Velvet Treasures

Over the past few years velvet has featured heavily in the interior design world, and we love it! A great way to give a house, room, sofa, bed or anything a new spring of life is with the addition of something velvety. What’s more there are some great ways to get creative with the material, so if you think you might have a little soft spot for velvet here are some great ways to dress up your house in the stuff!

For some, velvet can be initially a little overwhelming, by its very nature it’s quite a dramatic fabric, especially compared to a linen or cotton. But this drama can either be played up or down depending on your preference, and mixing the fabric with a variety of designs or colours means you can integrate the texture with other factors in a room scheme easily and smoothly. If you want to start off slowly, you can never go wrong with a few velvet cushions to brighten up a sofa, armchair or bed. For a little bit of subtly, opt for a neutral colour, like these mink coloured cushions from Cox & Cox, play around with the different sizes and eventually add in some more complementary colours to go with them.

‘Velvet and Linen Cushions in Mink’ from Cox & Cox

Next add in this delicious creation from Timorous Beasties via Houseology, the bee motif is an iconic Timorous Beasties design and gold contrasted against its dark velvet background offers a dramatic spin on a comfy cushion. It’ll look wonderful popping out against a crisp white sofa, or enhance a romantic atmosphere mixed in with some dark and moody colours.

‘Napoleon Bee Cushion by Timorous Beasties’ from Houseology

If you’re looking for the perfect snuggly material for the remaining winter months, and probably the-not-so-warm spring ones, a velvet throw will turn an average bed into one fit for royalty. This pin-tucked throw from Cox & Cox is gorgeous and comes in this dreamy, timeless sage colour.

‘Velvet and Linen Pin-Tucked Quilt in Sage’ from Cox & Cox

Velvet is a great fabric to add to a traditional style interior, and the glamour can help a room look a hundred times more sophisticated. This button quilted Enya chair from Graham & Green is all about old school Hollywood style, and can transform a room, giving it that lift it’s been in need of, the velvet will catch the light in a wonderful way, giving it extra vibrancy, especially against more muted tones and fabrics.

‘Enya Relaxing Chair’ from Graham & Green

Velvet doesn’t just go with traditional style rooms and furniture, in fact incorporating a modern design with velvet is a great way to balance out the fabric’s dramatic nature. This velvet dining chair has a distinct Nordic style it and the combination of the plush velvet with the modern legs gives an interesting vibe that would give your dining room an individual look.

‘Velvet Button Dining Chair in Blue’ from Out There Interiors

The same goes for these fantastic revived Mid-Century designs distributed by Rose & Grey, and made by 366 Concepts. This rocking chair design takes its inspiration from Jozef Chierowski’s original Easy Chair, with the modern edition of the rocking feature. The Mid-Century wooden frame mixed together with the velvet upholstery creates an exciting, dynamic look.

‘Jozef Chierowski 366 Rocking Chair Velvet’ from Rose & Grey

Another wonderful design from the Rose & Grey and 366 Concept is this occasional chair originally designed by Teofil Halas in 1963. The smoky grey colour gleams in the sunlight and pairs perfectly with the tones of the wood frame. It brings about a balance between low-key elegance and distinctive design can will really set your interiors apart from the rest.

‘Velvet Halas Dining Chair’ from Rose & Grey

Heals have a wonderful sofa bed in stock at the moment, which reinvents the concept of a Chesterfield sofa. The Chesterfield is a classic design that can be worked into all sorts of interior schemes, the gorgeous sofa bed offers the same style in a contemporary way, it’s available in leather but I think the velvet version is the way to go. Shown below, its styled perfectly with some vibrant yellows and some extra velvet cushions if you just can’t get enough.

’40 Winks Sofa Bed’ from Heal’s

Speaking of yellow, I think I may have fallen in love with the colour of this super footstool from Swoon Editions. The velvet looks divine in its honey mustard colour, and would make a bold statement against some more neutral, contemporary surroundings, or even add a little spice mixed into a traditional setting. If you like the idea of velvet furnishing, but aren’t ready to invest in one of the larger pieces just yet, getting something smaller like a footstool is a great way to test the velvet waters.

‘Tivoli Footstool in Honey’ from Swoon Editions

A velvet effect rug will not only look luxurious but feel it too, a real treat for your eyes and your feet! This rug from Designers Guild is utterly beautiful. The interlocking patterns create an amazing textural effect giving depth and tone to the look of the rug. It’s the ideal solution when you want a simple rug that isn’t flat in appearance.

