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SPOTLIGHT ON…

Flora & Fauna by de Gournay

Esteemed design house de Gournay is most famous for its exquisite chinoiserie wallpaper, yet it also produces fine fabrics and porcelain pieces including vases, lamps, decorative objects and dinner services. The brand’s Flora & Fauna porcelain dinner service (above) features hand-painted exotic birds flying and swooping inside rims delicately decorated with garlands of peonies, leaves and gold gilt.

The design on each plate in the service is unique, the beautiful bird images, such as the colourful Carolina parrot (above), borrowed from the renowned nineteenthcentury artists and ornithologists John Gould and John James Audubon.

Every piece is hand-thrown, fired and painted using centuries-old techniques, “a rare expression of an ancient craft that has survived almost unchanged into the 21st century,” says the brand. degournay.com

OUTSIDE INFLUENCES

Outdoor furniture with indoor sophistication

Fluidity and elegance with sophisticated neutrals and bold, sculptural silhouettes exemplify the signature style of interior designer Fiona Barratt-Campbell. The same design DNA can be found in newly launched items for her outdoor furniture collection, Foras. From sofas, armchairs and loungers to coffee and dining tables, each piece is made to order and can be upholstered with rich patterned or neutral fabrics and leathers, all suitable for outdoor use.

“In 2020, the emphasis on outdoor socialising meant that we placed a huge amount of importance on the design and dressing of our gardens, terraces, courtyards or balconies,” she says. “We have designed a number of new pieces perfect for outdoor lounging, dining and entertaining.” Fiona works with craftsmen based in the North East of England. fbc-london.com

BRINGING NATURE HOME

Charming fabrics gentle on the planet

Sarah Castle discovered her joy for textiles working in the cottons department at Liberty of London. When her children grew up and she had more time to be creative, she took a course on screen-printing and lino-cutting and learned how to translate a simple drawing into a printed fabric. She founded The Linen Ladder in 2019 and her studio is based in a converted barn surrounded by hop fields, meadows, orchards and woodland near Sissinghurst Castle in Kent.

Feathers, leaves, seeds and cones gathered on walks nearby inspired The Sissinghurst Collection, with complementary designs in a soothing pretty palette, printed in England using “linen of the highest quality that is gentle on the environment,” she explains. “We endeavour to be as friendly to our environment as possible; it is where our inspiration comes from and is therefore vital to us.” thelinenladder.com

IMAGINATION TAKES FLIGHT

English-made wallpapers inspired by nature

Watching bumblebees buzzing around flowers in an English garden in springtime inspired Leanne Pollard to design a vibrant wallpaper collection under her brand Hattie Lloyd Home. She began by sketching the bees in the garden of Goddards House in York, the former home of famous chocolatiers the Terry family. Back at home, Leanne embellished her sketches, adding flowers, petals and leaves.

Bee Bloom wallpaper is made in England, comes in colourways like Dusky Pink, Duck Egg and Silver, and has just been launched in limited-edition Gold. “I wanted to add subtle luxury to this design,” says Leanne. “I had cosy, candlelit rooms in mind, where the paper has a light gleam, giving beautiful ambiance. I love the way it can transform a very ordinary room like a cloakroom into a place of sophistication.” She started the company as a hobby in 2012 whilst working in advertising, and is now full-time. hattielloyd.com

GRACEFUL CRAFTSMANSHIP

Martin Brudnizki’s first home collection

Martin Brudnizki is one of the most exciting and sought-after interior designers in the world today, so his first home collection has been eagerly anticipated – and does not disappoint.

Encompassing tables, consoles, chairs, armchairs, sofas, bookcases, lighting and stools, the 14-piece collection has been launched under product atelier And Objects (founded by Martin with design partner Nicholas Jeanes in 2015) and is the first time the studio has designed without a collaborator or client in mind.

“We’ve always designed pieces for our interiors or other producers, and love the collaboration on these projects, fusing our approach with another brand,” says Martin. “But we really wanted to take a step back and understand what And Objects stands for. What would a table look like if we had absolute freedom to create it? Hence this collection. It takes our focus on craftmanship and combines it with a sense of playfulness to create a range of furniture for homes that embodies And Objects.” Inspiration for the collection came from the Swedish Grace period of the 1920s, which fused elements of neo-classical, art deco and Swedish folk patterns. “To my mind,” says Martin, “Swedish Grace derives from three main influences, and it is the balance of all three that creates a really beautiful and rather delicate aesthetic. We didn’t want to create a collection that copied these beautiful designs, but instead was influenced by them and could move the conversation forward without being pastiche. We knew that for it to be more contemporary the shapes should be more sculptural and less sharp, the materiality more modern and less art deco, and have more colour.”

Most of the collection was made in the UK by craftsmen in small workshops from Dorset to Lancashire. “We find understanding the production process in meticulous detail really aids in designing the products and adapting your initial vision to make it not only viable, but more beautiful,” says Martin. andobjects.com

Find your flame.

www.charltonandjenrick.co.uk

ELECTRIC GAS WOOD BURNING MULTI-FUEL

WEAVING DREAM SCHEMES

New rugs by Matthew Williamson

As befits a former fashion designer with decades of experience, Matthew Williamson knows exactly how to put together the perfect look, whether for the red carpet or a room. “Starting a room with a rug makes a lot of sense. It can really anchor the room,” he says. “A beautiful rug can give you a palette or a sounding board for the rest of the room. You could pick out specific colours from the weave and take them onto the walls, into the soft furnishings and even up onto the ceiling for a dramatic look.”

Just like his fashion designs, Matthew’s new collection of rugs features colour combinations and original patterns with global influences inspired by nature. He collaborated with Obeetee, the largest handmade rug-maker in India.

“One of the key considerations for my collection of rugs was an element of craftsmanship,” Matthew says. “I am an admirer of craft in all its forms, celebrating the natural material used in the process. From mesmerising woodwork to the brutal beauty of ironmongery, these quintessentially human skills can have a hugely uplifting presence in the home.

“Working with hand-woven rugs, for this reason, is a dream come true for me, especially working with Obeetee – a world leader in the creation of exquisitely handcrafted rugs. Its respect for provenance, authenticity and its unrivalled skill was a huge draw, and resonates with my passion for unique and well-made homewares. I wanted the rugs to be practical and last a lifetime, but also to bring a touch of whimsy and joy to any room.”

Born in Manchester, as a child Matthew was dazzled by his stylish mother’s choices of clothing and decor. After graduating in fashion and textile design from Central Saint Martins in 1994, he launched his fashion label in 1996 and became hugely successful worldwide. Having pivoted in recent years from the world of fashion to interiors, he says: “Putting an outfit or a room together that brings a smile to your face and the faces of others is the objective in any project I undertake.” matthewwilliamson.com

SEASONAL SHOWCASE

London Design Week 2021

Explore the new-season interiors collections and revel in the joyful palettes, uplifting patterns and defining products for spring and summer 2021 at London Design Week. Hosted by Design Centre Chelsea Harbour, the event will showcase the best in design from 120 international showrooms, with insider insights from the people who shaped the new-season home collections.

A stellar line-up of online talks, masterclasses and businessfocused sessions will provide conversations and in-depth analysis. Draw design inspiration for the home from daily virtual events streamed online that are open to all and entirely free to view.

This digital programme will hopefully be complemented by in-person events at Design Centre Chelsea Harbour, government guidelines permitting. dcch.co.uk; 12–16 April. Details correct at time of going to press but subject to possible change in line with government guidelines. Please check before travelling. n

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