Monday's Lesson: Fret 101

Originally I thought I would go a little left of field and amaze you with my knowledge and tackle the Japanese pattern Sayagata. Before I knew it a little research and Sayagata has turned into a whole lesson on name calling and in the end Fret patterns, so here we go.

Sayagata is a Japanese pattern made of interlocking Manji or left and right facing swastikas joined by lines to form a negative space.  One of the most popular fabrics featuring this pattern is Saya Gata by Alan Campbell.

Alan Campbell Saya Gata Occasional Chairs with Contrast Pipe in White

Alan Campbell Saya Gata Orange on Tint

 

Turns out however that the English term for Sayagata is Key Pattern which is also referred to as Fret which also encompasses Greek Fret or Greek Key. See I said there was a lot of name calling! Turns out Sayagata, Key Pattern, Fret and Greek Key all fall into the same category as they are all patterns made up of horizontal and vertical lines connected at right angles to each other in T, L or square cornered G shapes.

Gorgeous large scale Key Pattern occasional chairs.

Greek Key trim added as a decorative detail to the bed curtains and bedspread.

Traditional black and white Greek Key pattern scatter cushions

I do love a little colour but isin't this monochrome black and white interior fabulous!

I cannot tell you how much I love the elements in this room, the chest of drawers, the hide chair, the stunning bed frame and the cute little key trim on the bedspread repeated on what may be a mirror on the wall. Did I mention the chest of drawers?

Tradtional Greek Key drapery.

For more ways to incorporate Fret pattern in the form of Sayagata Key Pattern or Greek Key, check out my Pinterest board http://pinterest.com/bobbinscissors/pattern-101-fret/

Living With Colour, Can You Do It? Sig Bergamin Can

What are the chances? A couple of days ago I post about Living With Colour then today pick up the April copy of Architectural Digest and almost fall over backward, immediately smile and sit down with my eyes scanning left and right and up and down all over the amazing spread covering the Sao Paulo home of architect and designer Sig Bergamin.

What an amazing example of living with colour!

Monday's Lesson: Kilim Fabric 101

We all know I love a tribal /traveller interior and personally I don’t think there is another fabric that conveys this feeling more than Kilim. It screams 'oh look at me, I travel the world and collect beautiful things', which is the basis for both the Martin Lawrence Bullard and Andrew Martin fabric collections, and what do they both feature? Kilim!
                    
Originating in the Middle East with origins dating back to 2500BC, Kilim was the first step in the creation of today’s rugs. A flat woven tapestry, Kilim is produced by tightly interweaving dyed cotton or wool weft [horizontal] strands in and out of the warp [vertical] strands and then weaving them back on themselves rather than only taking it the one way across, to produce a flat surface with no pile. With no pile to protect the strands they were a fragile option for use as rugs and hence the evolution to the creation of rugs with pile. Used for a myriad of purposes including wall hangings, prayer mats, camel blankets and eating mats, today Kilims are commercially produced and are a weighty, chunky textile used in all facets of interior decoration.

What are your thoughts?

Amazing! I love the balance of the heavy Kilim upholstered sofa paired back with the plain upholstered sofa in a large uninterfering space.

Linwood Collection of Kilim fabrics

World traveller - Kilim scatter cushions with a traditional Suzani bedspread

Andrew Martin Kilim - Chinook

Beautiful Kilim upholstered ottoman, great subtle colour.

I love how I just want to look at everything in this image, the Kilim scatter cushions, dark walls and sheep skin throw just make you think it is going to be interesting. 

Beautiful tailored Kilim occasional chairs. Due to the weight and thickness of Kilim fabrics you are generally limited to more straight line or soft curve upholstery pieces.

Andrew Martin Kilim - Corrientes

Amazing Kilim bedspread, subtle colours. [Rach, this is one I would have picked you liking, am I right?]

Kilim floor scatter cushions.

Beautiful Kilim scatter cushion. Love the collection of textures in this room.

For more ways to incorporate traditional Kilim fabrics into your interior, check out my Pinterest board http://pinterest.com/bobbinscissors/pattern-101-kilim/

Living with colour, can you do it?

I love looking at colourful interiors, but can you live in them? Especially if you don't have kids? [I say this because I think that once you have kids, colour and mess go hand in hand - more liveable]

Don’t get me wrong I love colour it’s just that every time I have a little colour [I don’t mean soft colour, I mean bold, bright colour and a mixture of it not all matchy matchy, that I can live with!] around I get tired of it quickly. I wonder if maybe it’s just not the right mix of colour, or maybe there’s not enough of it or maybe I am one of the lucky ones that gets to have colour around me every day and just need a rest in a neutral oasis when I get home, I don’t know?

I am back to my old theory, I am meant to have more than one house, one for every style and colour palette I love. What’s your take on living with colour, is it long term?

Even just looking at this image my eye doesn't know where to rest. I love it, it's fun but long term I think I would get a headache.

Love the painted ceiling. The mix of yellow, green, red and pink, I don't know.

This is as close as I think I could get to living in a colour mixed interior, get a load of that rug, sensational!

Kathryn Eileen Boyd Interior.

Alex Papachristidis Interior.

There are so many individual elements I love here. For me it's on the verge of liveable. You?

For more amazing bright and bold colour filled interiors, check out my Pinterest board http://pinterest.com/bobbinscissors/style-living-with-colour/

Monday's Lesson: Matelasse` Fabric 101

I told you it would only be one slip up, here we are another Monday and here is our Lesson 101, this week on Matelassé fabric. This is especially for my good friend Kerry who recently discovered what it was called yet still can't pronounce it....... mat-las-ay.

Matelassé is a French word meaning 'quilted', 'padded' or 'cushioned' and it is an amazing optical illusion. It has the appearance of a padded fabric yet there is no padding, it is purely the quilted stitching that provides the illusion.

Matelassé is made to mimic the hand stitched Marseilles quilts made in Provence, France and can be achieved by hand, loom or quilting machine. Commonly made using 100% cotton, Matelassé fabric and can be used for relaxed slip covered upholstery, drapery and most commonly bedspreads and the best thing is that it generally improves with every wash as it softens and relaxes.

Amazing Dwell Studio Matelasse` Duvet. Great contemporary twist in the oval design of the quilting.

Beautiful Matelasse` tablecloth.

Kravet Diamond Matelasse`

Gorgeous Matelasse` daybed duvet in the traditional shabby chic styling.

Damask Matelasse Slip Covered Upholstery.

Robert Allen Tracing Nature Colour Azure.

Robert Allen Jali Lattice Colour Slate.

Lemon cream Matelasse` upholstered occasional chair, very cute dimensions.