If we’re going to take lessons in pattern from anybody, it is Kit Kemp. The co-owner and Creative Director for Firmdale Hotels has curated some of the most vibrantly printed spaces on both sides of the Atlantic – and she’s reshaped everything we know about pattern in the process.
Among Kit Kemp's most synonymous statements is her timeless use of stripes – from a horizontal headboard in her Charlotte Street Hotel to a striped rug in London’s Ham Yard Hotel. The latter offers a lesson in the power of rugs – and how this pattern can promote the illusion of size in any space. Sharing her interior design tips in a recent post, Kit reveals the secret to a successful stripe.
In the discussion of the Terrace Suite (below), Kit explains the importance of creating a contrast by laying a striped rug against a simple floor – which is a light wooden color in this case.
‘Using a striped rug against an otherwise plain background is a powerful tool in interior architecture – it redirects the eye and can reshape a space. In the Terrace Suite at Ham Yard Hotel, the living and dining area is a long rectangle. By having the stripes of the rug run horizontally, the room looks well-proportioned,’ Kit explains.
‘Don’t underestimate the power of a stripe. We think they get a bit of a bad rep for being boring, but used in the right way, stripes are a versatile, elegant, and timeless resource to use in your interiors,’ she adds – while reshaping our living room rug ideas.
However, Kit is not exclusive in her adoration for this age-old pattern. Andy Guard, Creative Director at Roger Oates Design, reinforces the stripe’s size-enhancing power whilst suggesting the print can define areas and ‘adjust the perspective of a room.’ Similar to Kit, Andy recommends combining the pattern with ‘wooden floors’, along with ‘tessellated tiles and even floral wallpaper.’
He continues, sharing his striped hallway ideas: ‘There is a stripe for everyone. You can use stripes to change the perspective of a hall. Stripes along the hall will lengthen it while stripes across the hall will make it appear wider.’
Will a stripy rug recreate Kit’s boutique ambiance in our interiors? We’ll bring Ham Yard into our home, one stripe at a time.
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