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British furniture stole my heart long ago, and I’m sure it will forever remain in its grasp. Drawing on the myriad of textile designs and fabrics that British interior design and designers work with and create to create a comfortable, layered home.
As I am Customized Le Papillon In the past seven years now, little by little, every project has been completed, and almost every project has included the creation of at least one British fabric designer. Whether it’s furniture upholstery, window treatments or lampshades, I feel more at home with every detail added. Warm, welcoming, and steeped in luxury, these designers are true masters of their craft.
Below, I’ve listed eleven British textile brands I’ve worked with, along with three that I’m drawn to and recommend, but haven’t bought yet. All brands offer swatches and samples, and many are available from stateside design houses. Just visit each brand’s homepage and find out where their clothes are sold in the country you live in. You can also contact the design house directly, and they will tell you the best way to obtain their samples and, if you decide to buy their fabric, where to buy it (from them or a design house online or in your country if you are not in the UK).
I’m going through each interior designer on the list, I’ll share with you where their fabric was used at Le Papillon, and if you want to know and learn more about that particular fabric or space, you can click to explore the post (you have to be a Top level member Read these posts because they are more personal in nature, but they are included in detail).
Let’s take a look at the list.
Never calling himself an interior designer, Robert Kim had a knack for finding treasures and then decorating a home with them. Whether called a collector or collecting, Kim’s passion for what she does is shared with us all through her fabric designs. I had the opportunity to visit his flagship boutique in 2023, exactly one year after his death, and it was a visit I will always remember. You can read the post below.
Read the post: Popping into Robert Kim’s atelier in Belgravia
Nina Campbell is the doyen of British interior design and was recently awarded an OBE. From furniture to teacups and saucers, fabric, wallpaper and more, she continues to design and share her talents. I now have three of his clothes in my house, and one showing up in my office downstairs.
Rita Koenig comes from an interior design tradition as her mother Nina Campbell (mentioned above). However, he is making a name for himself, and when I admit that I am a bit A fan girl of hers, her taste mixes classic with modern whimsy. I have yet to incorporate her new wallpaper or fabric into my decor as it becomes available in 2024, but I ordered a few samples of the green leaf seen below (green) and love it. His line is through Schumacher (an American brand), but he’s definitely British.
Cabbage and Cartenale, Now known as Cabbage & Co.
One of the first fabrics I bought for an upholstery project was from a small company run by Michaela Corey. The brand is based in Cumbria and takes inspiration from the animals and nature of the area. Having had the opportunity to interact directly with Michaela on the fabric I chose for the fireplace snug chair (seen below), her designs are classic, yet playful. Look closely at the print – it’s a bundle of cow faces! How fun, but so subtly and cheeky. Totally British.
Anna French fabrics introduced Veronique to me, and we chose one of her prints – Arbre – for the bench in my boot and basket room. If you’re looking for crisp gingham, charming and sophisticated designs rooted in English heritage design, this is a brand to explore.
Many of Jane Churchill’s fabrics are in the running for potential window treatments in the guest bedroom, and having had the opportunity to use many of her fabric swatches, I’m a fan of her often botanical, bold, yet elegant designs.
As I got closer to deciding on the window treatment and headboard in the guest bedroom, I saw the Rose Turlow fabric and was immediately drawn to one of the curtain designs. While I won’t give anything away yet, I can say that what appears to be one of the print’s colorways is included below.
As you will notice, the designs are simultaneously rich, decadent and yet, delicate and calm. To get a feel for these fabrics you need to understand why you choose them. And if you order samples through their website, they’re free. Mine arrived in about a week. As soon as I felt the fabric, and saw how it draped beautifully, I was convinced that I had indeed found what I was looking for.
Marvik’s fabric designs have an airiness and textures that are original, yet drape beautifully. Their stripe, seen below, caught my eye for the guest bedroom, but then I soon realized it would work better in the living room, about the console. Take a tour of the entire space below and check out three Roman shades of their fabric.
The fabric chosen for my Poirot armchair is a Colfax and Fowler embroidered design, and it, the Cabbage & Co. covered chairs, was the first piece of upholstery and what a story of how it came together in the midst of a pandemic.
Currently in my home, I have two wallpapers from Veere Grenney, and while I don’t have any of her fabrics, the wallpaper designs are also available in fabric, and would be beautiful for curtains. She is an interior designer based in London who heads a full design house known for her balance of elegance, simplicity, style and above all comfort.
A contemporary fabric company that also adheres to timeless design. Both upholstered and ready-made fabric lampshades are available, and I chose one of their prints again for my sofa, a balance of timeless with a touch of modernity, just as my new home has an arts and crafts design.
A brand that was regularly in the running for fabric options when I worked with my friend Veronique Waldron, an interior designer who lived in Bend and knew her European brands was Designers Guild. My friend now lives in Spain and continues to work her magic decorating clients’ homes, but she was the one who introduced me to Dizzy. Designers Guild has been around for decades and for good reason. They have a wide range of designs, in all sorts of colors and are a great place to start to see what’s available.
I am curious about the brands but I don’t have them at home yet
As we near the completion of the guest bedroom, pulling in a few Penny Morrison prints for pillows, lampshades and even blankets, I admire her dance with unexpected colors, traditional floral prints, and jolts of modernity.
Elegant, subtle, rich and stunning, while being understated. Soane makes all kinds of items for home decor projects – even furniture, and although I haven’t bought anything from them, I’m drawn to their aesthetic.
With a wide variety of designs, many with a floral and botanical focus, these also, as you see below, work and play with stripes and plaids.
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