By using the House of Hackney website you accept our cookie policy. Find out more.
A Teenage Lair
The iconic designer Madeleine Castaing once said “I design rooms like others draw portraits”. A room is very much a portrait of the person who inhabits it. Beyond the décor, like a beautiful patchwork quilt, it is a tapestry of their lives - mementoes from places they’ve visited, words from loved ones, talismans from the past and art that has been discovered; it is home to books that have become friends, a favourite flower by the bedside and collected curios. In our House, we live surrounded by what we love.
In this series we look at a portrait of a person in their own habitat, as we explore how their room reflects their spirit.
This time, we remain close to home with 13 year old Javi, son of House of Hackney founders Frieda and Javvy. It is no mean feat to create a teenage bedroom when aesthetic tastes across the generations rarely see eye to eye; here we talk to Frieda about the story of her son’s room.
A Teenage Lair
The iconic designer Madeleine Castaing once said “I design rooms like others draw portraits”. A room is very much a portrait of the person who inhabits it. Beyond the décor, like a beautiful patchwork quilt, it is a tapestry of their lives - mementoes from places they’ve visited, words from loved ones, talismans from the past and art that has been discovered; it is home to books that have become friends, a favourite flower by the bedside and collected curios. In our House, we live surrounded by what we love.
In this series we look at a portrait of a person in their own habitat, as we explore how their room reflects their spirit.
This time, we remain close to home with 13 year old Javi, son of House of Hackney founders Frieda and Javvy. It is no mean feat to create a teenage bedroom when aesthetic tastes across the generations rarely see eye to eye; here we talk to Frieda about the story of her son’s room.
“We moved to Trematon, Cornwall from London 3 years ago and we are only now getting around to making the house a home. A child’s bedroom is their own personal sanctuary - a place for their imagination to run wild, to retreat to and call their own. Javi has just turned 13, it’s a tentative age and his curiosities and interests are fast evolving. The ambition was to create a bedroom that everyone was happy with; one which allowed Javi to stamp his own personality on it, and considering the investment, it would need to grow with him.
We wanted a bright, fresh room which felt timeless and would be a good blank canvas for layering the “stuff” of his ever growing passions into. He - understandably - didn’t want floral prints, and we didn’t want a white box, so we settled on a scheme of azure blue stripes with pops of white and midnight blue. I had forever wanted to attempt a striped tented room and was delighted when Javi was up for it. No one is too old for a tented room! We chose the LAURISTON STRIPE as the basis for the scheme, which would work across wallpaper and curtain fabric. Using one print throughout brought harmony to the space. We used the striped cotton to upholster a Titchmarsh & Goodwin bed and wardrobe, ‘future heirloom’ pieces that were already in the room. We painted the wood white and it instantly felt more modern - big transformations can be achieved with just a pot of paint! We used an off-white called CIRRUS, and the blue-black shade APATITE, both from our eco paint collection 'The Art of Nature’.
A local quilter lovingly sewed a patchwork blanket using velvet squares cut from the colour scheme, which he will cherish forever. I was handed down a beloved patchwork quilt from my family and wanted to continue the same tradition for my children. We made the decision to install our Axminster x House of Hackney WILD CARD leopard print wool carpet, as design-wise it goes with everything, pattern-wise, it hides muddy footprints and investment-wise, it insulates a draughty house in winter and will last a lifetime of wear and tear. We built floating bookshelves in the alcoves to house Javi’s favourite things - toys, memories, books, and we added enough depth for stuff like records when he is older. We gave him a cork board which he painted in the two tone checkerboard of his beloved Vans, and once dry, he pinned his favourite things on it - a lot of hip hop and skate posters! Art felt a little grown up for his room, so we sourced some of Hugh Holland’s iconic 70’s kids skating photographs which we framed. These sit sweetly alongside a framed baby photo of him in my arms, which has hung in every bedroom he has had.
I am really happy with the result, and more importantly, so is Javi. I wish him long hours of enjoying this personal space which will be a refuge for him during these formative years. Let’s hope there’s not too much door slamming, but I say bring on the loud music!”
