THE CASE FOR PATTERN. LOTS OF IT!

Do you ever stumble upon someone with a new point of view & suddenly all you see is that style? That is the case for me with the new book Decors Barbares: The Enchanting Interiors of Nathalie Farman-Farma (Vendome Press). It sums up so many things I’d been thinking about but didn’t know how to express visually. Come along & I’ll show you what I mean!

Photo: Miguel Flores-Vianna, via Vendome Press

This post is not sponsored but some products I highlight may have an affiliate link. All opinions and text are 100% my own:)

Maybe it’s cabin fever as we enter the 10th month of pandemic living, but my eye has grown tired of seeing the same blue/white formula and streamlined decor everywhere. How much fresher it seems to have some layering of pattern, patina & a range of colors — also more forgiving for full-on family living (read: clutter & computers on every surface it seems!).

Room by David Netto

Above you can see how Nathalie’s style (interpreted by designer David Netto who used her textiles/wallcovering throughout this room) can range from gutsy and dramatic, to light and sweet. Funny how such a traditional & upscale pattern can mesh so easily with white modern furniture and humble rattan. That’s the mix I just love!!

So who is this uber-creative force Nathalie Farman-Farma? She’s a textile historian of sorts, with a beautiful line of document fabrics in her collection Decors Barbares, which has devoted following from Tory Burch to Lauren Santo Domingo. She’s half-American, half-French, married to an Iranian (nee Persian), living in London. A heady mix, sharpened by her Master’s in classics from Columbia University, which fueled her love of antiquities as well as Russian, Turkish, and Middle Eastern design.

But don’t let all the pedigree fool you - there’s nothing contrived or stuffy in her approach! She has an earthy style and is as obsessed with Russian country folk art patterns as she is with finer brocade. As you can see in her family home on Lake Tahoe (above), she blends simple furnishings with well-chosen pattern to create a really fresh & welcoming ambiance — sans attitude:)

Of course no decorating scheme can compete with the natural beauty of a place like Tahoe (view from her dock above), so it seems right to keep things simple and unaffected.

More of the same house here — I wouldn’t have thought that using red with such an orangey wood would work, but it obviously looks great.

A corner of her family’s house in Connecticut, spilling with books - heaven!

Some of her textile designs that I love:

“Les Groseilles” (or Currants) in red/blue

“Bilibine” in blue

“Naboika” in green

So my homework assignment for myself is to:

1) Break away from an all blue/white scheme, weaving in greens or browns or touches of red when I fall in love with something…

I found the lampshade above in London at Pooky & put it on top of my grandmother’s table that I painted green (so that’s a start!). I have my eye on this one from Bunny Williams shade for another spot…

Or a throw pillow would be easy way to weave in more color too….I like this one by Barclay Butera and one from Minnie Driver below -

I also love these Matouk pillows which have a kind of naive, folk art style to me…

2) Mix textures & introduce pattern to create more layers.

Above is my work in progress! I found the two X-benches at HomeGoods & I’m recovering them with an old velvet animal print remnant. Feeling the Nathalie Farman-Farma vibe, I’m going to add a tape trim with some brass nailheads. Stay tuned!:)

I’m obsessed with this indoor-outdoor rug from Ralph Lauren - would look awesome with blue, in a mud room maybe…

It probably wouldn’t kill me to have some non-white dishes at some point!:) So things like this pretty teacup set from Anthropologie is on my radar…

3.) Last but definitely not least - indulge my curiosity and obsession with art history and decorative arts. The book is chock-full of references to periods of art & design that I know too little about but which definitely piqued my interest.

Nathalie’s reference library in her home in London (image via New York Times)

I’m so inspired by Nathalie’s full-on immersion in cultural history & it served as good reminder to go deeper when I find an area I’m curious about. Who knows where it could lead!?

Her fabrics are only available to the trade or in various showrooms but you can always follow along on Instagram (@nathaliefarmanfarma) for more ideas, & of course definitely check out her book.

THANKS for reading & hope you are home & staying healthy!!

xo

Lee

* All photos by Miguel Flores-Vianna, via Vendome Press, unless otherwise noted.