James Hare Westbury Silks

bout eight years ago, sales of
leather peaked in the UK after
its popularity grew on the back
of new tanning techniques
that made hide cheaper than
the super-luxury finish it once was. But
the tide turned, and fabric came back in
favour, now accounting for 60 per cent
of sales compared to 40 per cent leather
One reason for its demise was poor-quality
imported furniture, but leather's fortunes
have now been restored, says Tony Clayton,
managing director of CrestjMT Leather, a
global producer of high-quality leathers for
contract and domestic upholstery. "With the
consumer now demanding a quality product,
the industry has experienced a resurgence
and is now in a much better state of health,
with the future looking good."
Tony stresses that interior design colour
trends do not change as rapidly as they do
in the fashion business but the colour palette
does need to be refreshed and move with
the times. "Generally, interior designers and
architects rely on base colours - often hues
of tried and tested neutral colours - to create
a classic palette. However, there are always
James Hare Westbury Silks
additional colours required throughout
new schemes. These requirements can be
satisfied by the use of accent colours such as
bright blues, purples and reds."
He highlights pub, club and restaurant
interiors that have defied the economic
gloom by teaming neutral colours with
explosions of colours such as scarlet and
orange. "We see this trend continuing in
the future
- at the moment it is all about
citrus colours of orange, yellow and Iime,"
Tony adds. CrestJMT Leather has worked
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0ceanair leather inserts
with manufacturers to keep moving ahead
with products at competitive prices, such as
its new Collection 3. These six value ranges
of upholstery leathers provide interesting
and appealing textuTes, colours and grain
patterns. "Demand for the traditional
colours has not diminished dramatically as
there has also been a movement towards
more individual stylised pieces of furniture
rather than matching sofa and other chairs,"
Tony adds, "so the Chesterfield and the tub
chair still have an important role to play 'shabby-chic' and heavily distressed looks
are very popular."
With leather's popularity for other uses
such as wall coverings, blind and shading
specialist Oceanair has extended the
leather choices within its Fabric Collection
for Venetian blinds. lt includes Ostrich faux
leather which is available in seven colours,
joining Oceanair's other faux leather ranges
and the Llombay real leather range.
Arden fabric in Venetian Red
Silk for interiors is the specialism of fabric
companylames Hare whlch dates back to
dupion with a distinctive smooth finish, the
collection is suitable for blinds, cuftains,
1865. lts extensive collections continue to
evolve, such as Regal Silk which has been
cushions, lampshades and wallcoverings.
James Hare has also added the decorative
Westbury Silks which reinvent classic English
relaunched with the introduction of 3B
new colours including perfect neutrals and
vibrant shades. Made of 100 per cent silk
style with a contemporary twist in a coordinating collection of new
neutrals V
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A
and raised embroidery. lt includes
raised appliqueed silk circles on contrasting
linen and silk backgrounds, available in six
colourways, and the exquisite Trailing Tree
Silk design, inspired by a 17th-century silk
print, with hand-applied French knots on
David Rockwell's Spotliqht Collection
forest floor covered in small flowers with
rabbits, hedgehogs, horned sheep, squirrels,
wild birds, moles, deer and a unicorn.
Reminiscent of Elizabethan tapestries, the
design is printed on luxurious velvet in two
colourways and on iinen in two colourways.
contrasting sil k backgrounds.
Zoffany's Arden collection of wallpapers and
fabrics was created by mural artist Melissa
White, who was inspired by 16th- and
17th-century paintings and designs. The
fabrics include Verdure which is based on a
latelTth-century painted cloth, depicting a
lush pastoral landscape with a church and
waterfalls. lt is digitally printed on 100 per
cent linen in two colourways. A design called
.15th
Arden is from the
century, showing a
Design company Polly Granville is
establishing itself as a specialrst upholstery
company creating one-off pieces by
restoring and reinventing old pieces of
furniture. "Using innovative detailing and
beautiful fabrics, we upholster unusual
frames to create extraordinary and
contemporary pieces," says director Polly
Chetwynd Stapylton. "Each vintage or
antique frame is chosen for its individuality
and style. lt is then sympathetically restored
Ercol bv Ptolemv Mann
and reinterpreted by stripping it right back
and carefully rebuilding it, layer by layer
using modern or traditional methods." Polly
Granville was named one of the top five
new designers at this March's Mid Century
Modern show in
V
London.
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in.V0GUE
Polly Granville
A
The evolution of classical ideals is part
of the inspiration for designer Thomas
Pheasant who has unveiled a new
upholstery and furniture collection with
furniture company Baker But he stresses:
"While travel and museums continue
to offer me a treasure trove of stunning
examples to incite my designer gene, I am
not interested in reproducing the past." His
14 new upholstery designs incorporate tight
upholstered form and sensuous curves, using
55 new fabrics and five new leathers. The
upholstery of his Bevel Lounge Chair features
recessed, moulded and mitred squares,
creating a coffered pattern inspired by the
ceiling of the Pantheon tn Rome.
Summer Breeze by Emma Johnston
Leading designer David Rockwell has
collaborated on a new collection of fabrics
for home furnishing and hospitality with
silk textiles specialist Jim Thompson. The
Spotlight Collection expresses the effect of
ever-shifting light on geometric and natural
patterns in two colour directions - modern
metallic surfaces and rich and playful colours
found in natuie. Twelve different patterns
highlight warm golden bronze mixes with
sleek silvery platinum hues, with rich and
bold colours such as teal, coral red and
purple playfully punctuating the palette.
Bold new colours make up a new upholstery
collection from furniture designer Ercol. With
a classic and contemporary feel, its Riva sofa,
with exposed oak legs, has been produced
in an exclusive edition with textile
specialist Christopher Far The fabric,
Adras lemon, has been designed by
Ptolemy Mann for Christopher Farr and
is described as on trend for the autumn.
Patricia Chaise by lhomas Pheasant
Classic stripe patterns feature in a new
home collection from interior designer
CrestjMT Leather Collection 3
Emma Johnston. Part of her Home range,
the Summer Breeze cushions are made
from 100 per cent pure lrish linen woven
into three styles of stripes - a classic Desk
stripe, a simple ticking stripe and a broader
sail stripe. As with the Home range, the new
collection works with a small palette range
to keep it timeless, with added twists such
as an appliqueed star. "l believe our homes
should tell our story, therefore the pieces we
choose to put in them should be beautifully
crafted and of the finest quality," Emma
adds
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