Coming to America
A veteran in the home furnishings field, Fiona Howard has designed luxury wallpapers and textiles for such names as Sanderson, Colefax & Fowler, Pierre Frey, Manuel Canovas, Harlequin, GP&J Baker and P. Kaufmann. Dandelion Clocks by Sanderson is one of her celebrated designs. In 2018 she developed her own wallpaper line with motifs inspired by her native British coast and countryside.
Describing her process, Howard says, “I sketch the designs out into repeating patterns and then trace these onto lino blocks, which I carefully carve and print by hand, one lino block for each layer of color in the design. The resulting design has to flow seamlessly across the wallpaper taking your eye on a gentle journey, whilst also illustrating the beautiful flaws and perfect imperfections which are indications of the pattern being created by hand. In a world where so much is computer generated, there is an honesty and soul in the origin of my designs.” Her block prints are applied to FSC papers using environmentally friendly inks. Now offered in the US through Crans Baldwin.
Sheltering in Place
Artist and textile designer Serena Dugan of Serena Dugan Studio just released four new patterns to her portfolio of wallcoverings and fabrics. The Shelter Island collection was inspired by her East Coast home, where she has incorporated her latest designs. The collection includes: Anya, an ikat-inspired micro floral; East End, a contemporary wave pattern; Jakarta, a floral which blends Indonesian batik with traditional Jacobean elements; and Camille, a grasscloth depicting painterly botanical vines. The former Chief Creative Officer of Serena & Lily launched her Sausalito, CA studio in 2020, and in addition to her artwork, fabrics and wallcoverings, she has designed a line of rugs in collaboration with Erik Lindström. Available through Temple Studio.
Wood Craft
Founded in 1995, the Hudson Company is a custom mill specializing in wood flooring, paneling, beams and crafted architectural products. The company recently opened a showroom in Greenwich on East Putnam Avenue under the direction of showroom manager Michael Popowitz.
“The Hudson Company is vertically integrated, meaning that we sustainably harvest or salvage all of our wood, we have our own mill and finishing facility, and we see our products through from beginning to end,” explains Popowitz. “This allows us to offer clients an exceptional degree of personal attention, and to ensure that every project we undertake meets our very high standards.”
Coastal Palette
Fairfield designer Gaelle Dudley of GLDESIGN just launched a new paint collection, A La Plage, with Ring’s End. The offering includes 14 custom colors hand- picked by Dudley which represent her laid back, coastal aesthetic. “The right paint color can make or break the mood for an entire space,” says Dudley. “The colors of A La Plage are not just the palette of my design, they are the palette of my lifestyle. Summer is more than a season, it’s a state of mind. I believe in a light, easy-breezy approach to living that reminds us of being on vacation from the comfort of our own home.” Dudley and Scott Herling, VP of Paint Operations at Ring’s End, collaborated on the project. “When Gaelle mentioned a desire to create a personalized paint line inspired by the coastal palette she lives and works in, it was a no-brainer for us to partner with her,” says Herling. “Gaelle is a nationally recognized color expert and Ring’s End services a predominantly coastal New England market. Creating a unique color palette with someone who is so deeply respected and tied to the coastal region was an easy decision for us to make.” The designer-vetted paints will be produced by Benjamin Moore in an array of earth tones, classic whites, sunset hues and pale, moody blues and greens. Available exclusively at Ring’s End locations and online.
