Following the success of last year’s collaboration with Stephanie of Marla & Primrose, we are beyond excited to be working together again - this time for our first-ever lunch on a houseboat at the end of the month. With the backdrop of gentle rippling water and the charm of an intimate floating setting, we can’t think of a better way to celebrate the artistry of beautifully curated homeware, delicious food, and creative conversation.
Marla & Primrose is a brand that celebrates the beauty of decorative homeware, collaborating with artisans and makers to create unique pieces that bring joy to any space. To mark our upcoming collaboration, we sat down with Stephanie to learn more about the journey behind her brand, her inspirations, and what’s next for Marla & Primrose.
Can you share the inspiration behind starting the company and how the journey has been since its inception?
It is really exciting Marla & Primrose is turning ‘2’ this year! People may not know this, but it all started with a trunk show at my home in Primrose Hill with close friends in March 2023. I love homeware and collecting beautiful things, and I began with a small curation of colourful glassware, plates, and decorative objects that I had found, and the business grew from there.
I’m a video journalist and often work on stories centred on centuries-old craft across the world and the importance of keeping them alive today. I remember working on a video feature about the Red List of Endangered Crafts – which is a list of heritage crafts at risk of dying out in the UK – and the importance of shining a light on these specialist skills. There are so many amazing crafts, and starting Marla & Primrose has been a way to support artisans in the UK and beyond. We predominantly work with one-person makers or artisans. I’ve just come across an amazing Bristol-based potter called Shiny Happy Pottery and have fallen in love with all their pieces. We have some beautiful candleholders being created as we speak…
Your brand collaborates with makers and artisans to create unique homeware pieces. How do you select your homeware?
A large portion of the collection is glassware; it’s something I really love myself – the more unusual, the better. There has been so much love for our bobble cocktail glasses, they are the type of glasses that would definitely make the party.
As with most of our homeware, the key is decorative. I wanted vases that looked just as pretty without flowers as they are with (we all have busy lives and sometimes fresh flowers are not top of the priority list!). Our ruffle bud vases are perfect for placing on a mantlepiece or bedside table just as they are, and our Sicilian Moor Heads are just as elegant without. I have a ceramic garlic that sits perfectly on my bookcase and a pomegranate on the coffee table, and they bring me so much joy!
The Granada Bird Dinner Plates collection is stunning. What inspired its design, and what makes it special?
I really cannot take any credit for the making of these stunning plates. They are painted by a ceramist, Sophia Pelizzoli, at her home in Maida Vale. The designs were inspired by a trip to Seville and the beautiful ceramics in shops with geometric designs, miniature birds, and fruits. Each plate is individual, revealing a work of art as you eat.
What have been the most rewarding moments since launching Marla & Primrose?
Nothing has gone to plan in the way I thought it would (in a good way). When you first start a business, you really cannot envisage the direction it will go. The first big moment for Marla & Primrose was being selected for the House & Garden edit at Spirit of Christmas and then part of their curated summer fair at Chelsea Barracks during the Chelsea Flower Show – it was beyond my wildest dreams for Marla & Primrose. Last year, we collaborated with Rixo for their homeware launch and began renting homeware on the platform, By Rotation. There is an amazing community of business owners, and the endless possibilities are so exciting.
Looking ahead, what exciting plans or new collections can customers anticipate from Marla & Primrose?
This year, we are going BIG on collaborations! It’s something I really enjoyed last year, working with tableware designer By Hope Home. We are working on another tablecloth together, and I honestly cannot wait for this one! I’ll also be collaborating with more designers this year for artisanal plates and embroidered pieces… that's really all I can say for now!
If you could give one piece of advice to someone starting a creative business, what would it be?
When you are a one-person team, you have to do it all (you definitely work harder than your 9-5), but it is so rewarding, and you learn a lot along the way. It can be a lot of trial and error, and you have to be realistic about what you can achieve as a tiny team of one when you are first starting out. When I first started, I thought there would be only one avenue of revenue, but this has expanded into selling in several shops in the UK, wholesaling in the US, renting for weddings and events, and also diversifying into video production services starting Marla Studio (@marla__studio) for visual storytelling for brands and people.
We are so looking forward to setting the table with Marla & Primrose once again.
As always, a huge thank you to Lou for the incredible photography from our last collaboration, capturing the essence of beautifully curated tablescapes and the joy of shared moments.
✨ Shop the Look – Everything on the Table is Available to Buy ✨
With much love Anna, Annie and Stephanie
