Design Moment Discover the enduring appeal of Cole & Son’s ‘Woods’ wallpaper design, a favourite with decorators and homeowners alike.

A quirky interpretation of classic stripes delivered a naturally appealing wallpaper design that stands the test of time, writes Chris Pearson.

This famous woodland may be deciduous, but its appeal is evergreen. Sixty years ago, UK wallpaper and fabric house Cole & Son approached budding talent at the Royal College of Art to create fresh designs for its pioneering screenprinting studio established a decade earlier. One of these artists was Michael Clark, who, in 1959, led generations of homeowners into the Woods (right), with a graphic black-andwhite print of leafless silver birch trees on a 72cm pattern repeat.

Cleverly, Woods was a stripe yet not a stripe, simultaneously organic and geometric, and brought garden glimpses into living rooms. Since then, it has been available in one guise or another, whether part of a design collection or as a custom design. “Its timeless style is impervious to changes in style and taste”, says Jacinta Barber, head of marketing and PR at Cole & Son.

The design’s biggest moment came in 2005, when it materialised as part of the company’s Contemporary Design collection; it has been on a roll ever since. “Woods has been our best-selling design,” says Barber. And these trees just get taller, their popularity growing from year to year.

“Woods adds intrigue to a room without being overbearing, while its striking simplicity lends itself to a wide range of rooms, styles and colour schemes,” says Barber. “Its clever design gives a 3D effect, so it adds depth to a room while the subtle vertical stripe adds height to a ceiling. It really is the epitome of timeless design.”

Proof of its versatility, the pattern has appeared in many colourways and incarnations – from its original black and white to soft neutrals, pretty pastels, even wild holographics. It’s also branched out into iterations such as Woods & Stars (the trunks silhouetted in moonlight and interspersed with stars) and Woods &

Pears, where the branches bear fruit (background image).

But Woods is a star in its own right, the shining light in the archive of Cole & Son, a company founded in North London in 1875. The firm’s pattern library includes about 1800 blockprint designs and some 350 screenprint designs. Its legendary wallpapers appear in historic houses such as Buckingham Palace and the White House.

WHAT IT MEANS TO US

Sold in more than 55 countries worldwide, Woods is a top seller in the UK, the US, France, Germany, The Netherlands and Australia, says Barber. The last, no doubt, partly prompted by renovation TV program The Block, when it featured in season 5 (2012). “There was a big spike in sales after The Block. Since then, stylists and editors have favoured it for photo shoots, which has contributed to continued popularity,” says David Marks of local distributor Radford. “Woods has the X-factor. It is a simple, timeless, pure design that is versatile and clearly resonates with people.” The black and white colourway is “by far the most popular”, he adds.

Local designers such as Greg Natale and Daryl Gordon agree. Natale once used it in an inner-Sydney terrace, while Gordon recently specified it for a rural weekender. “I was inspired by the sculptural mountain ashes that surround the village where the home is located,” he says. “I needed something strong and graphic, but not overwhelming. It works well with pops of colour on the furniture too.”

Woods continues to thrive. In honour of its diamond anniversary, Cole & Son recently launched the Contemporary Collection, two ranges of wallpapers and fabrics that include Woods, the lusciously leafed Palm Jungle, flamboyant Flamingos and other signature Cole & Son designs in contrasting and coordinating palettes. “Come down to the Woods today” remains an enticing invitation.