We’re all zany for zigzags
Traditional herringbone has been revived in bold colours and wacky patterns, says Claire Allfree
Herringbone is well and truly vintage. The pattern, which takes its name from the distinctive bones of the fish, can be dated back to the roman empire, when it was used for road paving. in Ancient egypt it made a becoming textile worn by the elite.
now the classic monochrome design is enjoying a fashion revival . because this season herringbone is everywhere — on the walls, over furniture, in the bathroom. And it doesn’t just come in traditional black and white, muted greys and greens.
grace Poulter, creative assistant for interior design consultants Future and Found ( futureandfound.com), says the trend has exploded in recent months.
‘Herringbone is a very english pattern; it’s steeped in heritage. but it also lends itself to being appropriated in all sorts of different ways,’ she says.
Herringbone is, of course, a mainstay for parquet flooring, but Poulter also suggests putting it on the wall as a fresh alternative to the ubiquitous Metro tile. ‘ Long slender tiles arranged in a herringbone pattern can look beautiful, and it also allows you to experiment with colour.’
Herringbone is similar to chevron. A herringbone pattern uses narrow lengths arranged in a staggered ziz-zag while the lengths in a chevron meet exactly on the angle.
if you like the idea of herringbone on your wall, Farrow and ball do a handsome parquet imitation wallpaper in grey hues from £ 110 per ten- metre roll ( farrow-ball.com).
Fashion interior lets the pattern do the talking, offering a white wallpaper subtly embossed with a herringbone pattern for £23 per roll ( fashioninteriors.co.uk).
For something less formal, the Scandinavian company nordic-think produces a hand- drawn-looking print in black and white for £ 60 per roll ( nordicthink.com), while the American-based Spoonflower offers a range of ebullient patterns in all manner of vivid colourways by designer emily Sanford ( spoonflower.com).
Poulter notes that herringbone, with its clean and uncluttered lines, appeals to our love for Scandinavian-inspired minimalism.
‘it’s unisex,’ she says. ‘Men like it because it feels masculine, and women like it because they can customise it. it’s also a fresh alternative to stripes.’
one easy way to bring herringbone into your home is via a knockout statement piece. Jonathan Saunders does a gorgeous, hand-knotted Tibetan wool rug in eye-zinging orange, black and pink, at £735 per square metre ( therugcompany.com), while nicholas Haslam has a pricey but undeniably classy chest of drawers with patterned bone inlay for £3,200 ( nicholashaslam.com).
but it doesn’t have to cost the earth. The High Street is awash with herringbone lampshades, crockery and soft furnishings at prices to suit all budgets. online store notonthehighstreet.com has a pretty blue bowl for £10 by Also Home and smart, made-toorder herringbone lampshades in Harris tweed for £60.
orwell and goode has enormous fun with herringbone, wittily using a fish motif arranged in herringbone pattern on cushions, crockery, fabric, lamps and teatowels ( orwellandgoode.com). The national Trust sells a herringbone rug in a slate blue and grey or a pale green that looks so cosy you’ll want to wear it, £30 ( shop.nationaltrust.org.uk).
Toast, meanwhile, offers a range of towels and facecloths in washed linen that makes a virtue of herringbone’s slightly rough surface, from £14.50, (to.ast).
You can also upholster a favourite piece of furniture in a herringbone fabric, or better still, treat yourself to a brand-new armchair. Lana Home does a cheery chair in crimson herringbone for £1,495, ( lanahome.com). Herringbone has limitless possibilities. ‘it looks particularly lovely in wood or marble,’ says Poulter.
Her favourite example of the pattern is an architect- designed house in islington that uses bricks arranged in a herringbone pattern. if you don’t want to rebuild your house, Chesney’s provides faux brick panels to line the inside of a fireplace from £350, ( chesneys.
co.uk).
Herringbone: it really is as flexible as its namesake.