‘Roxburgh Rug in Moleskin’ from Designers Guild

For a little Art Nouveau touch to your velvet and your interiors, this golden flamingo lamp with a royal blue velvet shade will add a pinch of over the top frippery that all rooms need a little sprinkling of from time to time.

‘Metal Flamingo Table Lamp’ from Rockett St George

From beds to sofas to floors, adding a touch of velvet to an interior will give a scheme some wholehearted dramatic flair, which will not only make your home look fabulous but feel soft, plush and beautiful!

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Marvellous Marble

In recent years marble has become a leading theme in the world of interior design and home accessories. Before you may have thought about marble and imagined a large Bel-Air mansion covered head to toe in the stuff and maybe given a slightly involuntary grimace, with the word tacky scrolling across your mind. But marble has come back in style, taking an alternative pathway. It’s made its appearance in home accessories, from lighting to tableware to soft furnishings, a faux marble style or a print has become a playful way to take on the material and tone down the sense of grandeur, whilst still keeping a fresh and sophisticated look, turning something that was slightly old-fashioned and a little outdated into something current and contemporary. There are tons of ways to incorporate a little bit of marble into your home, and I’ve chosen just a few wonderful things on the market at the moment.

‘Marble and Wood Pizza Board’ from Rockett St George

This gorgeous board from Rockett St George is a fab accessory. The two tones of the different materials are complementary of one another, making a smart and contemporary look. Perfect to serve up your pizza, or prop up on the kitchen counter.

For a lovely addition that’ll spruce up your table or dresser, this marble effect jug from Trouva is spot on. The dabbled marble effect gives the whole look a little individuality and a subtle presence in the room.

‘Quails Egg Jug’ from Trouva

For an innovative way to add a pop of marble to your kitchen, one (or two) of these marble tea towels will be sure to do the trick. The look is completed with the vibrant neon pink stitching, making them ideal of anyone who likes a lively and playful interior scheme.

‘Marble Print Tea Towels’ from Rockett St George

Jazz up your dinner parties with these elegant but contemporary cheese knives. Their marble hands gives the knives a sophisticated feel, while to modern gold tone of the blade makes it a fun and cool way to incorporate marble into your tableware.

‘Marble and Gold Cheese Knives’ from Oliver Bonas

Your marble revitalisation needn’t just take place in the kitchen, there are so many beautiful ways to use marble in the rest of your home. Marble pots from Rose & Grey are a nice little touch to dress up a study or working area of your home. Choose a few of both the white and green to create a wonderful grouping, dotting them around the room.

‘Marble Pots’ from Rose & Grey

Move your marble madness up to the skies and start adorning that ceiling with all sorts of lovely marble touches. Whether you want to spend a little or a lot, a marble pendant light is a creative way to play around with the trend. These Lee Broom pendant lights available from Houseology are a beautiful and sophisticated way to incorporate marble into the home. They have a slight retro vibe to them which adds to their character.

‘Lee Broom Chamber Pendant Light’ from Houseology

Alternatively, if you want to go for a less permanent, less expensive route down the marble pendant path, these paper lampshades from Graham & Green are gorgeous! Perfect for a rented house, or if you’re testing out the marble look.

‘Marbled Paper Lampshades’ from Graham & Green

If you’re feeling bold, another marble treat from Houseology is this Timorous Beasties cushion. This vibrant blue marble effect pattern will give any room an electric look. For the ultimate impact buy several and use as scatter cushions, or play around with contrasting patterns to really make a splash.

‘Timorous Beasties Marbled Damask Cushion’ from Houseology

Add just a hint of marble to a room with this stunning table lamp from Oliver Bonas, its marble base paired with the pastel shade and bright cord creates a lovely overall look.

‘Lamp with Marble Base’ from Oliver Bonas

And finally a special mention to this gorgeous vase from Rockett St George, it’s a stunning piece of work that has all the attributes of a high-end sculptural piece without the scary price!

‘Marble Effect Serenity Vase’ from Rockett St George

From pizza boards to pendant lights, there are so many ways to integrate marble into your interiors these days, and with so many pieces out there ready to buy you can really let your imagination run wild.

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Extra Ordinary Wallpapers

More often than not when faced with the task of redecorating, whether it’s a recently bought house or just time for a facelift, so many of us shy away from bold adventurous patterns and colours and head straight over to the neutrals section of any sample book and never look back. While neutral, when done well, will always been an elegant and classic decision, there’s something to be said for adorning your home with something a little more unusual.

