A champion of maximalism in what was in 2011 a largely minimalist world, the fledgling British brand House of Hackney offered fantastical wallpapers, sumptuous fabrics and playful accessories layered so daringly and intensely that it caused quite a stir in its inaugural year. Fast-forward a decade or so, and the company had gone from strength to strength, thanks to an ever-expanding collection of high-quality British-made products and a set of social and environmental values that have earned it the prestigious B-Corp Certification.
“When we first launched, there was a real focus on Scandi design, and everyone, including us, was living in white boxes,” recalls Frieda Gormley, who founded the business with her husband, Javvy M Royle.
“We found ourselves in this very sterile environment at what was politically and economically quite a bleak time in the UK. What we wanted was color, pattern and to really bring nature into our home. But at one end of the market was IKEA, and at the other were the kind of traditional wallpapers and furniture our parents were buying.”
Desperate for beautiful, well-made products, they created the designs themselves. Thus was born the House of Hackney, named after the East London borough where Gormley and Royle lived. The couple drew on a rich melting pot of inspirations, including Victorian-era palm houses, their urban neighborhood and the iconic William Morris.
Right from the start, the pair knew they needed their heritage-inspired range to be made in the UK. With no little black book of suppliers, they embarked on a six-month road trip around the British Isles in search of craftspeople with whom they could collaborate.
“It was so exciting to discover factories that had been family run for generations — ceramics in Stoke-on-Trent, for example, and weavers in Lancashire and Suffolk,” Gormley said in 2023. “Almost thirteen years later, we’ve forged important relationships with those people and grown together. They’re very much part of our family.”
With no physical shop or showroom, they shot photographs and presented the designs to buyers in their own Victorian house, swathing the living room and bedrooms in layer upon layer of bold and botanical prints.
The company focused in 2023 on an initiative that Gormley and Royle were calling the Year of the Garden, a series of projects with an emphasis on both nature and sustainability that included an exclusive partnership with 1stDibs. Along with an edit of core House of Hackney items, including wallpapers, textiles, rugs, lighting and furniture, the 1stDibs collaboration had Gormley and Royle curating a selection of vintage pieces by the likes of Mario Bellini, Tobia Scarpa and others, several of which have been given a new lease on life with vibrant House of Hackney fabrics.
A continuation of the couple’s ongoing mission to connect people with the great outdoors, the project also reflected their dedication to bringing maximum joy into people’s homes.
“We don’t look at trends, but we do stay close to nature, and we’re quite tucked in to that,” says Gormley. “It’s exciting when people are playful with decorating and just want to have fun with it.”
Find House of Hackney sofas, armchairs and other furniture and decorative objects on 1stDibs.
$395 / item
ARTEMIS Large Tassel Velvet Cushion - Blush
By House of Hackney
Located in New York, NY
An homage to legendary Vogue editor Diana Vreeland's 'Garden in Hell' room, this ARTEMIS cushion is in fact a rather heavenly combination of painterly florals and a pretty blush pink...
Velvet
$395 / item
SABER Large Tassel Velvet Cushion - Pink
By House of Hackney
Located in New York, NY
Work the big cat of the jungle into your interior with this plush velvet cushion. SABER the tiger, a Tibetan-inspired motif, pops against a luscious pink background. House of Hackn...
Velvet
$345 / item
FLORESCENCE Wallpaper - Azure
By House of Hackney
Located in New York, NY
A rebellious riot of blooms, FLORESCENCE is not your granny’s florals. A carpet of tulips, anemones and primroses against a backdrop of ‘Azure’ blue, this wallpaper is chintzy but ch...
Polyester
$345 / item
URTICA Wallpaper - Myrtle Stripe
By House of Hackney
Located in New York, NY
An ode to the humble nettle, this print is a celebration of the powerhouse of the plant world. Against a backdrop of soft cream with a soothing green stripe, the verdant, climbing ...
Paper
$3,600
ARTEMIS Rug - Blush
By House of Hackney
Located in New York, NY
Originally designed as an ode to Victoriana, our much-loved ARTEMIS motif has now been infused with a whole lot more history, courtesy of Axminster Carpets. Reimagined as an exquisit...
Wool
$230 / item
HOLLYHOCKS Cotton Linen - Spring
By House of Hackney
Located in New York, NY
Reminiscent of the lush colour and luminous cheerfulness found in Gustav Klimt's paintings of flower gardens, HOLLYHOCKS was created especially for House of Hackney by American artist Kerry Simmons, based on her own work of the same name. While capturing the pastoral purity and romance of cottagecore, our punk spirit is embedded in its bold palette and riot of flowers. Printed in Britain, this smooth cotton-linen will make for enlivening window coverings...
