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These designers are giving chintz a modern makeover
From wallpaper to ceramics and furniture, florals with a contemporary spin are the fastest way to bring joy to your interiors
Ever since Grannycore had its moment in the social spotlight, blowsy, unapologetic florals have been blooming in the realm of homeware. It’s now, however, when we are finally seeing the trend losing its ruffles and being applied to contemporary shapes, that we are ready to fall for its whimsical charms.
After all, when the 50th-anniversary edition of Mario Bellini’s ‘Le Bambole’ armchair for B&B Italia arrives with the option of petal-patterned attire and Gucci releases a floral wallpaper, you know it’s time to wake up and smell the roses!
‘Artemis Rose’ tile, House of Hackney
Hand-crafted in England by renowned ceramic tile makers Craven Dunnill Jackfield, House of Hackney’s traditional earthenware tiles take their cues from the Victorian era. The screen-printed rose blooms against a dusky pink background in a gentle nod to the beauty of the natural world. £30 each, houseofhackney.com
Cup and saucer, Bernadette
Proving that it’s perfectly possible for florals to feel fresh and modern, this colourful handmade cup and saucer are the work of South African based ceramic artisan Mervyn Gers for Bernadette. £181 for set of two, bernadetteantwerp.com
‘Roses’ wallpaper, Gucci
If Gucci says chintz is back, who are we to argue? Setting pink roses and forget-me-nots against a dramatic black background, this wallpaper takes granny chic to the extreme. We can see it bringing a touch of kitsch to a downstairs loo, snug or study. £395 per roll, gucci.com
‘Canevas Natural Flower Rug’, Heal’s
The clever design of this floral rug by Gan gives it the appearance of an enlarged cross-stitch pattern with a worn, antique finish, but at the same time, it also has a hyper-modern pixelated effect. £2,299, heals.com
‘An Attempt to Refine the Backyard’ sofa, Hay x Chart
Imagine this beautiful object blooming in your living room. The embroidered ‘Mags Soft Sofa’ is one of a limited edition series of 50 made to mark CHART’S 10th edition. It features floral embellishments by Icelandic artist Loji Höskuldsson and each is finished with a hand-embroidered label by the artist. From approx £5,270, hay.dk
‘Louis Velvet’ fabric, Linwood
There’s an almost three dimensional depth to this design which is enhanced by the rich velvet it’s printed on. Cover a sofa or use on floor-to-ceiling curtains to turn a living room into an enveloping, flower-filled bower. £89.90 per metre, linwoodfabric.com
‘Simone Floral Effie Tripod’ dining chair, Anthropologie
Perfect for low-level dining or as an accent chair in a living room, Anthropologie’s three-legged chair offers a different take on florals, with a tropical print on a zingy acid green background. £498, anthropologie.com
‘Le Bambole’ armchair, B&B Italia
Florals take on a completely different aspect when used on a striking shape such as the iconic ‘Le Bambole’ armchair. Reimagined in ‘Manila 783’ fabric, it looks extremely inviting.£5,309, bebitalia.com
Rosebud carafe vase, Glassette
We love the charming 1950s feel of Petra Palumbo’s hand-painted glass vase which can be used to hold a posy or as a vessel for water on a bedside table. £94, glassette.com
‘Say it With a Flower’ plate, Bitossi
There are several different flowers depicted in this series of playful plates by legendary ceramic house Bitossi – enough to create a blooming masterpiece on your dinner table. Each is painted in uplifting shades while the flowers have a naive, retro style that can’t fail to raise a smile. £23.40, luxxdesign.com
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