With shared values of timelessness, craft, curiosity, and a love of Nature, the House of Hackney x Nickey Kehoe collaboration is a match made in (design) heaven.
Todd Nickey and Amy Kehoe began their brand in 2008 with the ethos of inspiring curiosity while signaling a sense of belonging, creating pieces that feel as if they were acquired, not purchased. Like our House, they make things with a story to tell, designed to live far beyond just one lifetime.
We sat down with Nickey Kehoe to talk about the collection, the importance of craft, and their top interiors tips. Scroll down to read more.
Shop the Collection
Limited Edition
Caspar
Linen Cushion - Juniper
£350.00
Craftsmanship and heritage is at the heart of both House of Hackney and Nickey Kehoe. Why are these so important to you?
We’re heavily inspired by William Morris’ Arts & Crafts Movement and their commitment to instilling integrity in every piece of furniture that is made. Morris emphasized the importance of well-made, thoughtfully produced pieces that allowed the artist to remain connected to the physicality of their craft and the materials at hand.
We’ve designed our own collection with the same intent. These are pieces made to be reupholstered and repainted; to be passed down and reconfigured. To be sanded, worn, and adored.
Nickey Kehoe furniture is locally made in LA by experts and artisans, why is locality such an important part of your approach?
In a way it began of necessity. The Nickey Kehoe Collection was born from designing pieces we couldn’t find in the market for our own design projects. We were always collaborating with local workrooms to have custom pieces made and, over time, it was those pieces that became the Collection. The wood workers and upholsterers we work with here in Los Angeles are such an important part of our DNA. As we’ve grown, it has been important to maintain not only our relationship with these generational family owned businesses, but also with their artisanship, quality and care.
House of Hackney’s main inspiration is Nature, and the palette you’ve conjured for this collection is both verdant and earthy, what drew you to these particular colourways?
We love a statement or splash but there was something about these designs and color combinations that felt rich and exciting and represented the blend of our shared aesthetics.
You’ve spoken before about the importance of storytelling, and curating interiors like a collection of memories, this is very much something we have in common! Why is the idea of story and history so important, and does it affect your design approach?
At the end of the day, home is where you hang your hat. If you’re lucky, you spend most of your time there and it is important to layer it with nods to yourself and your history and the life that you’ve lived. The places you’ve been, what occupies your mind. That’s what makes collecting so special. Every piece is a memory, a moment in time…and those memories can be deeply comforting in a crowded, clattery world.
The pieces in this collaboration are the perfect mix between traditional British design and the laidback timelessness of California, is this something you considered when designing?
We travel to Europe together every year and are always pulling inspiration from European antiques to meld with our California sensibility. We’re familiar with blending these worlds and love the play on silhouettes like the low back settee and Italian Wing Back Chair…they’re subtle nods to worldly influence while pleasing in scale and simplicity.
The House of Hackney x Nickey Kehoe collection features our CASPAR, QUERCUS and CAMELOT STRIPE prints, reimagined by you. What drew you to these prints?
There was a certain familiarity and shared language between the prints and our aesthetics. They are contemporary yet timeless; the large cabana stripe, the antique carpet print, the quiet florals. There’s a wide potential for application and an opportunity to be as daring or subdued as you’d like.
You’ve been in the interior design world for more than 20 years, so you are well versed in decorating and trends! What is your best piece of advice for someone decorating their home?
Leave room for surprise and chance. We probably leave about 30% of a project open for the unknown. Larger elements like furniture or cabinetry require planning but the final layer, the unexpected contrast or piece found at a market, is what makes a space feel uniquely your own and alive.
Learn more about Nickey Kehoe at www.nickeykehoe.com