Linen
$345 / item
PRATARIA Wallpaper - Galaxias
By House of Hackney
Located in New York, NY
Inspired by the wildflower meadows native to America, this hand-painted wallpaper features dandelion for hope, calendula for protection, yarrow for healing & mallow for love. A field...
Paper
$345 / item
ARBOREA Wallpaper - Tourmaline
By House of Hackney
Located in New York, NY
Journey through the arboreal delights of French historical archive prints and 16th century verdure tapestries with ARBOREA. In muted tones of greens and earthy, grounding pink-brown,...
Paper
$345 / item
ARBOREA Wallpaper - Earth
By House of Hackney
Located in New York, NY
Journey through the arboreal delights of French historical archive prints and 16th century verdure tapestries with ARBOREA. In muted sepia tones and a grounding neutral background, t...
Paper
$345 / item
NEMOR Wallpaper - Anemone
By House of Hackney
Located in New York, NY
Escape to a verdant woodland grove with NEMOR, in the rich, warming, plumy-brown tones of 'Anenome'. Reminiscent of antique verdure tapestries, this evergreen print will bring the be...
Paper
$345 / item
ZEUS Wallpaper - Eau De Nil
By House of Hackney
Located in New York, NY
Capturing a tranquil scene in nature, the ZEUS wallpaper features painterly cranes, weeping willows and delicate flowers against a chic eau de nil backdrop. Thi...
Polyester
$345 / item
ARBOREA Wallpaper - Verde
By House of Hackney
Located in New York, NY
Journey through the arboreal delights of French historical archive prints and 16th century verdure tapestries with ARBOREA; a verdant green mural wallpaper designed to bring a touch ...
Paper
$345 / item
HOLLYHOCKS Wallpaper - Earth
By House of Hackney
Located in New York, NY
Our beloved floral HOLLYHOCKS has been reimagined in a warming, earthy pink palette. Reminiscent of the lush colour and luminous cheerfulness found in Gustav Klimt's paintings of flo...
Paper
$345 / item
ARBOREA Wallpaper - Euphorbia
By House of Hackney
Located in New York, NY
Journey through the arboreal delights of French historical archive prints and 16th century verdure tapestries with ARBOREA. In verdant greens against a backdrop of sky-blue, this mur...
Paper
$345 / item
BABYLON Wallpaper - Papyrus & Willow
By House of Hackney
Located in New York, NY
Our luxury BABYLON wallpaper in 'Papyrus' is a contemporary alternative to a cream-based interiors colour palette, bringing nature into the home in the process. Inspired by 1950s Pal...
Polyester
$345 / item
BELTANE Wallpaper - Euphorbia
By House of Hackney
Located in New York, NY
Celebrate the return of the sun with BELTANE. Inspired by the Celtic festival that marks the height of Spring and the approach of Summer, this hand-sketched meadow print featuring de...
Paper
$1,750 / item
FORIS Cork Wallpaper - Cerulean
By House of Hackney
Located in New York, NY
Transcend to the woodland of Shakespeare and merry England with FORIS; a verdant print depicting a grove of ancient oak trees. But this is not just any wallpaper, this is made from t...
Cork
$345 / item
PLANTASIA Wallpaper - Cedar
By House of Hackney
Located in New York, NY
Bring the magic of the forest into your home with PLANTASIA, in muted verdant greens. A mural of majestic trees stretching out as far as the horizon, PLANTASIA is our vision of an id...
Paper
THE DANCING ORCHIDS Medium Piped Hemp Cushion - Ecru
By House of Hackney
Located in New York, NY
Open your home and your heart to THE DANCING ORCHIDS. Said to symbolize beauty and love, our posies pirouette against a backdrop of natural cream hemp. Woven from 100% hemp fibres a...
Hemp
$7,050 / item
COMPTON Cotton Linen Vesper Loveseat - Onyx
By House of Hackney
Located in New York, NY
Named for the Latin evening star, the Vesper Loveseat is the perfect piece for curling up in when the sun goes down. Cloaked in our ‘Onyx’ black rendition of William Morris’ COMPTON...
