LIVE 24-SEVEN
Ashdown Stripe fabric is an exuberant, painterly floral, inspired by artwork for a cushion design from the 1920’s. In Benmore, Asplenium ferns (no, I didn’t know what these were either) are depicted in watercolour to create an elegant all-over design. It looks great as a fabric, and absolutely stunning as a wallpaper. However, if I’m pushed I’d say first prize has to go to Michelham, an informal array of floral sprays including fan flowers, violas and pansies, embroidered on a crisp linen. It’s on the front of the pattern book, and with good reason. Not only is the embroidery delicate and detailed, but the use of colour is simply outstanding !!! Available in 3 magnificent colourways – soft aquas and blush, gorgeous teals and red berry shades, and the most elegant mix of eau de nils and greens that I’ve seen for a while – it gently whispers “Pick me”.
The second fabric book in this autumn’s offering is called Marchmain, and takes its name from the fictional Lord Marchmain in Evelyn Waugh’s novel, Brideshead Revisited. The decadence of a bygone era is evoked in this collection of richly coloured velvet and chenille woven designs, inspired by textiles from the 20s and 30s. Although comprising of only 4 designs, there really is something here for anyone who is a fan of this genre (and my goodness, that certainly includes me !!!). Brideshead Damask is a rich, textural, antique-look damask, woven in sumptuous chenille, available in 6 gorgeous colours.
Sebastian and Flyte are the 2 beautiful accent fabrics of the collection. In Sebastian, horizontal zig-zag shapes in loop and cut pile velvet are arranged in a vertical stripe, while in Flyte, jewel coloured velvet hexagons form multicoloured stripes, interspersed with vertical zigzags.
But the showstopper, and oh what a showstopper, is the title fabric Marchmain. It is the most glorious, luxurious and tactile jacquard fabric, featuring stylised exotic flowers and leaves, woven with a contour effect on a soft chenille ground. Every time I pass the book, I stop to stroke this fabric.
To complete the autumn offering Nina has released a book of textural plain and small-scale upholstery weaves called Charlton. More often than not, when a manufacturer launches a book like this it is, to say the least, a bit ordinary. It may contain a couple of noteworthy fabrics, bulked out with a few “also rans”. But not in this case. Oh no, the Charlton collection provides the perfect complement to the more patterned designs in Ashdown and Marchmain, as well as to many of Nina’s recent collections. The interlocking squares in Rodmell form a small-scale check, inspired by a crewel work document, while the circular ripples in Rushlake, created with colourful twisted yarns, are a joy to behold. These are certainly 2 stand-alone fabrics.
Amberley is a sumptuous, tactile plain, reminiscent of lambs’ fleece, in natural colours of taupe, ivory, dove grey and camel. However, the title fabric Charlton is a totally gorgeous plain chenille with a wavy texture, available in nine rich colours, which would happily grace any sofa.
So there it is, the latest offering from a lady who could well be considered the queen of interior design – and long may she reign.
JOHN BIDDELL - JOHN CHARLES INTERIORS 349 Hagley Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B17 8DL T. 0121 420 3977
www.johncharlesinteriors.co.uk
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LIVE24-SEVEN.COM
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