Brentano celebrates 20 years of color and innovation with its Platinum Collection. Hard Candy, part of the Platinum Collection, is an innovative new textiles that combines linen and polyurethane to create the first first upholstery and wall covering fabric of its kind. Created by coating a linen and rayon ground with a thin layer of vibrant polyurethane, Hard Candy is available in 12 vibrant colors with whimsical names, including Cream Soda, Root Beer and Bubblegum, that will surely sweeten up any room.
Cloth introduces a unique collection of whimsical linen prints perfect for childrens' rooms and available as indoor or outdoor fabrics. Michal Silver, director of Cloth, flew in from London to introduce the new fabrics at the Thomas Lavin showroom, creating a buzz for designers and showroom personnel alike. The fabrics were designed exclusively for Cloth by famed textile wizard Lisa Miller, currently head of her own design firm and known for being a strong creative force in the industry.
The collection will begin with three of Miller's creations: Constellation, Quadrant and Pods (shown here from top t0 bottom). All of the designs are meticulously hand-drawn and feature the one-of-a-kind quality treasured by textile enthusiasts. The designs are single-color motifs with a strong graphic quality and are available in linen, silk or an outdoor fabric. "Compared to other Cloth designs, Miller’s motifs are small and with a distinctive repeat," says Cloth designer Christopher Farr. “Lisa's strengths as a designer come from a subtle and deep absorption in the primal graphic expression found in the unspoilt native cultures of the world, combined with an experiential knowledge of fashion and contemporary art.”
Thought to be a technique that is at least a thousand years old, there is no end to the use of crewel in today's interiors. It can be used for bedding, upholstery and drapery, with traditional florals reigning, the contemporary and the whimsical are evident as well. Crewel is wool embroidery, generally on linen or cotton ground, and as it is a natural product, one will occasionally find bits of grass, seed pods or sticks in the textile, a stamp of authenticity, if you will.
The sounds of the jungle pulse within Jembala (Small Scale)/Original from Clarence House, also available in the larger scale version.
The flowing floral and vibrant color contrasts of Rosehill Crewel in Crimson by Lee Jofa.
Words of the moment to describe fabrics and wallcoverings with a decidedly mid-century vibe. With pops of color and space-age cool, your pad can be uber-hip and shagadelic, baby!
Amy Lau's delicious new collection for S. Harris. Shown: Waterblocks in Aqua and Supergrafil in Earthwork
Nobody does vintage papers like Bradbury & Bradbury, and their Atomic Collection is no exception. Shown: Atomic Doodle in Pink and GeeGee in Sage
The Modern British Collection by England's St. Jude and available through Lucy Rose Design. Shown: Dandelion in Sage/Yellow and Treehouse in Grey/Grey
Also from across the pond, the UK's Clarke & Clarke offers vibrant collections. Shown: Into the Groove
The art of the hand-printed and hand-painted wallcovering and fabric is "loverly" to behold, and these fabulous, painterly examples are no exception. These are but the tip of the iceberg, as the companies' excel in creating works of truly extraordinary and unique beauty.
Porter Teleo is a line of wallcovering developed by artist Kelly Porter and interior designer Bridgett Cochran, and created by woodblocking, painting and chine-colle, a very special transfer printing process. Shown: Climbing Vine in Chartreuse/Blue hand-printed on Japanese rice paper and the hand-painted Fluidity in Or on Japanese rice paper.Working together for 20 years, Chris Isles and Edward Rollins of Pintura Studio, developed their line of hand-printed and hand-stenciled designs that have a delicate, but luxurious beauty. Shown: Dasara in Off White/Beige/Multi on silk tassar and Lhasa on silk matka in Natural/Sky/Scarlet.In employing screen printing techniques learned while he worked with Andy Warhol, Walter Knabe produces lushly patterned wallcoverings and fabrics in his art and design studio. Shown: Chinese Chop and Byzantine Medallions, both on beige silk.Barbara Beckmann is a textile designer and colorist, and uses unusual and intricate floral patterns, Far-East designs, fanciful sea creatures, exotic butterflies and imaginative organic forms as her inspiration. Shown: Petit Orange Trees on Tobacco silk linen and Spring Bouquet on Antique Ivory linen.
Clodagh for Duralee... need I say more? I mean when two names that are synonymous with fine design – one a leading fabric manufacturer and the other a world renowned designer – collaborate to create a gorgeous new textile collection, it kind of leaves you speechless. Clodagh, known for her unique and innovative design aesthetic, teamed up with the fabric experts at Duralee to create Global Passage, a high-end residential fabric collection. It also reflects both Clodagh and Duralee's commitment to protecting the environment as it consists of organic cottons, recycled polyesters and renewable bamboo. Clodagh has drawn on her pioneering expertise in Feng Shui, chromotherapy, biophilia and sustainable materials to infuse the collection with an incomparable look and flow that appeals to all the senses. The collection features five color books, each intended to inspire individuality and promote rejuvenation.
From the uncompromising creativity of Sally Sirkin Lewis comes Chapter IV in the Deep Tones Collection. J. Robert Scott has long been known as a purveyor of fine fabrics, and they have continued that legacy of excellence with their latest collection of textiles. Lewis has the ability to take a simple design and mold it into an inventive textile presentation. Each chapter in the collection offers a unique take on fine textile production, and Chapter IV is no disappointment. Pictured clockwise, from the top right, are Sheet Twist, Cascade, Silk Mohair, Silk Tapis and Boucle Ribbon Tweed. Stay tuned for more breathtaking fabrics from J. Robert Scott.
