Why I love Kensington

Luxury interior designer Rudolph Diesel, head of interior design studio Rudolph Diesel Interiors, shares his favourite London haunts.

Love to look at: 

From the domed splendour of the Albert Hall and the gilded excess of the Albert Memorial to the Romanesque Revival architecture of the museum's quarter, it’s no wonder that Kensington has been described as a ‘Victorian citadel’.  There are some striking examples of contemporary architecture here too, including Zaha Hadid’s sensuous design for the Serpentine Sackler Gallery extension.  Kensington’s public parks are tranquil havens of green space: Holland Park, with its glorious open air opera venue, and Kensington Gardens, where I just have to stop at the Italian Gardens Café, by Colicci, for an intense espresso or a refreshing gelato, and listen to the splash of fountains.

Love to shop:

Dedicated foodies head for the Whole Foods Market, located in the old Barkers department store building.  Independent bookstore South Kensington Books is one of my favourite haunts, while The Conran Shop is a home-from-home whenever I’m in the area.  Based in the old Michelin Building, it’s the ideal place to browse for contemporary homewares and furniture when I’m home staging those special London interior design projects.  

Love to eat: 

The tongue-in-cheek ‘London-themed’ afternoon tea served at the Kensington Hotel’s Town House restaurant - with cakes inspired by city landmarks, warm scones and fragrant jasmine tea - is a bit of a guilty pleasure.  For a more sophisticated dining experience, I’ll go for Yashin Sushi in Argyll Road (I love their ‘no soy’ policy) or Dishoom on Derry Street: an atmospheric fusion of jazz, cocktails and Art Deco decor.

Whether I’m working on graphic design and branding for a major new development or creating luxury design interiors, I feel particularly at home in Kensington.  Residents here appreciate the good things in life, and that’s evident in their confidence and sense of style.