A Home in Full Colour: Mhairi Wilson on The Dairy and Living with Timorous Beasties

Image: The Hallway featuring Honey Bee & Little Thistle Velvets in Olive

How would you describe The Dairy as a home and creative space?

“As an interior stylist, colour, pattern and the emotional feeling of a room are at the heart of how I work. The Dairy has been my own personal canvas for that, and Timorous Beasties has been part of the story from the very beginning."

What was your initial vision for The Dairy when you first moved in?

"When we first moved in, with our blended family of four children, all teenagers, all coming and going in that modern family way, the interiors were probably at their boldest: brighter, more colourful and more expressive.

My style is very much modern Scottish country - I love neutrals and softer tones, but also the warmth of nature-led colour. I don’t think you can go wrong being guided by nature when it comes to interiors. There’s a whole spectrum of colour there, from earthy neutrals to vivid brights, and that is very much how I work with colour. I’m always astonished by how Timorous Beasties creates such jewel-like tones - you could literally just sit and stare at them. They’re so beautiful, like works of art.”

Image: The Hideaway featuring Chintz Moth, Dragonfly & Honey Bee Cushions and Love Birds artwork from our archives

How did you first become aware of Timorous Beasties wallpapers and fabrics?

“I remember when Timorous Beasties launched. I was living in Glasgow’s West End at the time, and I remember it as a period when the city had really come into its own creatively - the art scene, the design, the music - everything felt so alive. So, in a way, it feels like a heritage brand to me, one that has been part of my own journey and evolution. I feel really proud that it has helped set the tone for my interiors at The Dairy. It’s a heritage brand for modern times, I suppose.”

How has your use of colour, pattern and materials evolved within the home?

"I drew our colour palette from everything going on in nature around us and brought in not just the softer natural tones, but also the vivid colours of nature - the rich inky blues, emerald greens, burnt orange and ochre hues. And of course, nobody does colour like Timorous Beasties. The velvets are jewel-like.

All our curtains were made from Timorous Beasties fabrics, beautifully made by Shona at West End Fabrics. I have Birdbranch Stripe Velvet Fabric Black on Honey for my stepdaughter’s room, the same design in Black on Sea Blue for my stepson’s room, Little Thistle Velvet Fabric Black & Pale Gold on Olive on one set of curtains in the hallway, while the others are Napoleon Bee Velvet Fabric Black & Pale Gold on Olive."

Talk us through your inspirations for The Hideaway?

When I created The Hideaway, our garden room, I wanted it to have almost a private members’ club feel - a place my husband and I could escape to for a glass of wine when the house was busy and full.

The Timorous Beasties cushions in there play a big part in that: the two Chintz Moth Fringed Velvet Cushions, the Small Dragonfly Velvet Cushion in Black & Pale Gold on Orange, and the Small Napoleon Bee Velvet Cushion in Teal. They add richness, personality and that slightly decadent feel I wanted for the space.

The Dairy has changed alongside your family and life stages, and you were recently featured on Scotland's Home of the Year. What has this journey meant to you personally and creatively?

“Being part of Scotland’s Home of the Year was something I felt really proud to do. It was definitely outside my comfort zone, but in the best possible way. Opening up your home feels so personal, but it also gave me a chance to reflect on what The Dairy means to us - a home full of colour, character, family life and a reflection of the changing natural surroundings around us.”