Minnie Kemp's Essential Decorating Principles for Evocative Spaces

Minnie Kemp, the Design Director at Firmdale Hotels, champions interiors that spark joy and reflect the personality of their inhabitants. Rather than conforming to mere tasteful aesthetics, her rooms exude character; she likens her own home to "a Roald Dahl novel," a statement that encapsulates her whimsical yet thoughtfully curated style.

The essence of Kemp's design lies in her ability to mix colors, patterns, and textures in a way that invites curiosity. For her, the goal is to create spaces that engage the eye, from hand-painted tiles to unexpected pops of color like orange candlesticks that unexpectedly elevate a room's atmosphere.

1. Find Your Creative Starting Point

When faced with a blank slate, like the dining room she designed for the Kips Bay Decorator Show House, Kemp turns to literature for inspiration. Virginia Woolf's A Room of One’s Own served as the thematic foundation for her project. "I think it’s very important that we all have a room of one's own," she asserts. This reference provides a strong guiding concept, steering the design choices that lead to a cohesive space.

2. Adding Layers of Interest

Kemp's rooms are notable for their layered details. A striking element, like oversized basket lights, can be enhanced by adding embroidered leaves for visual richness. "My trick is adding a layer so that every time anyone comes in, they spot something different," she explains. This technique extends to her home, where themes and motifs echo throughout, connecting disparate elements in a meaningful way.

3. Embrace Playfulness Over Perfection

In her Kips Bay project, Kemp's choice of bright orange candlesticks provoked initial doubts—“Oh my God, is this going to look Halloween?”—but she proceeded nonetheless. This boldness illustrates her belief that a space can be beautifully arranged yet still contain quirks. “Don’t get bogged down with being too chic," she advises, emphasizing the importance of inclusivity for fun and off-beat choices within elegant arrangements.

4. Challenge the Design Norms

Kemp expresses concern over the influence of social media algorithms that push trends onto designers. "We're all on Instagram, and we all have the algorithm," she acknowledges, cautioning against falling into predictable design patterns. Her remedy? Seek inspiration from non-fashionable elements—childhood memories, arts, and crafts—to craft a unique, personal aesthetic. “Try not to be led by interior design trends,” she warns.

5. Honor the Historical Context

When designing a residence in Roquebrune along the French Riviera, Kemp began by drawing from the surroundings. Eileen Gray’s nearby house influenced her choice of materials, such as pebble mosaics, leading to a design that integrates local visual traditions. She even incorporated fiber-optic elements to create a twinkling effect within a 20-meter pebble path. "It’s a new take on an old idea," she states, refining classic motifs through contemporary application.

6. Curate with Intention

While Kemp appreciates a layered design, she recognizes a line where creativity tips into chaos. “Sometimes you have to strip it all back and start again,” she advises when clutter accumulates over time. Her simple rule of thumb? If dust becomes prominent, it's time for a thorough reevaluation of your decor.

7. Embrace Your Space's Flaws

In her work at Bloomsbury Publishing, Kemp transformed an unflattering environment marked by a suspended ceiling and structural columns into an opportunity for creativity. She chose to celebrate these imperfections rather than mask them, using Yves Klein blue for the ceiling and bold arrows for the columns. “Make the most of what you have and show off all your lumps and bumps,” she concludes, encouraging a fearless approach to design that harnesses the unexpected.

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