A few weeks ago I wrote a blogpost on some of the best paint companies around, and today I wanted to share the companies who have Angel + Blume’s stamp of approval when it comes to gloriously exciting and interesting wallpaper designs. For all the thrill seekers out there who don’t want to settle for plain and love a creative and vibrantly decorated interior, here are some absolutely wonderful, out of the ordinary wallpaper designs that will tick all the boxes.

When you opt for a striking, daring wallpaper design, instead your wall of being just part of the foundations of a house, it becomes a work of art, and finding an artistic print that’s just right for you will not only give you so much joy but will completely transform a room.

‘Rockface’ from Fromental

This is a wonderful, contemporary piece from Fromental, it’ll bring a bucket load of originality and create an elegant and sleek landscape right in the middle of your home. It will look striking on a long stretch of a wall, even when broken up with features such as a fireplace like above. What’s so great about this design is the symmetry between the drama of the mountain design and understated nature of the colour palette meaning either part can be dressed up or down depending on your style preference.

Another company that is always a reliable source for art-like wallpaper designs is House of Lacroix via Designers Guild. Vivid, snappy designs that don’t shy away from colour, Lacroix wallpapers will excite anyone who sees them. The latest collection ‘Incroyables et Merveillesuses’ has some truly show-stopping patterns that are perfect for awakening your wild side.

‘Bagatelle’ by House of Lacroix from Designers Guild

With a visual impact like no other, the Bagatelle design, which takes inspiration from the Parc de Bagatelle just outside of Paris, will inject life into your interior and is a superb way to show off of your courageous and inventive style.

For an equally floral and fruitful design, but with a more regimented pattern, Timorous Beasties have a lovely design that coordinates wonderful scenery into contemporary vertical stripes, making it the ideal companion for anyone looking to integrate nature elements into a modern scheme without it looking too traditional. The playful vertical stripes work perfectly and add a little bounce to the interior.

‘Fruit Looters’ from Timorous Beasties

Never one to shy away from colour and patterns, Osborne and Little always have something rather wonderful up their sleeve, and their new ‘Fantasque’ collection is nothing short of amazing. The geometric patterns and abstract designs pay homage to the cultural movements of the early 20^th century and the striking colours are just what the doctor ordered to add a little oomph to your interiors.

‘Fantasque’ from Osborne and Little

This art deco themed wallpaper is wonderfully sultry, the rich colours and bold patterns make it ooze with glamour, the dramatic aesthetic would look stunning in dark and cosy den. Another vertically striped marvel is this Tamara De Lempicka inspired pattern which has a lovely vibrant sense of movement to it.

‘Lempicka’ from Osborne and Little

If you love a vivacious colour palette but find traditional prints and patterns more agreeable with you style Waybreads is the perfect company for you. Waybreads make beautiful hand printed wallpapers that all follow a natural, wildlife motif; think a modern Morris & Co. in the making.

‘Dog Rose’ from Waybreads

I think the combination of this colourway and pattern is breath-taking, so rich and luxurious yet kept humble by the floral motif, it would look amazing in a long corridor or hallway. Another equally stunning design from Waybreads is this ‘Guleder Rose and Old Man’s Beard’ print. With a lovely backstory as its inspiration and the extra added touch of being hand printed, there’s a real uniqueness about the design that will really give your home a wonderful welcoming spirit.

‘Guelder Rose and Old Man’s Beard’ from Waybreads

If you’re looking for something that has the same amount of style and impact but in more of a subtle tone, there are plenty of styles and designs that will get you your fix. Designers Guild have a beautiful fading design that is the perfect balance between neutral and experimental. There’s a balance of sophistication and elegance as well as fun and contemporariness that creates a modern nod towards a classic interior.

‘Saraille’ from Designers Guild

Fromental have a delightful geometric design that uses a subtle palette, which is perfect of those who want optimum style without being over the top, the Moorish architectural it takes influence from a classic, elegant style that won’t appear dated, and the use of the blue tones and shading give the design an almost three dimensional effect.

‘Kaleidoscope’ from Fromental

So if you’re thinking about spicing up your interiors, why not dive in head first with some outstanding wallpaper designs that will truly make your home shine with originality and excitement.

For more information on these suppliers and many others check out Angel + Blume’s Address Book at, http://www.angelandblume.com/addressbook.php

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An Evergreen Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching and it seems that there are red hearts and roses as far as the eye can see, and it’s got us thinking here at Angel + Blume about creating beautiful, romantic interiors, that aren’t just for the 14^th February but for all year round. So if you’re big on warm, romantic, inviting interiors but less so on all the lovey-dovey and a tad bit tacky Valentine’s Day paraphernalia then you’re in luck as we’ve picked out some of the sweetest home accessories to help make you feel like every day is Valentine’s Day.

