F is for Autumn

It must be Autumn; Vogue features fully clothed humans. Women wearing real skirts (as opposed to a patch of fabric the same size as the samples I show clients).

Men in real jackets and shirts. Which one is more adorable? Hugh Dancy? The infant?

Flipping through a two inch thick edition of Vogue should qualify as upper arm conditioning.

Regardless of Vogue or the foliage color, Autumn doesn't start for me until the market events at the Boston Design Center.

There's far too much packed into one day. Here's just a snippet.

David (more adorable than Hugh) Toback, Design Director for Brunschwig and Fils, presented two new and soon to be released collections.

David talks and moves very fast hence this picture which in no way does him justice.

The new collections:

Mr. Toback recounted toiles' storied history while showing us these beautiful fabrics. Toiles first became popular in the late 18th century. These fabrics were printed with charming, idealized scenes of village and farm life. Toiles were printed all over Europe but those from the little town of Jouy outside Paris have long been regarded as the best.

and I do like yellow...

Paying hommage to authentic designs, this toile is rendered in great detail.
The tree in the lower left, odd looking to us today, is the result of pollarding.
A common 18th century practice, pollarding saves the trunk and only the upper branches
are harvested for firewood. This practice encourages new growth. And we thought we invented renewable.

More authentic 18th century pursuits. Hunting birds (the standing lad) and fishing. 

Wovens complement the toiles. The embroidered blue plaid is breath taking. A collective "oh, beautiful!" was heard coming from front rows.

Mr. Toback then gave us Hommage, a stellar collection of Brunschwig and Fils beloved classics. Most notable were the new colorways of La Portugaise.

Beautiful prints on linen. l-r: La Portugaise, Le Zebre and Wood. 

For my non-designer readers, Albert Hadley (read AD's tribute to Mr. Hadley when you have time) gave this fabric its legendary status in 1967 with the library he designed for Brooke Astor. Contemporary ox blood enamel and brass ensconcing rare volumes may not seem like a ground breaker today but at the time it was sensational (still is, I think). La Portugaise on the chairs and sofa.

via NY Times. Arguably one of the most photographed rooms in America.

 Here's what I could snap of Hommage before it was whisked away.

Nicely woven. Beautifully printed. This palette is so pleasing.

More new Le Zebre colors. I really appreciate the white-white ground for the blue and black.

This print is called "Wood".  Wood would make great roman shades.

"New Watson" and a very usable striae. Love the texture of these weaves.

Take orange down a notch or two and we get luscious melons and quince.
Imagine these fabrics cozying up your home in the middle of a New England winter? Yes, please.

Happily, many of Brunschwig and Fils fabrics are woven and printed right here in the United States.

Hope you are having a lovely weekend.

Thanks for reading,
Linda Pakravan

This post was not sponsored by any of the products or companies mentioned.