Kit Kemp: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

'''Judith Kit Kemp''' ~~[[Order of the British Empire~~{{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 ~~the~~to ~~concept of~~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 ~~recieved~~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==

~~===Published work===~~

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==

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[[Category:British furniture designers]]

[[Category:British company founders]]

[[Category:~~Year~~1950 ~~of birth missing (living people)~~births]]