I have rather fallen in love with this knitted chandelier from Anthropolgie, a somewhat unconventional material for a chandelier the hand-knitted aspect adds a little quirk and intrigue to the piece. The knitted chandelier creates a beautiful, hazy atmosphere and is a wonderfully original take on the traditional crystal chandelier.

‘Hand-Knitted Chandelier’ from Anthropologie

From ceiling to table, a quick and easy way to inject a little romantic mood lighting into a dining room is with a stunning tea light holder like this one from Graham and Green, its large enough to not need too many other sources of light, creating the perfect setting for an intimate evening, and its beautiful design means it can be used for all sorts of occasions as well.

‘Gold Multi Tea Light Holder’ from Graham and Green

Keep the romantic feeling alive even during afternoon tea, this cup and saucer combo from Rockett St George is absolutely adorable and lives just on the right side of twee and gushy. A few integrated into a set of plain teacups and saucers would look lovely and would avoid everything looking a little too matchy-matchy.

‘George Melody Rose Kissing Couple Teacup and Saucer’ from Rockett St George

Another romantic addition to tea are these rather sweetly design napkins from Thornback & Peel, teaming a traditional pink with an untraditional rabbit and cabbage design makes the napkins suitable for using all year round.

‘Pink Rabbit and Cabbage Napkin’ from Thornback & Peel

Romance and Swans are often been intertwined with one another and if you’re looking for a more permanent romantic touch to your home these Swan curtain tiebacks would make a really sweet addition to a home, perfect for a bedroom.

‘Swanned Tiebacks’ from Anthropologie

For an animal less typical affiliated with romance but equally as lovely, this monkey bottle holder from Graham and Green will really add something to your dining room table and is a wonderful way to show off your style, as well as your fun side.

‘Monkey Bottle Holder’ from Graham and Green

The beautiful lines and colour used to create this beautifully stylish vase makes it a rather dreamy design, in keeping with a romantic atmosphere, suitable for a small bouquet of flowers, or dare I say it a single rose.

‘Wave Vases’ from Not on the High Street

To fill your living area up with a warming and cosy atmosphere you can’t go wrong with this lovely dusty coloured cushion from Timorous Beasties. They make the most amazing designs and for something low-key a few of these cushions scattered across a sofa will do the job nicely.

‘White Moth Cushions’ from Timorous Beasties

‘Star Dish’ from Catesby’s

This star dish from Catesby’s is impossibly cute and will add some twinkly-eyed magic to any evening, they’re wonderfully contemporary as well as having a hint of rustic-ness about them.

And finally, I couldn’t help but gush at over how gorgeous this elegant candelabra is, it’s absolutely stunning and even if you didn’t have anything else on the table it would still wow your company and goes hand-in-hand with a romantic interior.

‘Arbour Perch Candelabra’ from Anthropologie

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Struck by Lighting!

Guy Fawkes Night in Cambridge is an absolutely beautiful affair, and is an event that is at the forefront of my childhood and adult memories. The fireworks display on Midsummer’s Common is a real feast for the eyes, and reminiscing about previous years has inspired us here at Angel + Blume, so I’ve set about finding some beautiful lighting features and topical wallpaper that hold all the beauty and magic of a fireworks display for your home; making sure that there will be a lot of ooh’s and ahh’s, not just on the 5^th November but all year round.

 

Ochre has some of the most outstanding lighting pieces in their collections. Their products are more in line with works of art then a practical, necessary part of the home, and if you’re in search for something truly eye-catching then Ochre should be your first port of call.

The Seed Cloud collection from Ochre is one of my favourite designs from the company, and is rather alike to falling stars or luminous raindrops; a real masterpiece of style. The contemporary take on a classic chandelier would look stunning over a dining room table, perfect for a luxurious, modern home, but could also make a subtle yet distinctive contrast mixed into a traditional, classically designed interior. For an alternative take try the table lamp version, quite an extraordinary piece to have at eye-level.

 

If you’re interior style is all about theatrics and you want to dive into the world of fantasy and fairytales, this Porta Romana chandelier was made just for you.

The Ivy Shadow chandelier is the definition of a show-stopper, just think of the beautiful shadow imagery the design would make on the walls and ceiling of a room. The theatrical nature of this piece means it isn’t for the faint-hearted, but if you’re looking for something special and breathtaking then look no further.