Cotton, Linen
$345 / item
MOON GARDEN MAGNA Wallpaper - Tourmaline
By House of Hackney
Located in New York, NY
Bring the magick home with the enchanting MOON GARDEN MAGNA. Dance under the stars and frolic in the moonlight with the mandrakes in our garden of earthly delights. Featuring verdant...
Paper
$345 / item
HOLLYHOCKS Wallpaper - Dew
By House of Hackney
Located in New York, NY
Our beloved floral HOLLYHOCKS has been reimagined in a vibrant blue palette. Reminiscent of the lush colour and luminous cheerfulness found in Gustav Klimt's paintings of flower gard...
Paper
$345 / item
MOON GARDEN Wallpaper - Midnight
By House of Hackney
Located in New York, NY
Dance under the stars and frolic in the moonlight with the mandrakes in MOON GARDEN. This wallpaper is a garden of earthly delights, featuring midnight plants, swirling trees, fantas...
Paper
$270 / item
ARTEMIS Velvet - Blush
By House of Hackney
Located in New York, NY
With a warm blush background and an array of richly hued wild flowers, the ARTEMIS velvet is a truly enchanting fabric choice that will bring vivid prin...
Velvet
ARTIST'S STRIPE Wallpaper - Sakura & Astrantia
By House of Hackney
Located in New York, NY
Make an understated statement with the imperfectly perfect ARTIST’S STRIPE. With hand-painted serene green stripes against a backdrop of grounding plaster pink, this is the perfect p...
Paper
$345 / item
ARTIST'S STRIPE Wallpaper - Amber
By House of Hackney
Located in New York, NY
Make an understated statement with the imperfectly perfect ARTIST’S STRIPE. With hand-painted golden 'Amber' stripes against a grounding neutral backdrop, this is the perfect print t...
Paper
$345 / item
TARAXA Wallpaper - Noir
By House of Hackney
Located in New York, NY
Celebrate the wonder of weeds with TARAXA. Based on an archival geometric design, this botanic beauty depicts the gentle dandelion, said to promote healing and carry wishes on the wi...
Paper
$345 / item
GARDENIA Wallpaper - Verde
By House of Hackney
Located in New York, NY
Bring the joy of a garden in full bloom into your home with GARDENIA. Created by artist Kerry Simmons, painterly posies and verdant foliage collide in a riot of hues, promising to im...
Paper
$345 / item
UMBRA Wallpaper - Verde
By House of Hackney
Located in New York, NY
Where there is darkness there is always light. In UMBRA (the Latin for shade), our painterly peonies cast a watchful eye as they emerge from the shadows. In verdant greens and petal-...
Paper
$6,350 / item
COMPTON Cotton Linen Vesper Chair - Onyx
By House of Hackney
Located in New York, NY
amed for the Latin evening star, the VESPER is the perfect piece for curling up in when the sun goes down. Cloaked in our ‘Onyx’ black rendition of William Morris’ COMPTON print in c...
Cotton, Linen
$345 / item
ZEUS Wallpaper - Tobacco
By House of Hackney
Located in New York, NY
A work of wallpaper art, the ZEUS print nods to traditional chinoiserie design. Capturing elegant cranes and regal weeping willow trees to mesmeric effect, it'll bring a sense of ser...
Polyester
$345 / item
ARTIST'S STRIPE Wallpaper - Apatite
By House of Hackney
Located in New York, NY
Make an understated statement with the imperfectly perfect ARTIST’S STRIPE. With hand-painted serene denim blue stripes against a backdrop of cool sky blue, this is the perfect print...
Paper
$345 / item
ARTIST'S STRIPE Wallpaper - Opal
By House of Hackney
Located in New York, NY
Make an understated statement with the imperfectly perfect ARTIST’S STRIPE. With hand-painted verdant green stripes against a backdrop of opalescent creamy green, this is the perfect...
Paper
$270 / item
WILD CARD Jacquard - Butterscotch
By House of Hackney
Located in New York, NY
The new neutral, WILD CARD is House of Hackney's reimagining of the classic leopard spot, reworked on a small scale for a truly versatile print. A timeless addition to any interior, ...
Jacquard
$7,120 / item
ARTEMIS Rug - Petrol
By House of Hackney
Located in New York, NY
This is a rug that tells a story; one that has been passed down through the generations to the master weavers at Axminster Carpets today. It's a tale of traditional craftsmanship and...
