My aesthetic is so ingrained in me that I often find it difficult to put into words. I have never been about “one” anything; one style, one period, one material, one color, one fashion genre, one philosophy of design. This aesthetic, whether I am styling my retail space or designing for a client, is realized through a very purposed mix of opposing elements. The raw and organic with the glam and luxe, neutrals and subtle tonal gradations with pops of color, and clean modern lines paired with more dimensional or intricate forms. This can sound like a haphazard or an “anything goes” approach, yet it is anything but. My creative vision comes to life through thoughtfully combined and curated pairings. It is deeply instinctual and also manifests itself in how I dress, arrange flowers, or even arrange food on a platter.
I don’t want to sound too abstract, so more specifically in the store and in my projects, you will see my affinity for the tactile as a dominating element; the use of organic materials and forms and varying textures to create a layered foundation. What follows is properly mixing these base elements with things such as different metals, lacquered finishes, glam lighting, hand painted pieces, and glazed ceramics. It is this process that informs and forms my aesthetic, and in and of itself is a very organic one. It is a method where ideally what emerges is a wholly original landscape for each space.
About Anna
A lifelong lover of art and design, I have been in the interior design business for over 20 years. I am a native of Nashville, Tennessee, a most wonderful place to grow up. I attended college at the University of Virginia and graduate school at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
Early on I found that all forms of the arts provided me with a language and a world that deeply resonated with me. As a little girl, I had a 3 ring binder with pages of residential floor plans I had drawn on college ruled notebook paper, the youthful visions of being an architect. I also developed a love of the French language and all things French, a passion I hold dear to this day.
I have spent the last 23 years in Columbia, SC, the first 12 freelancing in the world of residential interiors. In 2009, I opened a retail store there with a business partner and brought my design work in house under the name MACK Home. It was the most rewarding, fun, and challenging time of my life, and it profoundly stretched me both personally and professionally. I am deeply grateful for the wonderful collaboration I had with my business partner and for the depth of knowledge and experience I gained during this time. It was during these past 10 years that I finely honed my aesthetic and found my true design “voice”. In addition to residential projects, I ventured into commercial work, creating design plans for several spas, restaurants, apartment complexes, an entertainment venue for a large medical practice, retail spaces and even a chain of automotive body shops. I also had the privilege of styling photo shoots for a Jack Daniels ad campaign and South Carolina Organic Food Growers Association.
And now the journey continues in Washington DC. Opening Anna Kemper Atelier feels like a very natural personal and professional next step in this journey. Providing a fresh and relevant approach to today's styles in home décor and design, and hopefully thereby enriching the lifestyles of my customers, is a passion that fills me with boundless energy and enthusiasm. I truly look forward to sharing it with those whose paths intersect with mine, in the smallest or largest of ways.
I am married to a wonderful man and have three children, two boys and a girl whom I adore and cherish.
I am most happy when I am …