A Barefoot Welcome

At hotelier Kit Kemp's vivid Barbadian getaway, there are only two house rules: lunch at 2 p.m. and no shoes allowed.

- By Stephanie Hunt

SHOES OFF AND CANDLELIGHT.

That's London-based hotelier Kit Kemp's secret to savoring downtime with friends and family at Rossferry, the Barbadian retreat she and her husband, Tim, bought 15 years ago and escape to every chance they get. The entrance's avenue of palms was the couple's first hint they'd found a magical spot on the island's west coast, but the home's hacienda style openness and two and a half acres of mahoganies, palms, and bougainvillea stretching down to the sea sealed the deal. We loved that the central pavilion was open on three sides, offering a constant through breeze, says Kemp. It's nice to invite guests to take off their shoes so they feel the texture underfoot and just relax. And we light candles everywhere-instant magic. As founder and creative director of Firmdale Hotels and Kit Kemp Design Studio, Kemp knows something about creating enchanting atmospheres. The buoyant Crayola colors and decidedly unbashful textiles that are hallmarks of her hotels in London and New York feel right at home in this tropical getaway, perhaps even more so. I can indulge in vivid, bright colors here that strong Barbados sunshine just eats color, says Kemp, who painted pavilion ceilings in jolts of hot pink and electric turquoise.