood Partners With Hotelier Kit Kemp |url=https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/wedgwood-kit-kemp-collection |accessdate=8 November 2020 |work=Architectural Digest |language=en-us}}</ref> Wilton Carpets,<ref>{{cite news |title=Kit Kemp, Wilton Carpets create exciting carpet collection |url=https://hoteldesigns.net/member-news/kit-kemp-wilton-carpets-create-exciting-carpet-collection/ |accessdate=8 November 2020 |work=Hotel Designs |date=24 November 2017}}</ref> Andrew Martin International,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Brouwer |first1=Lotte |title=10 Autumn Interiors Collections To Get Excited About |url=https://www.livingetc.com/whats-news/autumn-interiors-198461 |accessdate=8 November 2020 |work=livingetc.com |language=en}}</ref> [[Anthropologie]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Martin |first1=Hannah |title=Kit Kemp for Anthropologie: Folklore Turned Fabulous |url=https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/kit-kemp-for-anthropologie-article |accessdate=8 November 2020 |work=Architectural Digest |language=en-us}}</ref> Christopher Farr,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Akkam |first1=Alia |title=15 Must-Sees in Paris During Maison & Objet and Deco Off |url=https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/15-paris-design-week-must-sees |accessdate=8 November 2020 |work=Architectural Digest |language=en-us}}</ref> Chelsea Textiles,<ref>{{cite web |title=Kit Kemp {{!}} Fabrics |url=https://www.chelseatextiles.com/uk/fabrics/designers/kit-kemp |website=Chelsea Textiles |accessdate=8 November 2020}}</ref> C P Hart,<ref>{{cite web |title=Luxury Bathroom Showrooms |url=https://www.cphart.co.uk/showrooms/ |website=www.cphart.co.uk |accessdate=8 November 2020}}</ref> Porta Romana and [[Fine Cell Work]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Owens |first1=Mitchell |title=How One Design Company Is Empowering the Incarcerated |url=https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/fine-cell-work-design-company-empowering-the-incarcerated |accessdate=8 November 2020 |work=Architectural Digest |language=en-us}}</ref>
==Publications==
In 2012, Kemp published her first book, ''A Living Space''.<ref>{{cite news |title=Pure Inspiration: Kit Kemp's New Interiors Book 'A Living Space' |url=https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/interiors-entertaining/advice/a8490/kit-kemp-a-living-space-110212/ |accessdate=8 November 2020 |work=Harper's BAZAAR |date=2 November 2012}}</ref> This was followed by ''Every Room Tells A Story''<ref>{{cite news |last1=Flanagan |first1=Kristen |title=Designer and Hotelier Kit Kemp Shares Her Secrets for Creating Colorful and Carefree Interiors |url=https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/every-room-has-a-story-kit-kemp |accessdate=8 November 2020 |work=Architectural Digest |language=en-us}}</ref> which was published in 2015. Her third book, ''Design Thread'', was published in February 2019.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Luckel |first1=Madeleine |title=Kit Kemp's New Book, Design Thread, Showcases Her Eye for Color and Collecting |url=https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/kit-kemps-new-book-design-thread-color-collecting |accessdate=8 November 2020 |work=Architectural Digest |language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.townandcountrymag.com/uk/lifestyle/homes-and-gardens/a26551636/kit-kemp-interior-design/ |title=Kit Kemp's whimsical interiors blend the classic and the contemporary |author=Brooke Theis |newspaper=[[Town & Country (magazine)|Town & Country]] |date=28 February 2019 |accessdate=25 November 2020}}</ref> Kemp has been a guest editor for ''[[Homes & Gardens]]''<ref>{{cite web |title=Kit Kemp's favourite makers – meet the key artists in her design address book |url=https://www.homesandgardens.com/news/kit-kemp-favourite-makers-address-book-215258 |website=homesandgardens.com |date=6 April 2020 |accessdate=8 November 2020 |language=en}}</ref> (UK) and Hospitality Design (US).<ref>{{cite web |title=Hospitality Design - November 2019 |url=https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/201911/index.php#/p/Intro |website=www.nxtbook.com |accessdate=8 November 2020}}</ref>
She is a trustee of [[Fine Cell Work]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Interiors: Fine Cell Work is a charity harnessing the sewing talents of prisoners to make exquisite embroidery |url=https://www.cityam.com/interiors-fine-cell-work-charity-harnessing-sewing-talents/ |accessdate=8 November 2020 |work=CityAM |date=7 April 2017}}</ref> and the Heritage of London Trust.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Slingsby |first1=Alan |title=Brixton barrows reborn |url=https://brixtonblog.com/2016/09/brixton-barrows-reborn/40203/?cn-reloaded=1 |website=Brixton Blog |accessdate=8 November 2020 |date=16 September 2016}}</ref>
==Personal life==
Kemp has three daughters, Tiffany, Willow, and Araminta (Minnie).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kit Kemp — Annoushka UK |url=https://www.annoushka.com/uk/the-annoushka-podcast/kit-kemp/ |access-date=2023-07-09 |website=www.annoushka.com}}</ref> Willow and Minnie both work with Kemp.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kit Kemp — Annoushka UK |url=https://www.annoushka.com/uk/the-annoushka-podcast/kit-kemp/ |access-date=2023-07-10 |website=www.annoushka.com}}</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kemp, Kit}}
[[Category:British interior designers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:British hoteliers]]
[[Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:British furniture designers]]
[[Category:British company founders]]
[[Category:1950 births]]