FRESH TAKE ON TEXTILES
Natural fibres and earthy tones make striking decor statement
Updating the textiles in your home is one of the easiest and most cost effective ways to refresh any room.
It requires no heavy lifting, in terms of furniture replacement. Or messy updates, involving paint or flooring. And if something ’s not working in terms of pattern or colour, you can easily replace it.
Cushion covers, curtains, rugs and throws can all make a huge impact in a space, and are a great place to start if you’re feeling tired of your home’s interior.
This year, we’re seeing a lot of natural fibres, textures and colours in home textiles, says Ikea Canada spokesperson Heena Saini.
“With spring on the horizon, we are drawn to natural materials like bamboo, rattan and cotton, as well as earthy tones like greens, blues and light brown,” she says.
People are increasingly drawn to bedding and duvet covers in pure cotton, says Saini, and in the next few months we’ll be seeing a lot of florals and warm, earthy tones in bedroom textiles.
Textiles are one area where people can really experiment with bright colours and patterns, without having to make a long-term commitment (perfect for our times), says Saini, and it’s fun to switch out your textiles with each season — to keep things interesting.
At Ikea, they’re excited about their new textile collection for children’s bedrooms, KAPPHAST, says Saini, which features bicycles, elephants and teddy bears. It was designed to capture kids’ playful imaginations, she says.
“With sustainability at the forefront of the collection, the KAPPHAST line is sourced from 100 per cent sustainable cotton which is perfect for the little ones as it’s also super soft and cosy,” she says.
Artist and designer Dawn Sweitzer, founder of luxury lifestyle brand Notre Monde (known for her trays, mirrors and furniture) has just designed a home textiles collection, called Refined Layers, for Belgian furniture and accessories brand Ethnicraft.
Refined Layers — which is out this month — is the first homes textiles collection for Ethnicraft (which was founded 25 years ago) and includes an assortment of pillows and throws made from natural fibres — cotton, wool and Belgian linen — in a warm colour palette.
The collection presents a blending of Sweitzer’s feminine, artistic style, and the more masculine, austere lines that Ethnicraft is known for, says Sweitzer.
“I wanted to achieve a sense of balance between a modern, uncluttered style and my own bohemian and refined influences. At one point in the process, I let things develop on their own, in a way that is organic. I am fascinated by the way beauty can manifest when something doesn’t go right during the creative process,” she says.
Textile design is something Sweitzer knows well.
Designing rugs and cushions for large brands like Anthropologie and Bed Bath & Beyond, 20 years ago, and over the years incorporating a dye kitchen, looms and fulltime weaver into her artist studio.
“I’ve always been fascinated by the process, just as much as the visual and esthetics. When I design textiles, 99 per cent of what we use are natural fibres,” she says, like alpaca wool, linen, cotton and cashmere.
Learning the process of weaving and dyeing was important for her, says Sweitzer, because it’s helped her understand what’s possible and what isn’t in terms of having her Refined Layers collection for Ethnicraft produced in a factory in Belgium.
“They don’t use cashmere because they want to reach a specific demographic.
“A wider demographic. They’re on different looms and the process is different,” she says.
When it comes to the designs themselves, Sweitzer says travel always provides inspiration.
“I travel so often and I’m fascinated by other cultures, and art, and pretty much inspired by everything around me,” she says.