Textile fantasies
Designer and hotelier Kit Kemp’s creative thread is woven through her life.
So hard to say – Sandra Blow, Joe Tilson [10]. But I cannot forget artists from the Bloomsbury Group like Vanessa Bell [14] and Duncan Grant.
Cornish artists such as Patrick Heron [3], Terry Frost [7] and Sandra Blow [1]. DO YOU COLLECT ANYTHING? Everything – from dinner plates (I have about 80 framed at The Whitby Hotel in New York [10]) to a collection of bowling shoes framed in perspex at Ham Yard Hotel in London. FASHION MUST-HAVES? Thigh-high boots FAVOURITE WATCH? Cartier [6]. FRAGRANCE OF CHOICE? ‘Gardenia Greenleaf’ – it’s our own recipe for our RIKRAK bath products collection [15]. BOOKS – WHAT ARE YOU READING NOW – BOTH FICTION AND ART/ DESIGN? I am reading Little by Edward Carey [4], about the madeup life of Madame Tussaud who made life-size waxwork figures. I’m also reading an art book called Modern Art Now: From Conception to Consumption by Caroline Wiseman. MUSIC – WHAT’S ON ROTATION AT OFFICE AND HOME? Jazz FM. FAVOURITE FLOWERS? It depends on the time of year. Right now, anemones in bright colours because it’s winter here. Primroses, wild violets and bluebells in spring. In summer, peonies and delphiniums, then autumn dahlias [13] and autumn berries. ARE YOU A COFFEE OR TEA PERSON? IF SO, ANY FAVOURITES? Builder’s tea and strong coffee. ENTERTAINING – AT HOME – AND RESTAURANT OF CHOICE? At home, or one of our restaurants, mainly Brumus [12] in Haymarket Hotel, and Brasserie Max in Covent Garden Hotel. PREFERRED TIPPLE? White or red wine.
The Third Man [2] MAGAZINES YOU READ REGULARLY? The World of Interiors, House & Garden, Country Life, Homes & Gardens, Horse and Hound and any interiors magazines. DOES YOUR LOVE OF FASHION AND DESIGN EXTEND TO CARS? There is never enough chrome on new cars. I love the old ones best. TRAVEL – FAVOURITE REGULAR HAUNT AND WHERE IS ON YOUR MUST-SEE LIST? Biarritz, Africa, Barbados and India [5] are favourite haunts. I would love to go to St Petersburg in the snow to see the ballet. OBJECTS OF DESIRE YOU WOULD BUY RIGHT NOW? A Lutyens house with a Jekyll-designed garden. An Olympic level dressage horse. A fully grown oak tree. A fabulous chef. firmdalehotels.com. Kit Kemp: Design Thread (Hardie Grant) is reviewed in Library, p66.