The Beloved Suzani

Beautiful embroidered fabrics known as Suzanis have been appearing all over great interiors and design blogs for quite some time now. Their bold patterns make a big statement in the design of a room while bringing a comfortable feel to any interior. As a suzani lover myself, I wanted to shed a little light onto this popular textile.

The name Suzani comes from the Persian word for “needle,” which is fitting given the way Suzanis are made. These beautiful textiles are carefully embroidered and are typically made with cotton and/or silk. Suzanis have been referenced as far back as the 15^th century and most likely originated in what is now known as Uzbekistan. Suzanis were typically given to a groom on his wedding day and were made by his future bride as part of her dowry and to highlight her skills.

Above photo, Kristen Hutchins Design

Sun and moon disks, stylized flowers such as tulips, carnations, and irises as well as leaves and vines, pomegranates, and occasionally fish or birds are common design motifs found on Suzanis. These patterns have become so popular that the traditionally embroidered design is now being printed on many home accessories.

Sultan Bedding by Z Gallerie and Suzani Wastepaper Baskets by Decorative Things

Two great designers who often use the power of Suzanis in their designs are Martyn Lawrence Bullard and Nathan Turner. Antique suzanis can frequently be found in the interiors of these two successful and talented designers, leaving us to ooh and awe over the interiors they create.

Above interiors by Martyn Lawrence Bullard. Interiors below by Nathan Turner.

When creating his own fabric line, Martyn Lawrence Bullard incorporated a lot of what we all love about suzanis and other ethnic fabrics into his designs giving us the perfect balance between traditional and modern aesthetic. Designers Joe Lucas and Parrish Chilcoat of Lucas Studio Inc. used Martyn's Sultan's Suzanni in one of their striking interiors seen to the right.

If you want to try to incorporate some ethnic flair into your interiors, try starting with a few pillows from Fabricadabra. These amazing pillows (some shown below) are made with real vintage suzani textiles so each one is unique. If you are feeling more bold, shop for a full piece of suzani so that you can display it on the wall or use it for upholstery like the pros. Try places like Fabricadabra or 1st dibs for full pieces or furniture already upholstered with a suzani.

Happy Suzani Shopping! Until next time,

Ellenor

Ikats You Need Now!

Following our post on the wonderful world of Ikats, here are some must have accessories for your home that proudly show off this amazing pattern.

For your Living Room...

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1. Fin Rocker, worth every penny! Available at Anthropologie for $1,698.oo

2. Carnaby Flame Lamp, to light up your life... and room. Available at Jonathan Adler for $195.oo-$295.oo

3. Ikat Pillow Covers, too many good ones to choose from, so just get them all! Available from Fabricadabra for $35.oo-$65.oo

For your Kitchen....

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3. 4.

1. Ikat Ice Bucket, for all of your party needs. Available at Decorative Things for $60.oo

2. Ikat Dishtowels, to conquer your mess in style! Available at Crate & Barrel for $3.95

3. Ikat Tray, to serve your guests in style! Available at Decorative Things for $70

4. Ikat Napkins, to put some pizazz to your dining. Available at Decorative Things for $12.oo

For your Bedroom...

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1. Organic Chevron Duvet Cover & Shams, for a modern take on Ikat. Available at West Elm. Duvets, $79.oo-$109.oo, Shams, $24.oo - $29.oo

2. Wakeful Ikat Sheet Set, to wake up to something beautiful. Available at Anthropologie for $128.oo-$148.00

For your Bathroom...

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1. Azure Ikat Towels, to impress your guests! Available from Anthropologie for $8.oo-$58.oo

2. Blue and White Ikat Tray, to keep your vanity tidy and stylish! Available at Target for $12.99

For your Windows...

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1. Ikat Ogee Window Panels, to keep things light and airy. Available at West Elm for $59.oo-$74.oo/panel

2. Ikat Rose Curtains, to show the softer side of Ikat. Available at Anthropologie for $138.oo-$198.oo/panel

For your Floors...

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1. Expanding Colorscape Rug, for some thing soft and stylish at your feet. Available at Anthropologie for $698.oo

2. Mag-neat-o Floor Tiles, for the wow factor! Available at Flor for $24.99/tile ($9.29/square foot)

3. Sophisikat Floor Tiles, for a punch of Ikat. Available at Flor for $13.99/tile ($5.20/square foot)

Ikat, Ikat, Everywhere!

It seems that everywhere you turn these days you can spot an Ikat. This bold pattern has made its way to fashion, interiors, stationery, and almost every kind of design. But what do you know about this pattern that you love so much? Lets take a look into the history of Ikat...

The name Ikat (pronounced “ee-kaht”) comes from the Malay language meaning "tied" or "bound,” which is exactly how this pattern is made. Using a tie-dye process, the warp or weft threads (the direction that they will run) are tied into tight bundles and dyed before being woven together to create a pattern. A Double Ikat is when both the warp and the weft threads are tie-dyed before weaving. This beautiful textile is typically made with silk, but can be found using all sorts of fabrics today.

Pillows by Fabricadabra

Ikats have a very long history and are found all over the world. The designs vary depending on the region in which they are made, but are often considered symbols of status, wealth, power and prestige because of the time involved and high level of skill required to make them.

The term “Flame Stitch” is often used today in place of “Ikat.” It is my belief that the Flame Stitch pattern is just one variation of the many designs that the Ikat umbrella covers. This term usually describes the zig-zag pattern and is seen as the more simplified or modern versions of an Ikat. It also describes the pattern on the thick blanket that your grandmother probably has.

Interiors by Mary Mcdonald

Bedroom with Flame Stitch Bench from Elle Decor, "Bargello Pillow" from Jonathan Adler

As you can see, designers love to incorporate this gorgeous textile into their interiors. Just using a little bit can make a room pop, like the bedroom above or these purple Ikat chairs!