Wool
$345 / item
HACKNEY EMPIRE Wallpaper - Midnight
By House of Hackney
Located in New York, NY
Animals dressed up in finery are depicted in the iconic HACKNEY EMPIRE print. A hookah-smoking sloth, a frog in a bowler hat, a fanning otter and an imbibing badger are just some of ...
Polyester
ARTIST'S STRIPE Wallpaper - Laurustine & Galaxias
By House of Hackney
Located in New York, NY
Make a statement with ARTIST’S STRIPE. Our perfectly imperfect hand-painted liquorice stripes sit against a backdrop of forest green, giving the classic striped wallpaper a rock‘n’ro...
Paper
$11,440 / item
ARTEMIS Cotton Linen Vesper Sofa - Jadeite
By House of Hackney
Located in New York, NY
Bring the wild beauty of Nature into your home with the ARTEMIS Vesper loveseat in verdant ‘Jadeite’ green. Named for the Latin evening star, the Vesper Loveseat is the perfect piec...
Cotton, Linen
$1,750 / item
AQUIFOLIA Cork Wallpaper - Dahlia
By House of Hackney
Located in New York, NY
Inspired by sacred sea holly, this oceanic damask design wallpaper will bring a touch of Celtic charm to your space with its climbing petals and swirling leaves. A symbol of luck, pe...
Cork
$345 / item
TARAXA Wallpaper - Phlox
By House of Hackney
Located in New York, NY
Celebrate the wonder of weeds with TARAXA. Based on an archival geometric design, this botanic beauty depicts the gentle dandelion, said to promote healing and carry wishes on the wi...
Paper
$345 / item
TARAXA Wallpaper - Euphorbia
By House of Hackney
Located in New York, NY
Celebrate the wonder of weeds with TARAXA. Based on an archival geometric design, this botanic beauty depicts the gentle dandelion, said to promote healing and carry wishes on the wi...
Paper
$345 / item
DINOSAURIA Wallpaper - Ecru
By House of Hackney
Located in New York, NY
House of Hackney presents DINOSAURIA, a tribute to the long extinct but endlessly fascinating dinosaur. This detailed depiction showcases these regal creatures in a foliage-filled ha...
Polyester
$230 / item
PLANTASIA Cotton Linen - Sage
By House of Hackney
Located in New York, NY
Bring the magic of the forest into your home with PLANTASIA. Painted with mighty and majestic trees stretching out as far as the horizon, PLANTASIA is our vision of an idyllic landsc...
Linen
$345 / item
APRICUS Wallpaper - Aurelian
By House of Hackney
Located in New York, NY
A favourite word, Apricity, lends its name to this print. Meaning ‘warmed by the sun’, this eye-catching wallpaper promises to bring light and delight to your interiors. With hints o...
Paper
$345 / item
MIDNIGHT GARDEN Wallpaper - Multi
By House of Hackney
Located in New York, NY
Our MIDNIGHT GARDEN wallpaper is inspired by the Dutch Masters and depicts a country garden after dark. Painted with bountiful blooms in a classic colour palette of pink, green, off-...
Polyester
$345 / item
BABYLON Wallpaper - Blush & Willow
By House of Hackney
Located in New York, NY
Introduce the ambience of 1950s Palm Springs into your home with the luxurious BABYLON wallpaper featuring the weeping willow tree's majestic boughs. Blush pink and soft greens creat...
Polyester
$345 / item
AMATORIA Wallpaper - Tourmaline
By House of Hackney
Located in New York, NY
In grounding plaster pink ‘Tourmaline’, fall for the art of love with AMATORIA, our vintage 1930s inspired floral print wallpaper, blooming with...
Polyester
WILD CARD Medium Jacquard Cushion - Butterscotch
By House of Hackney
Located in New York, NY
WILD CARD is House of Hackney's reworking of the classic leopard print - our new neutral. This cotton jacquard cushion will bring understated glamour ...
Jacquard
WILD CARD Jacquard Tilia Lampshade - Butterscotch
By House of Hackney
Located in New York, NY
Leopard print is a timeless interiors choice. Crafted in Wales, the WILD CARD Tilia lampshade offers a stylish way to introduce the aesthetic into your home. Pair this exquisite jacq...
Jacquard
$345 / item
ARTIST'S STRIPE Wallpaper - Carnelian
By House of Hackney
Located in New York, NY
Make an understated statement with the imperfectly perfect ARTIST’S STRIPE. With hand-painted, earthy brown stripes against a backdrop of grounding clay pink, this rich neutral will ...
Paper
The entryway to a house is called a foyer.