Shirlie Kemp has redecorated their dining room three times in four years and admits she still hasn’t got it right, with husband Martin struggling to keep up with the changes at their Hertfordshire home
Martin Kemp was evicted from camp and is met by wife Shirlie Kemp(Image: James Gourley/ITV/Shutterstock)
Martin Kemp has confessed to “struggling” to keep pace with the constant transformations at home, after his wife, singer Shirlie Kemp, revealed she is still unable to settle on a final design for one particular room in their house despite numerous attempts.
Shirlie, who shot to stardom in the 1980s as part of Wham! before forming the duo Pepsi and Shirlie, has recently spoken candidly about her continuing exasperation with the couple’s dining room.
Although the pair have resided in their Hertfordshire property for roughly four years, Shirlie says the space has already been redecorated several times over without achieving the desired result.
Discussing the problem on the Three Rooms podcast, the 63-year-old explained: “That’s the other thing that my husband finds hard, so, since I’ve been in this house, I think I’ve redecorated the dining room three times.
“We still haven’t got it right, we’ve only been here, maybe four years. It needs to go through one more this year, but I can’t get my dining room right. And I keep thinking, is it because it doesn’t want to be a dining room? Yeah, the house is trying to tell me no, this isn’t the dining room,” reports the Mirror.
Shirlie and Martin Kemp(Image: Getty Images)
The remarks provide a glimpse into the day-to-day life of the Kemps, who have been married since 1988. The couple first crossed paths during the peak of their music careers, with Martin serving as bassist for Spandau Ballet whilst Shirlie collaborated closely with George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley.
Their union swiftly became one of the most lasting relationships to emerge from the 1980s pop era. Together, they have two children: radio and television presenter Roman Kemp, born in 1993, and daughter Harley Moon, born in 1989, who is a songwriter and creative consultant.
Despite their public personas, Martin and Shirlie have largely kept their family life private, choosing to reside outside London in recent years.
Shirlie Kemp(Image: ITV screengrab)
Martin, fresh from his stint in ITV’s I’m A Celebrity… in the Australian jungle, has been keeping himself occupied with paintbrushes and gardening tools. The 64-year-old Spandau Ballet musician has worked alongside Shirlie to completely revamp their family home into a snug, cottage-style sanctuary.
Throughout the renovation process, the couple have provided fans with regular glimpses into their journey. Shirlie has chronicled much of the makeover on their shared Instagram account, Maison Number 9, where she posts videos of herself working diligently in the garden, which she is currently preparing for Christmas.
The couple are well-known for their enduringly supportive dynamic, and the recent revelation seems to mirror the playful disputes that frequently accompany home refurbishment projects.
There is no sign of strain, and Shirlie anticipates at least one more redesign before she can determine the room’s ultimate function.