“We moved to Trematon, Cornwall from London 3 years ago and we are only now getting around to making the house a home. A child’s bedroom is their own personal sanctuary - a place for their imagination to run wild, to retreat to and call their own. Javi has just turned 13, it’s a tentative age and his curiosities and interests are fast evolving. The ambition was to create a bedroom that everyone was happy with; one which allowed Javi to stamp his own personality on it, and considering the investment, it would need to grow with him.
We wanted a bright, fresh room which felt timeless and would be a good blank canvas for layering the “stuff” of his ever growing passions into. He - understandably - didn’t want floral prints, and we didn’t want a white box, so we settled on a scheme of azure blue stripes with pops of white and midnight blue. I had forever wanted to attempt a striped tented room and was delighted when Javi was up for it. No one is too old for a tented room! We chose the LAURISTON STRIPE as the basis for the scheme, which would work across wallpaper and curtain fabric. Using one print throughout brought harmony to the space. We used the striped cotton to upholster a Titchmarsh & Goodwin bed and wardrobe, ‘future heirloom’ pieces that were already in the room. We painted the wood white and it instantly felt more modern - big transformations can be achieved with just a pot of paint! We used an off-white called CIRRUS, and the blue-black shade APATITE, both from our eco paint collection 'The Art of Nature’.
A local quilter lovingly sewed a patchwork blanket using velvet squares cut from the colour scheme, which he will cherish forever. I was handed down a beloved patchwork quilt from my family and wanted to continue the same tradition for my children. We made the decision to install our Axminster x House of Hackney WILD CARD leopard print wool carpet, as design-wise it goes with everything, pattern-wise, it hides muddy footprints and investment-wise, it insulates a draughty house in winter and will last a lifetime of wear and tear. We built floating bookshelves in the alcoves to house Javi’s favourite things - toys, memories, books, and we added enough depth for stuff like records when he is older. We gave him a cork board which he painted in the two tone checkerboard of his beloved Vans, and once dry, he pinned his favourite things on it - a lot of hip hop and skate posters! Art felt a little grown up for his room, so we sourced some of Hugh Holland’s iconic 70’s kids skating photographs which we framed. These sit sweetly alongside a framed baby photo of him in my arms, which has hung in every bedroom he has had.
I am really happy with the result, and more importantly, so is Javi. I wish him long hours of enjoying this personal space which will be a refuge for him during these formative years. Let’s hope there’s not too much door slamming, but I say bring on the loud music!”
Little Green Book
HOUSE OF HACKNEY
Paint, wallpaper and curtains, fabric.
houseofhackney.com
VOLGA LINEN
Luxury, sustainable linen.
volgalinen.com
HUGH HOLLAND
Photography prints.
Hughhollandstore.com
TITCHMARSH & GOODWIN
Bespoke wooden bed and wardrobe.
titchmarsh-goodwin.co.uk
AXMINSTER CARPETS x HOUSE OF HACKNEY
Bespoke flooring.
houseofhackney.com
MORE THAN ART FRAMING
Picture framing.
65 Fore St, Saltash
Cornwall, PL12 6AF
HOUSE OF HACKNEY
Paint, wallpaper and curtains, fabric.
houseofhackney.com
VOLGA LINEN
Luxury, sustainable linen.
volgalinen.com
HUGH HOLLAND
Photography prints.
Hughhollandstore.com
TITCHMARSH & GOODWIN
Bespoke wooden bed and wardrobe.
titchmarsh-goodwin.co.uk
AXMINSTER CARPETS x HOUSE OF HACKNEY
Bespoke flooring.
houseofhackney.com
MORE THAN ART FRAMING
Picture framing.
65 Fore St, Saltash
Cornwall, PL12 6AF
Sounds of our House
“We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams.”
We believe music is the best finishing touch to a home. Listen to our carefully curated playlists and dream on with
House of Hackney.
Sounds of our House
“We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams.”
We believe music is the best finishing touch to a home. Listen to our carefully curated playlists and dream on with
House of Hackney.
House Favourites
House Favourites
Explore More
Decorating a Kid's Room
DISCOVER MORE
Girl’s Room Makeover
DISCOVER MORE
Interior Styling Consultation
DISCOVER MORE
How to Hang Wallpaper Perfectly
DISCOVER MORE
