10 ways to rock the painterly look
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Watercolour washes, dry brush strokes and street-style graffiti give this season’s textiles and prints their creative edge
Artistic flourishes don’t have to be saved for the canvas – this season, they’re set to be seen throughout your interior. From soft furnishings to tableware, painterly patterns will take you from spring to summer with their bright and pretty stylings. Moody blues and floral hues are the ideal way to refresh your space and bring a sense of art appreciation home.
1. Layer inky-blue wallpapers to add depth and vibrancy – install an art-like focal point by framing one shade.
Walls papered in Innocence Nuage ICC27559109 wallpaper in Gris, Casadeco; with panel in Baltic Sea in Blue, Teija Vartianen at Feathr.
2. Explore tonal harmony by using the whole of a palette – from soft, pastel blue to the deepest azure.
Curtains made in Esme 7754/05 linen in Danube, Romo. Terracotta pots, The Cretan Pottery Company; painted in Lapis Lazuli; Prussian; Forget Me Not; Sainte Chapelle; Cornish Ware; Bluebell; Clear Sky; Jodhpur Palace; and Tourmaline matt emulsions, Designers Guild.
3. Create a subtle, impressionist mood with colourwashed patterns flowing across every surface.
Flute Calacatta marble and metal dining table, Roberto Barbieri for Poliform. Berlin chairs, French Connection Home; upholstered in Water Iris 322430 linen in Ink/Charcoal, Zoffany.
4. Bold black and white brush strokes have a Rothko-like look – stipple ceramics for a similar effect.
Wall painted in Strong White and Off-Black estate emulsions, Farrow & Ball. Etienne Contemporary console table, Atkin and Thyme. Julius Caesar bust, Rockett St George.
5. Fabrics feature finer lines, swirling in monochrome patterns. Set against a wide-striped floor for contrast.
Curtains made in Rembrandt 30163-002 cotton-mix in Anthracite, Rubelli. Ghost 16 sofa, Paola Navone for Gervasoni at The Conran Shop; upholstered in Macaroni Z465 linen in Carbon, Zinc Textile.
6. Introduce pencil-thin geometrics and ink-blot motifs to play with scale and form.
Dhurrie floor cushions, Habitat; upholstered in, top and bottom, Lascaux AC204-21 cotton/linen-mix, Alan Campbell at Tissus d’Hélène; and, centre, Tracks linen, Kate Blee for Christopher Farr Cloth.
7. Use reversible colours and prints on a single piece to create a contemporary, op-art design.
Gorska chair, Julian Chichester; upholstered in Orwell L9050-01 linen in Black; and Orwell L9050-02 linen in White, Larsen at Colefax and Fowler. Marc Newson book stand and Annie Leibovitz Collector’s Edition book, Ralph Lauren Home.
8. Team graphic textiles with faux concrete and graffiti for a streetwise statement.
Wall papered in Ripple Concrete mural, Textures collection at Surface View. Blind made in Cubiste F6864-03 cotton, Kit Miles for Osborne & Little.
9. Big up a teen’s bedroom with a large-scale mural.
Walls papered in Ripple Concrete mural, as before; and No Toys Allowed FP371001 wallpaper, Pierre Frey. Mesh lockers, Bowles & Bowles.
10. Keep the urban vibe alive with hand-drawn doodles in vibrant shades. Been there, tagged that…
The Piggy Bag beanbag, Made.com; upholstered in Wobblepotamus K5136/02 cotton in Ice Box, Jon Burgerman for Kirkby Design; and Plains Seven 141813 polyester in Tomato, Scion.
