As the creative force behind six fashionable London hotels, Kit Kemp has designed every last detail herself, from the look of the lobbies to choosing the bedlinen

Soho, Covent Garden, Knightsbridge, Bloomsbury – the names trip off the tongue as must-see destinations on anyone's list for a visit to London. Within each of these world-famous areas is a boutique hotel owned by Kit and Tim Kemp, who have worked hard since 1985 to create a group of hotels that have stand-alone charm but are linked by eye-catching interior design.

Newest of all is The Haymarket, set to open on 27 March, next to the Theatre Royal in the heart of London's West End. Kit is responsible for the interior decor at The Haymarket, as she is with all their hotels, from the style of each bedroom to the objets d'art in the lobbies.

“I don't have a formula for the look of our hotels,” explains Kit. “We're very anti-branding, and the last thing Tim and I want are hotels that shriek 'chain'. Each hotel has its own identity. With The Haymarket Hotel I've moved on from the incredibly colourful interior that characterises The Soho to darker tones of indigo and aubergine, filling the space with lots of British art and sculpture. We believe that staying in a hotel should be an adventure. So often this is missing from hotels simply because they have such boring interiors. I'm not trying to create a building that's designed in the height of good taste. I'd much rather be in a room that's curious, interesting and fun.”

With plans to open a hotel on Crosby Street in New York, Kit clearly has no fear of taking big steps to achieve success. “You only live once,” she smiles, “and if I end up destitute, at least I can say, 'I tried'.”

As well as creating the interiors for the new hotels, Kit continuously updates the ones that are already open. This, of course, has meant that she's had to bow to the inevitable and take on a small team to help her.

“My instinct has always been to do it all myself and up until now I have done. I've hated letting go, but having a few extra pairs of hands has turned out to be a blessing.” At any one time ten rooms in each hotel are being redecorated, with The Pelham (the Kemps' first) the latest to be refurbished. “Obviously it's impossible to do an entire hotel at once, so we work on a few bedrooms at a time. I can't wait to see The Pelham completed; when the lobby is done it will be like a butterfly emerging from its chrysalis, and the communal space will be in sync with all the wonderful new bedrooms.”

Working from a town house opposite the Victoria and Albert Museum, and with a flat around the corner, the Kemps find most of their life keeps them in London, but when they can they escape to Hampshire where they have a family house in the New Forest. It is here that they spend time with their daughters, Tiffany, 20, Willow, 19, and Min, 16.

“Tim wasn't bothered about buying a place out of London, as he's much more of a city person, but I grew up in the countryside and it's a way of life I particularly wanted to give our daughters, especially when they were younger,” says Kit. They keep horses not far away, and she and Min regularly go off for rides together. “I find it important to spend time with each of the girls individually – Min and I ride, while Tiffany and Willow have recently gone on holiday just with me.” Kit says the change of scene does them all a power of good.

“I have the most heavenly job but it's great to go to our house in Hampshire to relax,” she adds. “The beautiful countryside on our doorstep is something none of us takes for granted.”

For information on Kit and Tim's hotel group, visit www.firmdale.co.uk.

WORDS JENNY HASTIE
PHOTOGRAPHS SIMON BROWN
FEBRUARY 2007