 

Staying on the fabulous and theatrical track, no where does it better then Timorous Beasties. With their designs being so innovative and creative, they are perfect for embellishing your home in originality and flair.

These Golden Oriole wall panels are intended to make your home stand out from the crowd. The richness and romance of the design is something dreams are made of and the mystical elements will make your home shine. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but this wall panelling tells a whole story and if you’re intent of showcasing your style and making a statement this is the perfect way to do so.

 

However, if this is all getting a little too much and something more low-key sounds appealing, you can never go wrong with a much beloved favourite of ours, the Mosaic Dapple by Zoffany.

This is a real crowd pleaser, and is a really fun but subtle way to include a little bit of shine and shimmer.

The same can be said for this beautiful design by Harlequin, and with multiple colours you’ll be spoilt for choice.

 

When going for a contemporary look, it’s easy to be drawn to a minimalist and understated design, but if you want to make a statement, you needn’t compromise on the contemporary aspect.

These fan effect lights from Collingwood are a fun and modern way to create a well-lit space and would look great on a feature wall or lighting up a long corridor.

For some excitement and a bit of colour, Artemide have some outstanding designs, including this Tian Xia Metamorfosi design, which is perfect for creating a cool, vibrant atmosphere for a dinner party.

So remember, remember that the 5^th November is not the only time to create a few sparks and explosions when it comes to your interiors.

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Living with plants

So many wonderful fabrics take their inspiration from nature but every so often I come across a design that conjures up images of hot houses full of leafy tropical plants or those detailed old botanical drawings that accurately depict the exact details of a species, which are such a lovely things to use in an interior, particularly if your garden isn’t up to Chelsea’s high standards.

I think illustrative prints work brilliantly on upholstery where you can really see the detail of the design. Woodland Ferns from Sanderson is a design taken from an old botanical illustration and shows three different species of fern.

Bananier is a wallpaper from Pierre Frey which has the most wonderful detail of banana and coconut leaves and should be used where it is possible to get really close to the paper to see the detail.

House of Hackney’s wonderful Palmeral design takes inspiration from the Loddiges Nursery in Hackney which was operating up to 1852 and which included an enormous and well stocked palm house.

This delicate and exquisitely drawn design from Sanderson has been a favourite of mine for a long time. It comes in some great colourways but I love the more neutral backgrounds to really show the detail of the pattern.  Etchings and Roses by Sanderson.

This fantastic Dandelion design from Timorous Beasties comes in three huge panels printed on a wool voile with a three metre drop – the image shows the three panels together.

This new fabric, Retiro, from Gastón Y Daniela is a wonderful mixture of plants and insects and comes in five different colours all on a soft linen background.

And finally this delightfully fresh fabric Alice from Manuel Canovas for Colefax and Fowler shows a range of white cut flowers on a natural background.

Have a great bank holiday weekend everyone!

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Lovely lampshades

Accessories are a great way to bring pattern, colour and interest into an interior and whilst I am in no way discounting the classic ivory silk lampshade which I love, I would draw your attention to some of the marvelous ways to bring a bit of character to your home just by updating a lampshade or two – from some of our favourite suppliers, of course!

Thornback and Peel‘s designs are beautiful and eye-catching and work brilliantly on a lampshade where you can see all the lovely detail.

This charming lamp and base is from Graham and Green and uses an Osborne and Little wallpaper (design by Nina Campbell) for the shade. You can buy the lamp and the shade separately but I think they look great together.

Doing French country style as only Kate Forman can, this lampshade is made from her Red Josephine fabric.

I was recently introduced to the brilliant Pooky selling a wonderful range of bases and shades. I purchased two of the Oralee (yellow base in the middle) for our office meeting room  and I am delighted with them. Look out for the lights on and off feature on their website which shows the huge difference between how the shades look when the light is on or off.

Rapture and Wright‘s fabrics which are all so beautiful, look wonderful on a lampshade and especially teamed with the delicious burnt orange interior.

I love this dear little lamp from St Judes featuring Angie Lewin’s Hedgerow fabric.

And finally, the image doesn’t really do it justice but Timorous Beasties clever lampshades (mostly) feature plain exteriors with their enchanting designs on the inside which when the lamp is switched on glow through the shade so you see the patterns in their full illuminated glory.

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A not very scary Halloween

I’ll admit that I am not a massive fan of Halloween. There is too much orange plastic in the shops for my liking and I’m fundamentally not good with fear. However, a little bit of dark side on the interiors front is something that I am delighted to embrace. So sit back and prepare yourself for a few interiors products that are very slightly, only just a little bit, verging on the tiny bit frightening.

