Spotlight on margo Selby
The celebrated British textile artist shares her tips for bringing colour and print into your home
From her studio in Kent, textile artist Margo Selby creates beautiful handwoven artworks that play with bold colour and geometric patterns. Here, she shares her tips for using colour and print in your interiors, and tells us about the inspiration behind her new and exclusive collection with Hillarys, the experts in made-to-measure window dressings.
What inspires your designs?
‘I take inspiration from a range of sources: architecture, museum collections, graphic design, mathematics and indigenous textiles from around the world. I think of the structure of the cloth as architecture.’
Why did you choose to collaborate with Hillarys?
‘It was an nice opportunity to see my textiles transformed into beautiful bespoke curtains and blinds. It’s exciting to make my designs so accessible. Hillarys provides a service where a local advisor comes to measure up, bringing fabric samples with them for you to choose from, and advises on the best option before returning to fit. It makes introducing a special fabric so easy. The quality of the finished pieces is excellent.’
Tell us about the collection
‘The range of curtains, Roman blinds and cushion covers is available in 23 exclusive fabrics that take inspiration from architectural form and graphic design, so it’s very representative of my brand. The colour palette feels fresh and contemporary, and includes shades such as ochre, teal and indigo, which are strong enough to hold the simple graphic patterns and luxurious woven textures. They also work well alongside the natural hues of brick, concrete, wood and metal.’
What are some of your favourite pieces from the collection?
‘The Mori fabric is clean and graphic and really captures my vision for the collection, Stella is inspired by the geometric shapes of the 1950s, while Renzo will add a casual denim look to your windows.’
What are your top tips for using print in our homes?
‘Start by choosing something you love — an object or a fabric, for example — and build out from there. Try a variety of colours and patterns together, using different scales of the pattern to add layers of dimension.’
What do the right window furnishings bring to a space?
‘I love the effect of modern materials such as glass and steel but, on their own, they can be quite harsh. Curtains and blinds really help to soften a space. Fabric is also an important contributor to the acoustics and sensory experience of a room.’
Shop the Margo Selby collection at Hillarys from 12 October at hillarys.co.uk/margo-selby-at-hillarys