Zenyatta Mondata

Showing my age, but I clearly remember the release of the album Zenyatta Mondatta by The Police in 1980.  The album title apparently was a made up word which has now been applied to this vibrant classic fabric by Schumacher.  Not sure what the link is there.



Image: Schumacher

Pagoda by Grace Garrett

It is a digital world we live in now and digitally printed fabric is becoming more and more available.  I love this print from Grace Garrett - called Pagoda it is available in lots of colours to order here.

Image: Grace Garrett

Pop by Sheridan

This is exactly what I have been looking for to update my blue and white bedroom and to get the Kelly Wearstler look for way less. New from Sheridan is an affordable range of mix and match bed linen - this pillow case is $15. You can shop online or at certain stores. The one disappointment is that the flat sheets are all plain - so if anyone from Sheridan happens to read this please extend the range to include patterned flat sheets - especially in orange.

Images: Pop by Sheridan, Kelly Wearstler for Schumacher

Great Outdoors

I recently ordered a few samples of these fabrics from the big range at Fab Outdoor Fabrics. Unlike their interior cousins these fabrics do have a serviceable feel but the patterns and colours are great.

Images: Fab Outdoor Fabrics

Sixhands Passionflower

I have now finished my interior design studies and am thoroughly enjoying having no projects and deadlines. A downside is that I am missing the ideas 15 other design fans brought to class each week. The credit for this fabric find goes to my friend Jo. This is passionflower by Sydney based studio Sixhands. I love the Sixhands website - it is Versace-esque with intense colours and patterns making you want to buy it all !!

Northern lights

My most recent assignment was a living dining room in a small terrace - we could choose the style so I decided to go nordic and choose things that are either designed in Scandinavia or (in my view) reflect the style and quality of the region's designs. My main inspiration was the stunning Coco Pendant from Coco Flip, fabrics are from Funkis and the accessories are from Ferm Living. The chairs are from the Family chairs designed by Lina Nordqvist.

Images: Funkis, Coco Flip, Ferm Living

Etoile

In the thick of my interior design course I spent an hour in the Mokum showroom - truly beautiful fabrics. Many are designed upstairs and the design development drawings and paintings are framed underneath the work tables which is a gorgeous idea. This is a gem of a fabric. I am working on a bedroom assignment channeling art deco and the dusky pink colourway of Etoile by Mokum was exactly what I was looking for.

Images: Mokum

Alhambra

Warwick Fabrics have a new range called Adachi and I think this floral - Alhambra is going to be a big hit. The range is on panels in the window at the moment but the Warwick website does not yet have photos of all colourways. I didn't look at the stripe while I was there but it looks like a very versatile option to me. Back to Alhambra - if you are into Anna Spiro's style or the look of Manuel Canovas or Schumacher botanicals Alhambra is a very worthy contender.

Images: Warwick Fabrics

Sultans of swing

Just picked the latest Vogue Living out of the mailbox and saw this lovely fabric in a feature on Tigger Hall. From LA based designer to the stars Martyn Lawrence-Bullard this is Sultan's Suzani in Sage and Blue. His signature fabric style is the development of traditional designs using luxury fabrics and comtemporary colour schemes.

Images: Martyn Lawarence Bullard

Waterflower

This is Orla Kiely's waterflower fabric design for her fashion range, not on a handbag or home accessory yet but we can hope and look out for it. I don't know hwich I like better the blue or the pink.

Images: Orla Kiely

Cape Cod style

Well if snowboarders are wearing plaid - it must be in. I was very taken by the US snowboarding team's uniform at Vancouver and wouldnt mind one of those parkas myself. Anyway back to interiors this fabric below was Diane Bergeron's pick in a recent fabric trend article in House and Garden and I love it. This is the Cape Cod Madras Patchwork cotton and will be available from DB home for $61/m. Apparently it was used on bunk beds in the Obama holiday home on Martha's vineyard if you flick through Diane's highly entertaining blog. I'm keeping it in mind for when my boys say 'enough with the red and blue gingham Mum'.

Images: Burton, Diane Bergeron

Something green

I've been saving this one - for St. Patrick's day of course ! How cool is this green hide bench - I love it. Perfect for a contemporary Irish bar. I spotted it on Tracie Ellis's design blog which is well worth a visit. Happy Paddy's day !

Image: via here

Chain letter

There seem to be no sign of a wane in popularity of geometric patterns in fabrics, wallpapers and rugs. This is a classy design at a very good price from Kelani. 'Chains' designed by Vicky Payne for For Your Home is $35 per m.

Images: Kelani

Ribbons

Love this 'ribbons' cushion by Ponyrider. The fabric design is so clever. I'm thinking, why don't people buy beautiful homewares for people as gifts more often - especially something like this which would go with most decors and many rooms. I for one would be delighted if someone turned up with a lovely cushion as a gift.

Image: Ponyrider

High standard

No Chintz is one of my local lovely fabric shops. They have a design service making blinds and cushions etc and they also make custom lampshades covering them in the fabric of your choice. I really like this standard lamp shade - it is old fashioned and modern at the same time.

Image: No Chintz

China blue

Little Green Notebook is one of my regular blog reads and full of great ideas and inspiration. I do feel a bit slow and inadequate as Jenny flies through her home projects at alarming speed. This Chiang Mai fabric is a favourite of hers - in a brighter blue orange colourway so I had a look at Schumacher fabrics to see other colours as I love the pattern and here it is (a bit more me) in all the blues. Schumacher fabrics are available here in Australia.

Image: Schumacher

Botanica

My bedroom is blue and white largely due to inherited blue and white curtaining but it is a restful colour I like so I am sticking with it for now. As the blue in my curtains is quite a deep indigo-y blue I keep my eye out for blue fabrics with a bit of punch and depth like this one - Botanica by Publisher Textiles. Love the detail.

Image: Publisher Textiles

Unikko

I have always loved this iconic Unikko fabric by Marimekko but only recently researched it as part of my studies. It was designed in 1964 by Maija Isola who then went on to co-design fabrics for Marimekko with her daughter Kristina Isola. Now as Maija has passed on, Kristina, who still works with Marimekko, is responsible for curating the design, choosing new colourways and applications.

Image: Marimekko

Pink

Time for a splash of colour - when I scroll down and look at a lot of neutrals and whites this week. The deep pink here is a favourite of mine - a little goes a long way but it looks especially great on the velvet floor cushions.

I also like the fireplace. A good friend of mine installed a very similar one on the wall in her kitchen with a shiny steel surround and it looked fantastic. It also made the kitchen into a real gathering point as she had a window seat and a round table between the fireplace and the stove.

Image: via Purple Area

Kara

Harlequin fabrics and wallpapers have some lovely designs in their Iznik collection. I particularly like 'Kara' - it is on the big square cushions in black with a neutral wave pattern and vice versa on the cream cushion at the back. I think its very effective as a bed cover in the pink colourway in the second photo below but I would prefer it in the more sophisticated black and beige.

Images: Harlequin