I love these raven book ends from Abigail Ahern – a little bit menacing is exactly what is required to guard your favourite reads.

  

This lovely light has just a touch of the Harry Potter about it – I love the combination of the dusky grey and warm blue. This is also my Abigail Ahern and can be purchased at Debenhams.

Unashamedly without purpose, a delicate decoration that is lovely all the year round but just perfect for Halloween night. Josh Harker Skull at Rockett St George

Looking delightfully innocent until close up, then delicate layers of white moths appear before ones eyes. Exquisite and edgy – how can we resist?  Timorous Beasties White Moth wallpaper

Penhaligons fragrances are my guilty pleasure and their Elixir candle gives off such wonderful heady, exotic and vaguely religious scents that I feel both inspired and indulged at the same time. Perfect for driving the demons away – no?

Finally, I can’t help but include the beautiful House of Hackney midnight stripe tea service with its carnival of creatures and glorious gold edging. What’s frightening for me about this is that there is no way I am going to be able to resist a purchase.

Happy Halloween everybody!

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Urban inspiration

By Leonie Walker

Recently I have come across several designs that take inspiration from urban living and city landscapes, offerings some refreshingly original design motifs and patterns.

One example is Timorous Beasties fantastic Toile collection. Unlike traditional French toile designs of charming pastoral scenes, Beasties’ toiles offer a contemporary twist on the French classic. Their wallpaper and fabric motifs display a surprising and honest depiction of city life. Iconic cityscapes, park life, crime scenes, promenading and rude boys are just a few of the engaging narratives that take place in these designs. There are differing toiles for London, New York, Glasgow and Edinburgh, and each with its own feel and cityscape.

The New York Toile

The London Toile

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Glasgow Toile

 

The Edinburgh Toile

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another example of urban themed decor is Marimekko’s new Siirtolapuutarha range. Made up of a selection of crockery and textiles, the pieces have a lovely illustrative design motif that eludes to cityscapes and urban living. Sure enough, the design for this range is inspired by city life, in particular small city gardens. The word siirtolapuutarha is a Finnish term that refers to small community plots of land in the city that are used for gardens and allotments. Each piece tells a different part of the siirtolapuurtarha story, from ‘a morsel of nature in the urban jungle’ to the ‘tiny gardens tucked into the nooks of urban life’ – Marimekko.

Siirtolapuutarha bowl, available at Skandium

 

Oiva Siirtolapuutarha coffee cup, available from Nord

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Siirtolapuutarha plate, available from Skandium

 

Siirtolapuutarha red coated cotton

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So you need look no further than out onto the street to find something new to be inspired by.

This article first appeared on the Cambridge Evening News website.

 

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Retro renewed

Happy New Year to you all, we hope you have had an enjoyable holiday! As we all embark upon new aims and fresh ambitions, here are some designs to offer some renewed inspiration. I have brought together a few examples from some of my favourite collections, which all draw upon the older and retro to create the new and contemporary. Enjoy!

Romo

Romo’s new collection, Orvieto, includes brightly coloured prints, weaves and embroideries, many of which have retro styles.

Suvi Clementine, printed Linen.

This gorgeous fabric was inspired by a Scandinavian block print from the 1950’s.

Ilsa Lovat, printed linen-cotton.

The striking block design was inspired by Matisse’s colourful cut outs, a style he adopted towards his later life in the1950’s.

Lindsey Lang

Lindsey Lang’s fantastic patterns are influenced by designs from the 1960’s. She does a range of products including her bold and beautiful floor tiles.

The floor tiles above are named ‘Ellipse’ yellow encaustic.

‘Leaf’ grey encaustic.

‘Leaf’ midnight blue encaustic.

Little and Greene’s Retrospective Papers

Making use of archives such as Manchester’s Whitworth Art Gallery, Little and Greene’s collection, Retrospective Papers, includes a number of authentic patterns from the 1960’s and 70’s.

Reverie – Jungle c.1971.

Lavaliers – Atomic, c. 1975.

Bark – Heath, c. 1961.

Ercol and Timorous Beasties.

Last but not least, the blotch studio couch, available at Baker and Stonehouse. This striking sofa takes Ercol’s iconic couch, originally launched in 1950, then reupholstered with Timorous Beasties contemporary fabric. I think it is fair to say that the two make a marvellous match

So when embarking on the new this year, try not to forgot the old!

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