Folklore, color, and modern English charm – “Kit Kemp: Design Stories”
- 6 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Dear readers, as spring approaches, many fashion and interior designers turn to intriguing patterns, drawing inspiration from nature, such as flora and fauna, even folkloric motifs, to create a refreshing, uplifting mood that lightens the deep, wintry palette of the colder months. If you are looking for the same kind of inspiration to refresh your home, or even your wardrobe for this new season, then the new coffee-table book titled “Kit Kemp: Design Stories” could be a beautiful place to begin.
Room Detail from "Life of a Collector" © Simon Brown
Shelving in London Design Studio © Simon Brown
Published by Rizzoli in Apr 2026, and written by internationally acclaimed British interior designer Kit Kemp MBE, this stunning copy invites readers into her creative world, offering an intimate look at her interiors across both residential and commercial spaces. With a foreword by Giles Kime, Executive and Interiors Editor at Country Life magazine, and photography by Simon Brown, the book brings together some of Kit’s most captivating interior projects, along with textiles and tableware created in collaboration with esteemed brands.
Author's Lounge Bloomsbury Offices © Simon Brown
Celebrated for her fearless use of color, unconventional patterns, and a finely tuned sensitivity to the texture and craftsmanship of textiles, Kit creates spaces with her distinctive storytelling skill and quality. Her interiors blend folkloric chic, modern boho richness, and a fresh take on English country style, without the traditional heaviness, resulting in rooms that feel joyful, harmonious, and irresistibly inviting, sparking curiosity about every carefully chosen element that the designer cleverly and tastefully used in the space.
From her own home and her daughter’s mews house in London, to her stylish Firmdale hotels in Barbados, London, and New York, through to the headquarters of the Bloomsbury Group in Bedford Square, London, the book gathers some of her most remarkable and beautiful projects. Readers can explore each space up close, from sumptuous textiles with delicate appliqué details and artistically vibrant upholstery inspired by folklore and the English countryside, to bespoke decorative objects created by gifted craftspeople and artists, and elegant tableware developed with luxury brand Spode, known for its finely crafted collections; the result is a series of stylish, memorable interiors that are welcoming, inspiring, and uplifting! An understated invitation into Kit Kemp’s artistic world that is full of imagination, unexpected modernity, and playful chic. Every page encourages readers to embrace personality, craft, and color in their own spaces, and to see interiors as living stories rather than static rooms.
Dining Room at Sevres © Simon Brown
"Ode to Mimi" Wow! Design House © Simon Brown
In a world where men’s style, both in fashion and interiors, often leans toward the toned-down and understated aesthetic, there is something liberating about pushing the boundaries and thinking beyond neutrals. You may discover a new kind of breakthrough in your personal style through vibrant colors and a modern English country-house aesthetic, as a little gift to yourself when you step into the new season.
Image courtesy of Rizzoli USA.