Kit Kemp's gorgeous London townhouse is a celebration of color and pattern

Design maverick Kit Kemp, co-founder of Firmdale Hotels and the Kit Kemp Design Studio, and her husband Tim Kemp, have significantly renovated their 1930s central London townhouse twice over two decades. The initial renovation was inspired by fellow designer Robert Kime's advice to make the kitchen the best room in the house. This led Kit to convert their large, barrel-shaped dining room, which overlooks the garden, into a kitchen that has since become the central living space. The bespoke cabinetry in the kitchen has undergone multiple color transformations over the years, and Kit has incorporated unique elements like beaded lampshades crafted from colorful Kurdi aprons. Following the kitchen transformation, a conservatory was added off the kitchen to serve as a dining area, featuring a Tord Boontje chandelier that creates intricate shadows at night. More recently, as their three daughters have grown and left home, the Kemps undertook a second major renovation. This involved knocking down a formerly unused front room to create an open-plan layout connecting it to the living room and subsequently to the kitchen. This new configuration provides the living space with abundant east-west light. In this bright living room, Kit combined an oversized One Way geometric linen with an exuberant botanical print, balancing these bold designs with a subtle paisley pattern. The vibrant patterns are complemented by antique pieces, including an 18th-century Spanish chest, above which hangs a portrait by Duncan Grant. Kit notes that the home's design is a collaboration with her husband, driven by their shared appreciation for Bloomsbury art. The walls display a collection of works by prominent Bloomsbury artists, chosen for their suitability to the London light. The redesign also involved moving the front door and enlarging the hallway. Kit began the redecoration of the entire house with this space, emphasizing the importance of giving character to 'in-between spaces' like hallways and landings to make a house feel more expansive. She adorned the hallway with her repeat 'Mythical Land' wallpaper design, creating an enchanting backdrop for an eclectic mix of objects, such as a Swedish wedding clock and an old beehive. A chair upholstered in an embroidered textile from Kazakhstan further enhances the unique aesthetic. On the first floor, one of the four bedrooms was converted into a walk-through music room, accommodating their grand piano. Kit humorously explains that placing the piano in this dedicated space was a practical choice, and lining the area with bookshelves may have inadvertently improved the acoustics. Upstairs, the main bedroom, nestled under the eaves, features a grand half-tester bed that accentuates the room's interesting architectural volumes. Kit has been meticulous in reusing and reupholstering existing pieces, demonstrating a commitment to sustainability by donating fabrics to charities and using offcuts for toys. Another bedroom showcases pieces from a showroom set she designed, including armchairs originally created for a Blithfield stand. A fantastical headboard, also designed by Kit for a showroom display, is complemented by a lamp base that serendipitously aligns with its aquatic theme. Creativity is central to Kit's design philosophy, a theme further explored in her latest book written during the pandemic, highlighting the increasing desire for personalized interiors and the move away from reliance on big designer names towards unique, custom-driven home decor. #InteriorDesign #KitKemp #LondonTownhouse #HomeRenovation #ColorAndPattern #BloomsburyArt #EclecticDecor #DesignPhilosophy #KitchenDesign #InteriorDesign #KitKemp #LondonTownhouse #HomeRenovation #ColorAndPattern #BloomsburyArt #EclecticDecor #DesignPhilosophy #KitchenDesign