Mally Skok Fabrics

I was over at the Travis showroom the other day and was introduced to a fantastic new line of fabric by designer Mally Skok. Inspired by her love of antique and modern textiles, Skok recently debuted her line with the India Collection. Each print is charming, but I think what makes the line truly appealing is the hand crafted look of the fabric. I guess that's not surprising as all of Skok's fabrics are hand screened by Peter Fasano. For more information about the line, visit Mally's website, or do as I did and contact Dolly at the Travis showroom in Atlanta, (404) 237-5079.

Update: For you New Yorkers, Skok's fabric is also available at the Hinson showroom.

Julia in Pink on Oyster

Julia Double in Blue on Oyster

Nichola Aqua/Sand on Canvas

Rohet Multi on Oyster

Rohet Flora Multi on Natural

Rohet Stripe on Natural

Samode in Blue on Oyster

Mirella Spinella Textiles

Don't you laugh when you see a real estate listing that describes a home as having "old world charm"? There must be something about those three words that is catnip to most of America, because it's unbelievable how many listings use that phrase. And usually, there isn't a shred of old world or charm to the house.

Just what is old world charm? I think people have different ideas about it, but for me, I know it when I see it. But, old world, even when done well, doesn't really do it for me. My style is far too American. However, I think I've found something that has changed my mind.

Mirella Spinella is a textile designer who has lived and worked in Venice for close to thirty years. Her fabrics, most of which are handprinted silk velvet, evoke the history and "old wordliness" of Spinella's city. In addition to yardage, many of her fabrics are used to make pillows, tablecloths, curtains, and other decorative items.

Spinella recently branched out into custom-dyed linen, which might be a little more me than the silk velvet. Regardless of the fabric though, her old world designs just might have charmed me.

(More information, visit Spinella's website. Sue Fisher King in San Francisco does carry many of Spinella's pillows and hangings, including the new linen line.)

Suleyman II


Peacock


Palmette


Giotto


Elephant


Deco 4


Deco 2

John Stefanidis Fabrics

I tend to troll the internet for fabrics far too often, and inevitably during these virtual fabric forays I visit John Stefanidis' website. I love his fabrics and would love to use them sometime, somewhere.

John recently added some new additions to his line; the fabrics are breezy, a little casual, and have just the right amount of the exotic. (And really, don't the names of the prints make you want to take a voyage to some far away place?) I wish that one of the Atlanta showrooms carried his line, but at least the line is represented in the States. Harbinger, the much buzzed about Los Angeles showroom, carries it as well as Monica James in Florida.


Zanzibar


Udaiphur in an earth tone


Udaiphur in blue


Scritch Scratch


Kuba

Fabric at top: Fanfare

Moore & Giles Leather

I've always liked leather and have thought of using it for a few different applications, but I never went gaga over leather...until now. I recently had a chance to see Moore and Giles leather in person, and now I'm ready to upholster anything I can get my hands on in one of their sumptuous skins.

Moore and Giles, based in Lynchburg, Virginia, has been in the leather business since 1933, first as a supplier to the footwear industry and later the home furnishings business. Only recently have they entered the residential design arena. Many of you have seen Moore and Giles leathers in person, but perhaps you didn't realize it. For instance, those oft-photographed and commented on blue and avocado colored leather chairs in the Kelly Wearstler designed BG restaurant? Yep, Moore and Giles leather.

What first caught my eye were the yummy colors. Sure, you can stick to the basics if need be, but if you want a shade that is bright or moody or mysterious, this line has those too. And the textures are amazing. Buttery leathers, pony hairs, embossed, and laser cut. I suppose that I just wasn't aware of the array of finishes available...and the variety of ways in which you could use these leathers in your home!

(Moore and Giles leather is to the trade. To request pricing and samples, contact Greyson Kirby at design@mooreandgilesinc.com)

(ed. note: I just found out that Style Court likes Moore and Giles leather too! Check out her post on the line.)

Teju Lizard


Shark


Royal Vine


Palace Point


King Croc


Echo


Barrington


Amazon


Chair upholstered in Amazon

Image at top: Cottswald leather samples and a sumptuous leather chair.

Tulu Textiles

Thanks to the recent House Beautiful article on the Miles Redd project (July '09), I learned about a new fabric line, Tulu Textiles. Based in Istanbul, Tulu was founded by American ex-pat Elizabeth Hewitt and includes hand-printed fabrics, bedding, pillows, and other decorative items. What I like about the line is that it has that Ottoman look to it, but the fabrics and pieces aren't so heavily exotic that they wouldn't work well with more traditional, or contemporary, fabrics. That's one complaint that I oftentimes have with some exotic fabrics- you use a lot in a room and you look like you're trying too hard to channel Talitha Getty, or you incorporate one and it sticks out like a sore thumb. Tulu's don't feel like that at all to me.

Tulu's website will be updated within the next month, but do try to visit their site in the meantime to see additional photos of their line. For information on how to order, email Tulu at info@tulutextiles.com


"Madame Farfalla" fabric- I am so taken with this print. Gorgeous!


"Kezban" print


"Clara" print


"Yejiju"- love the colors.


"Mejiju"


Pillows using "Mejiju", "Clara", and "Yejiju"


Bedding by Tulu

Image at top: From left to right, fabrics include Pink Gigi, Tashkent, Kezban, Madame Farfalla, and Cream Bathing Beauty.

No. 9 Thompson and the Orientaliste Collection

Last week I had the opportunity to visit the Jerry Pair Showroom and view No. 9 Thompson's new fabric collection, The Orientaliste Collection. For those of you who might not be familiar with No. 9 Thompson (and truth be told I really wasn't until last week), it's the more current, more relaxed, and moderately priced line offered by Jim Thompson.

Richard Smith, designer of the line, and Chad Holman,Vice President of Jim Thompson, walked me through the new collection, and I can't tell you how impressed I was. Inspired by the Far East, Smith took classic Chinoiserie patterns and motifs and transformed them into something so fresh and so unique. There is a classic toile, florals, abstracts, and stripes, but each print has a twist: a stripe is given subtly wavy lines; a peony has ever so slightly metallic leaves; and a traditional porcelain print is rendered in a graphic way. And many of the prints have a painterly quality to them, not surprising as Smith is an artist who paints many of his designs first before taking them to Thailand to be woven.

There are so many great things about this line. The colors are so rich, vibrant, and yummy. The fabrics mix well together- and with those from other lines too. And despite the fact that the fabric is well made and looks expensive, it's actually so affordable. (Many of these fabrics cost less than what you find at discount fabric stores.) Anyway, I could go on and on, but I won't. I'll let the photos do the talking for me.



"China Lilly" is a print of lilies and clouds conceived and painted by Smith.


"Fretwork" is the most beautiful printed linen. That golden yellow colorway almost made me faint- and I usually am not a fan of yellow.


"Hexastripe" was based on the shapes of Chinese paving stones. The colors are amazing. I'm crazy for this print.



The peonies of "Kesi" were inspired by those in an antique Chinese tapestry. Some of the leaves have a metallic overprinting to them- subtle but still so chic.


"Nanking" is a far cry from the traditional porcelain prints favored by Nancy Lancaster, but the fresh, graphic look of it just might win over a new audience.


"Puwen", the Chinese word for striped fabric, has a herringbone weave.




"Tea Party", a print that I think will have a lot of fans.


"Treillage" is a linen weave. The colors are so much more rich in person than in my amateur photograph.


"Yangtze" is the print with the undulating stripes.

Image at top: "Hexastripe" on the console and "China Lilly" on the shade. The professional photographs are courtesy of David Christensen. The photos with the bad lighting...courtesy of me.