Pindler & Pindler, Inc., a name synonymous with artistic textile design and luxury fabric production, has introduced a new line of sustainable fabrics, Pindler Green. This new collection consists of high quality fabrics comprised of natural fibers, including certified organic cotton, linen, jute, flax, bamboo, hemp, wool and silk. Pindler uses certified dyers that specialize in low-impact and non-toxic dyes in the production process. The fabrics are offered in an assortment of prints, geometric designs and stripes. Pindler Green combines sustainability, luxury and quality, creating a textile collection suitable for a variety of applications.
Brentano releases the 2009 Haven collection to much fanfare and delight. The collection offers a surprisingly eclectic group of fabric that offers designers a refreshing alternative to the same old materials. Two of the patterns won awards in the 13th Annual IIDA/HD Product Design Competition honoring innovative, functional and aesthetically beautiful design products in the industry. Rendezvous (top), is "a drapery constructed by laser-cutting a layer of stylish sails to create beautiful depth and luster." It is available in three colorways. De-vine (bottom), is "Double-embroidered with a large-scale repeat, this faux leather is ideal for accent pieces in upscale interiors." Both fabrics are sure to attract attention for their original use of texture and style.
Just a few of the adjectives used to describe both Tony Duquette and his over-the-top interiors. First "discovered" by the celebrated interior designer, Elsie de Wolfe, he became the darling of the Hollywood glitterati, even designing sets for lavish films and operas. In a nod harkening back to the exotic excess of the Duquette style, Baker and Jim Thompson have recently released collections of furnishings and fabrics that conjure the dazzle of his signature interiors. And if one is lucky enough, there are original treasures to be had.
A pair of Chambered Nautilus Lamps with cast coral bases by Tony Duquette, available at Dragonette, Ltd. through 1stdibs.com.
The sublime Paris Snowflake Screen in 14k Gold Leaf or Silver Leaf, each snowflake tipped in coral, by Baker.
Baker's Organic Baroque Chair in Verdigris or Pearl Paint, looks like it came straight from the Pagoda Garden at Duquette's Dawnridge.
Sunbursts, coral and Moorish motifs are de riqueur in Duquette's interiors - celebrating the patterns and colors are the perfectly realized fabrics designed by Hutton Wilkinson for Jim Thompson. Wilkinson is the owner and creative director of Tony Duquette, Inc. and worked with the icon for 30 years preceding his death in 1999.
Golden Sunburst in 6 colorways.
Tibetan Sun in 3 colorways.
Octavian in 4 colorways.
Fireworks in 5 colorways.
"Decorating is not a surface performance, it's a spiritual impulse, inborn and primordial." ~ Tony Duquette
How fortunate are we that textile designer Sina Pearson, founder of Sina Pearson Textiles, took a trip to Sweden, Finland and Denmark to explore her ancestry and her affinity for Scandinavian design and culture! It was this getaway that inspired her new collection, Scandinavia 101, debuting this September. Pearson's fresh approach to traditional Scandinavian textiles is at once luxurious and comforting while maintaining a nostalgic quality reminiscent of an era of sturdy, hand-woven textiles.
The colors are comprised of natural, vegetable dyed yarns that Pearson has collected through the years. The palette pays homage to the region that inspired the collection. Iron ore red is Sweden's most popular house color, warm gold provides a stark contrast to the long winter nights, soft blues lend a tribute to the Baltic sea and the thousands of rivers and lakes and the natural gray hues are symbolic of the tundra regions.
Scandinavia 101 includes four distinct, yet coordinating patterns. Spun is a woven wool with an irregular slub cotton yarn. Lina was named for a Swedish cousin and consists of a sturdy lines in a polished satin weave. Woods is a modern take on a classic Scandinavian geometric design. The fourth pattern, Comfort, is a blended fabric similar to the handmade blankets that once kept Pearson's ancestors warm. The four patterns combine to create a total of 25 brilliant colorways for a range of applications.
The Club Room III Collection from Duralee is a refreshing selection of colors and textures sure to add a tinge of spice to the textile market. The collection features tribal colors and ethnic designs, with lush paisleys, geometric motifs, solids, stripes and novelty skins feature liberally throughout. The pallet runs from sunset orange and earthy greens to verdigris and indigo, offering a choice for most tastes. I think there is a very Native American vibe to the entire collection and I like how the colors interact with one another. Often in textile product we see a rehash of the same old ideas and styles, but the Club Room III really sets off in a brand new direction.
It was love at first sight with these new pillows by Laurie Bell Fabrics and the best news — they're made of solution-dyed acrylic and perfect for outdoors or in! The decorative pillow program is the company's first introduction and is designed to allow customers to receive their pillows in five to seven days. Currently Laurie Bell Fabrics has seven collections to choose from featuring coordinating fabrics and trims in three shapes: square, lumbar and bolster. The fabulous collections featured here are (clockwise from top left): Black & White, Coastal, Aquatic and Scarlet. For more information click here.
Textured fabrics are taking center stage in many upcoming fall collections, including the new Piemonte collection of decorative velvets from Romo. The sumptuous collection includes a range of broad geometric stripes, as well as plain ribbed velvets. The jewel-inspired colors are showcased on neutral grounds, creating a blend of comfort and luxury. Piemonte is part of Romo's Fall 2009 collections and is available at Thomas Lavin in the Pacific Design Center.
