Spotlight on a Project: Hannah Weiland

In conversation with

Hannah Weiland

This month we're shining a spotlight on the home of Hannah Weiland, founder of Shrimps, and the work of interior architect Tabitha Isobel. Built-in bunk beds, a lucky-find vintage ladder, and a colour palette guided entirely by one beautiful rug. Keep reading to find out more about this beautifully curated children's room.

On Decor AND Design

Do you approach decorating your home with the same instinct you bring to fashion or does it feel like a slower, more personal creative process, particularly when you are choosing fabrics, furniture, or finishing touches?

Yes, I think I do approach it in a similar way. In both fashion and interiors I love contrast. I am always drawn to something new paired with something old, something kitsch with something minimal, modern alongside antique, patterned next to plain. I use this a lot in fashion design and with styling too. It stops a concept or a room from feeling like too much of one thing and creates a sense of balance.

ON NEW VERSUS OLD

There is something so timeless about this room, the bunk beds, the wooden ladder, the soft florals. Do you find yourself drawn to vintage or antique pieces, and how do you balance those with newer finds?

I really wanted to source a vintage ladder to contrast with the built in bunk beds and create a sense of timelessness. It was a lucky find and I think it works beautifully. I do love mixing vintage or antique pieces with newer ones, it adds depth and stops a room from feeling too polished.

ON THE EVERYDAY

Colour plays such a central role in Shrimps. When it comes to your home, how do you decide which colours feel right to live with every day?

At home I have a go-to strategy for choosing colour. I tend to lean towards softer pastel or light shades on the walls, then bring in stronger colour through prints, fabrics, furniture and rugs. It feels easier to live with and gives you flexibility to layer things in over time.

Our attic room is a good example. The space was almost entirely shaped around the Shrimps x Pelican House Royal Garden rug, with its beautiful buttery yellow, khaki green and deep maroon tones. Those colours really set the mood for the room and guided the rest of my choices. They helped me decide on other fabrics, such as the Rose Uniacke green spotted blind, which subtly picks up and highlights the green in the rug.

ON THE DETAILS

The little finishing touches feel so intentional. Are you someone who agonises over the small things, or do they tend to fall into place once the bigger decisions are made?

It is actually usually the small things I find easiest to choose. With the details I often know from the beginning what I want to use. For example there was never any doubt in my mind about using the MG&Co. knobs. From the start I knew I would make them work in the room.

ON GROWTH AND CHANGE

Children’s rooms can feel like they need constant updating. Did you think about creating something that would grow with them, or do you embrace the idea that spaces evolve and change?

With this room I wanted to create something that would grow with them, so I chose fabrics and colours that feel timeless and fairly neutral. Greens, yellow, cream and brown. The Howe brown and black stripe fabric for example is something I would happily use in a sitting room as well. The wallpaper felt particularly suited to my son though, St Jude’s Squirrel and Sunflower, as it depicts so many of the things he loves, animals, insects and plants. I do think my daughters will love it too.

ON COLOUR

Do you have any favourite paint colours?

I have a few paint colours that are firm favourites. Dimity, Dorset Cream, Blackened, Peignoir and Jitney from Farrow and Ball are ones I return to again and again. For this project I worked with an interior architect, Tabitha Isobel, who introduced me to some shades I had not come across before. Floral Street by Mylands is the yellow used on the bunk beds. It took months of decision making, and having Tabitha there to bounce ideas off definitely helped.