MY KIND OF COUNTRY
Ian Sanderson’s daughter-in-law, Helen, shares the joys of living out her passions, surrounded by beautiful fabrics and countryside
Renowned for its collections of classic linens, sumptuous velvets and plain and printed textiles, family business Ian Sanderson has been designing and producing interiors fabrics since it was launched by Ian himself in 1964. The business is now run by his son, Julian, and daughter-in-law and design director Helen Sanderson, from their studio, office and warehouse on the family farm in West Berkshire. Helen, who has a degree in Printed Textiles from Winchester School of Art, joined the business in 1991, and married Julian in 1998. She takes a lot of inspiration for her designs from antique documents and vintage textiles, and the results mean Ian Sanderson fabrics are a firm favourite with interior designers and their clients – they can be found in leading hotels from Skibo Castle in Scotland and Ham Yard in London to The Pig Hotel in Bath. We went to West Berkshire to find out more about Helen’s life in the country.
HAVE YOU ALWAYS BEEN A COUNTRY GIRL AT HEART? I have lived in London and love its busy-ness, but I do prefer to be in the country. As a child, I would garden with my mother; we used to have a veg plot and I would grow radishes and pick blackberries, using their juice for ink. We were lucky enough to have a river in the garden with clay in its banks, which I used to make pots.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE THING ABOUT THE COUNTRYSIDE? Being in touch with the seasons and the weather. We cycle, run and walk a lot in all weathers. It’s lovely to see the emerging snowdrops in spring, bluebells later and the turning of leaves in autumn. There are particular aromas and sounds, too. It’s about being connected to your surroundings and working with them – it’s good therapy.
WHERE DO YOU CALL HOME? Our house was originally a gamekeeper’s cottage and it has been extended over the years. It’s set in the Hampshire countryside in an area of outstanding natural beauty beneath the Downs. In the garden, we’ve made raised beds where I grow flowers, vegetables and fruit. We also have an orchard, as well as three runner ducks, two cats, a stables, and, in the summer, Grandma’s cows come to stay.
WHAT INSPIRES YOUR DESIGNS? Printed and woven antique documents. We’ve accumulated quite an archive of fabrics: »
Welsh blankets, patchworks, rugs, etc. I go to antiques and textile fairs around the country such as Talent for Textiles and Vintage Bazaar. Inspiration for colours is everywhere, from children’s books to contemporary ceramics, gardening and fashion.
HOW DO YOU START EACH DAY?
A quick jog up the lane helps my thoughts and planning for the coming day. Then, back home, a bowl of soaked oats and fruit makes for the best breakfast. I also make a sourdough loaf once a week, which takes about three days!
WHERE DO YOU WORK?
The office and warehouse makes up part of the family farm, just outside Newbury.
HOW DID IAN SANDERSON START?
Julian’s father, Ian, started the company in the Sixties, importing fabrics and then creating his own. He was a gifted and intuitive entrepreneur, ahead of his time.
WHAT’S YOUR PROUDEST ACHIEVEMENT?
The best times are at the end of an exhibition when we’ve put together a great stand, launched the new collections and everyone’s worked together as a team. It’s always good to see our fabrics in interiors, private or commercial, where clients are happy.
WHAT IS THE SECRET OF YOUR SUCCESS?
If you enjoy what you do, you can’t say it’s hard work, but you have to put the effort in to get results. You have to have a balance of instinctive creativity and commercial sense.
WHICH IS YOUR FAVOURITE IAN SANDERSON PRODUCT?
That’s impossible to answer, but probably the new designs I’m working on now. And Poppinjay, one of our archive prints, is a good one; the colourways came together quickly and once we’d achieved the right texture and marks on the screens, the design came to life. It’s the co-ordinating of print and weave that’s exciting, putting together different textures and colours in an unexpected way.
WHICH OTHER DESIGNERS DO YOU ADMIRE?
Enid Marx for abstract modernism and pleasure in pattern, and Josef Frank for his sheer exuberance.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE PLACE IN THE UK?
It has to be the South Hams in Devon, particularly Totnes – it’s a fantastic place that embraces diversity in food, retail and creativity, and is always inspiring. The view from Bantham beach to Burgh Island is lovely, particularly if there are decent waves.
DESCRIBE YOUR PERFECT WEEKEND…
A bike ride in our wonderful countryside. Then, lunch at Honesty Hungerford in Barr’s Yard, followed by a walk along the canal.
WHAT ARE THE HOT RURAL TOPICS LOCALLY?
The proposed development of houses at Sandleford; it’s the location that inspired the rabbits in Watership Down.
WE’RE COMING TO VISIT YOUR VILLAGE. WHAT MUSTN’T WE MISS?
Of course, I’d have to say Highclere Castle (aka Downton Abbey), which is a stone’s throw from our office, and the nearby Carnarvon Arms pub, which has a feature wall of our Rustica wallpaper in the restaurant and serves great food. We recommend The Crown and Garter in Inkpen to our foreign visitors for a truly English stay. We also have a little-known National Trust property in Burghclere, Sandham Memorial Chapel, built to house a series of 17 paintings by Stanley Spencer illustrating his experiences in the First
World War. And, of course, there are numerous beautiful footpaths to explore.
☎ 01635 33188, IANSANDERSON.CO.UK.