for something that balances the past with
being modern and contemporary.”
House of Hackney’s latest collection,
launching this month, is with historic
French wallpaper house Zuber, which was
founded in 1797 and is recognised for its
painted landscapes. King Louis Philippe of
France was an early fan, and later, designer
Yves Saint Laurent hung the elaborate prints
on the walls of his houses in Marrakesh
and Tangier. “This is the second part of
our artistic collaboration, and because it is
for spring, it’s quite focused on the fresh
palette that we are known for,” she says.
“As a brand we are very influenced by
the natural world, so it’s quite leafy. The
hero print is the Bambusa, featuring
different motifs from the natural world,
such as the snake [Kassia], which for us
has become quite an important icon.”
They go on to tell us that nature is their
biggest muse, and coming up with new
ideas isn’t a problem. “You just continue to
find new avenues and ways at looking for
fresh ideas. That’s one of the easiest parts
of the job,” Javvy says.
“As much as we like
to visit exhibitions, it’s
literally very much
about the zeitgeist
of what the mood
is,” she adds. “And
what’s going on in
the world, in terms
of colour – it can
be someone walking
down the road
wearing an amazing-
coloured coat. The
team laugh at me about what [references]
I’ll bring in. Like a photo of a dump
truck that’s fading and the perfect colour.
“Or a few weeks ago I brought in a
swatch of a really beautiful hue from the
Hackney recycling bag. It was perfect
for a collection we were working on.
Almost like a beautiful tea-stain shade.”
By way of protecting the source of
their inspirations, the pair have been
eco-minded since the get-go. That mindset
begins by believing that if you invest in
good quality products, they should last a
lifetime. “It’s not the same as fashion, in that
interiors are a slower consideration. You
need to let people have time to think about
their purchase. Or they may be building a
room up over a few years. The lovely thing
is the effort lasts longer, which is good.”
Also, to ‘lighten the load’, they
produce to order and in small batches
to cut down on waste; and they work
with UK craftspeople to decrease their
carbon footprint – furniture is produced
in Nottingham, fabrics in Lancaster,
cushions in Wokingham, crockery in
Stoke-on-Trent and lighting in Wales.
“We have also changed the filling of
the cushions from feathers to wool,” Javvytells us – which is the most eco-friendly
method currently available. Additionally,
the wallpapers are PVC-free and the paper
comes from FSC-certified mills. But they
are looking at ways to produce hemp
wallpaper – something that is possible, but
no-one is yet doing. “We don’t inherit the
planet from our parents; we borrow it from
our children,” Javvy adds poignantly.
We are told a “high point” of their young
brand was creating the terrace at London
private members’ club Annabel’s in 2016;
and, more recently, working with & Other
Stories on an eco-friendly collection. “All
the fabrics were hemp and organic cotton,”
Frieda tells us. “What I also liked was it
allowed someone that maybe can’t afford
the brand to have a piece of it. And
it was a very positive collaboration.”
When we leave the kitchen (Javvy’s
favourite room) we walk through the hallway
to the leaf-printed stair-runner. “The biggest
transformation is the hallway. We didn’t used
to have one. We reconfigured this space
about a year ago – you used to walk almost
straight into the toilet,”
Frieda tells us. The floor
is tiled in classic black
and white chequerboard
and the walls are not
print, but a moulded
white Lincrusta paper.
The rest of the rooms
are, however, covered in
colourful designs, which
actually work without
feeling too much.
“Home is a sanctuary;
it’s important for family
life that it is a place you can relax,” Frieda
says, as we walk into the botanical bathroom
(both walls and actual plants), Frieda’s
personal favourite. “I love this room.
At the end of the day I light a candle, get
out the oil and have a bath – spa vibes.”
Frieda and Javvy share the five-bedroom
end of terrace with children Javi Jr,
nine, and Lila, six. Javi Jr’s room is
papered in a blue pinstripe covered with
swimming whales; and Lila has an archive
William Morris daisy print on her walls.
“For us it’s just normal,” Frieda says.
“But I think for our nine-year-old son,
he’s a bit like, ‘I wish our house was like
everybody else’s’, and, ‘Mummy, stop
wearing that hat when you walk me to
school’. He’s obsessed with computers.”
“And we’re not,” they both add in unison.
“He can’t understand why our house
is painted navy,” Frieda smiles, adding,
“But it’s a nice serene environment
and we’re very lucky to live in Hackney,
which feels like a village. Our kids go to
the local school, across the park by the
lido. There’s a real sense of community,”
she adds, and it becomes apparent
they won’t be moving their brand away
from its namesake any time soon. Q‘IT’S NOT
THE SAME AS
FASHION –
INTERIORS
ARE A SLOWER
CONSIDERATION.
THE EFFORT
LASTS LONGER’hfm LIFESTYLE
FROM TOP Plants
real and figurative
decorate the
bathroom, a haven
of relaxation for
Frieda; the hallway
floor is tiled in
classic black and
white chequerboard