Image: Design Soda

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Today sees the launch of three new wallpaper designs from Farrow and Ball. And, in one of my blog highlights of the year so far (bit of a mental year to be honest!) I was delighted to be approached by Farrow & Ball back in the Spring and asked to style a moodboard for use in their upcoming brochure. If you read my blog regularly, you will know, that I love Farrow & Ball paint. I also think that they’ve produced some beautifully covetable wallpapers over the last few years, including the Gable design which we have in my son’s bedroom. But I think this new collection may be my very favourite yet. It is a bold and unexpected take on florals, and as you can imagine I answered the request to get involved quicker than you can say “yes!yes!ofcourseyes!howexciting,Nowletmeseethenewpaperdesigns!”, well not quite that fast but if you managed to read that in less than 3 seconds well done!

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Images: Design Soda

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The new designs from Farrow & Ball which launch later today (I will update links soon as they are live) are all based around the use of florals within pattern, but as you can see from the Atacama design I was given (pictured throughout) they are florals with a twist. There is no chintz here, I feel the Atacama design in particular is a gloriously bold design for Farrow & Ball. They describe it as a “playful tropical print…(with an) intricate botanical design (which) combines rich textures and delicate patterns”. Out of the three new patterns, this one is happily my favourite, though Hegemone is a very close second (see below for press shot). It speaks to my love of natural history, cacti, flaura & fauna, silhouette and in this colour way (based on a piece of brightly coloured fabric found in an old mill) it is just so intoxicating. Farrow & Ball were inspired by the flowering desert of South America from which the paper takes its name and it is a brilliantly intricate design. The longer I spent looking at it the more I noticed new patterns and shapes emerge.

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Images: Design Soda

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And its not just Atacama that displays this fresh, contemporary approach to floral design, have a look at the images below, I think all three designs could work just as well in super modern homes as those with a slant towards period aesthetics. How stunning is this first pattern below, its called Helleborus and it’s a celebration of the Maximalist trend,  so pretty and floral but in a wholly unexpected way. It was designed to “create a sense of growth and rejuvenation, transforming the home into a warm and wonderful retreat”. Its a pattern I can imagine cosying into during winter months, but also it has the delicate calling of summer to it, a lush botanical design. Next up is Hegemone which I am so taken with, it has a fluidity to it and I love how the pattern appears to undulate in a very informal manner, Farrow and Ball describe this as an optimistic pattern which “looks as though it could have been cut from paper”. And finally the Atacama print that I styled, it also comes in this gorgeous deep blue and ammonite colour way, which echoes something of the inter-war sensibility to my mind, so charming. Which would you choose? I’d find it hard, I’m contemplating all three!

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Images: Courtesy of Farrow & Ball

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I make a lot of digital moodboards for both myself and clients these days, but real life ones very rarely, they are so much more pleasurable to do and this one was really fun to collect and curate. Where a digital moodboard can feel a little like a shopping list, or a cut and paste inspiration cheat sheet, a 3D touchable mood board makes you think harder about colour, texture and inspiration and allows you to be more abstract and creative. Having spent a long time looking at this pretty and delicate design I knew that I wanted to echo some of the details from within it with a selection of natural history items. The week I embarked on this project coincided with a lovely Spring break on the Sussex coast with my little family so I had the ideal source for a reckie of natures best. As I walked along the beach with my son and Dan, I stopped each time something caught my eye and joined my son in collecting treasures to bring back. My favourite items were the russet toned pebbles below which are the perfect fit colourwise with the Atacama design, and the tiny coral coloured fan of seaweed (top left, below) which didn’t survive the trip home so well as in shot.

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Images: Design Soda

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I spent a great long while moving objects around my paper and working out what brought the pattern to life and what made it recede. The finished arrangement said exactly what I wanted it to, layers, intricacy, the beauty of natural textures and patterns, and timeless sense of nature. I used the following Farrow & Ball paints on my board: Hague Blue, Nancys Blushes, Clunch, Studio Green and Old White. The new wallpaper collection launches today and if you are on the mailing list there’s a good chance my moodboard has already dropped through your door, otherwise you can pick up a copy of the new brochure in store. I can’t wait to see how the other two patterns have been styled. Here are some more pictures of the new collection.

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/Images: Courtesy of Farrow & Ball

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