If you really want to make a statement, use Kelly Wearstler as your guide with how she used her own Ikat-inspired and Flame Stitch fabrics to create this amazing room.

On the other hand, Kristen Hutchins selected a more subtle Ikat pattern to use on this outdoor space to create a modern and serene aesthetic.

Today, the term Ikat can refer to the textile itself, the pattern, or technique used to make it. No matter how the term is used, you know that what you’re seeing is stunning!

Until next time!

Ellenor

Check out these worldly fabrics…

Most popular fabric designs today have been influenced by the same techniques used to make textiles since the early days. In fact, most of these fabrics are still being made using these same ancient techniques. Since these beautiful fabrics are all over the interior design market today, it’s time for a quick vocabulary lesson in some of the most popular of these fabrics and patterns.

Ikat (aka, Flame Stitch) : Coming from the Malay language meaning "tied" or "bound,” Ikats are created using a tie-dye process on either the warp or weft (the direction of the threads), before being woven together to create a pattern. This beautiful textile is typically made with silk, but can be found on all sorts of fabrics today. Ikats have a very long history and are found all over the world. The designs vary depending on the region in which they are made, but are often considered symbols of status, wealth, power and prestige because of the time involved and high level of skill required to make them.

“Flame Stitch” is often used in place of “Ikat” and are in actuality very similar. It is my belief that the Flame Stitch pattern is just one variation of the many designs that the Ikat umbrella covers. This term usually describes the zig zag pattern and is seen as the more simplified or modern versions of an Ikat.

The term Ikat can refer to the textile itself, the pattern, or technique. For more on Ikats, check out this post.

Suzani : Coming from the Persian word for “needle,” Suzanis are embroidered textiles typically made with cotton and/or silk. The patterns used on Suzanis are typically sun and moon disks, flowers (especially carnations, tulips, and irises), leaves and vines, fruits (usually pomegranates), and occasionally fish or birds. These textiles are referenced as far back as the 15^th century and most likely originated in what is now known as Uzbekistan. They were typically given to a groom on his wedding day and were made by his future bride as part of her dowry to highlight her skills.

The term Suzani can refer to the textile itself, the pattern, or technique. For more on Suzanis, check out this post.

Wood Blocked (aka, Hand Blocked) : This is technique is used to print patterns on to textiles and dates as far back as before AD 220 with the Han dynasty in China. This technique was not only used for fabrics, but for paper printing as well. A carved piece of wood is dipped in ink and then stamped onto a piece of cloth to create beautifully patterned fabrics each with their unique qualities. This technique has been found around the world including India where it is most commonly used today to create our beloved fabrics. While some fabrics today are made with more modern stamping techniques including machinery, we can thank the good ol’ fashioned hand blocks for paving the way to gorgeous fabrics. Designers such as Peter Dunham and John Robshaw keep us enthralled with this look through their beautiful fabric designs.

The term Wood Blocked refers to the technique used to create the textile.

Paisley : This pattern is something that most of you are probably familiar with, but don’t know it! A paisley is a droplet-shaped motif that originated in Indian, Persian, and Pakistani design. It is typically produced using the Wood Blocked technique mentioned above

The term Paisley refers to the pattern on the textile.

I hope this quick lesson helped clear up some of the vocabulary for you! Check out our future postings when we dig a little deeper into some of these popular ethnic fabrics and see how they are used in today's stylish interiors.

Ellenor

My Great Bedroom Redo!

I dream of re-doing my bedroom... and then I wake up and realize that I'm on a spending freeze right now so my dream will have to wait. But this doesn't stop me from planning for when I can do it. So, here is my plan for the great bedroom re-do!

I would make a room that was beautifully balanced between masculinity and femininity. A pink and blue scheme with modern furniture pieces. Here's a run down of what makes up the room that I want to wake up to everyday!

1. Right now my bedroom is painted a very pale Robin's Egg blue and I love it! So I would keep it just the same, Benjamin Moore "St. Anne".

2. New curtains are a must! I would get something clean and classic, like Ikea's Aina curtains in bleached linen. These curtains are a steal at just $49.99 for the pair!

3. I would add some detail to the curtains by adding some beautiful trim along the edges. This "Honeycomb" trim is from Kelly Wearstler's collection for Lee Jofa.

4. My existing Ikea Hemnes Dresser is still in good condition and looks good in the room, so I would keep this so that I could splurge on other pieces for the room!

5. I love my existing lamp, so this would be re-used in the room.

6. I would get a new dresser for my husband. The poor man has been using a dresser that we found on the side of the road... no joke! Hey, it looked good, worked well, and the free price tag was just right! Time to upgrade... But since I still love a bargain, I'd buy Ikea's Trondheim 6-Drawer Dresser. I love the modern look and finish of this dresser and I think it would look good with my existing pieces.

7. My beloved chair! Every bedroom needs one and I bought my beautiful chair off the Lee Jofa showroom floor awhile ago. Its upholstered in a fabric by Kelly Wearstler, and it became the single inspiration piece for this great bedroom re-do! I just love the color combination of pinks and blues.

8. Currently my pup's kennel sticks out pretty far into the floor space because the only opening is on the end. But if I got a kennel that opened up from the side, like this one from Amazon, it would not only take up less floor space it could double as a side table next to my chair! I'll just place a pretty tray on top to keep things from falling through.

9. Of course my pup will need to sleep on something comfy in his new kennel, and why not something stylish too?! I love this dog bed from Kissmymut Shop on Etsy.com.

10. I need some add some additional light to the room and so I would add a plug-in wall sconce over the full length mirror. I love the look of the Industrial Wall Sconce from West Elm. The adjustable arm on this sconce will allow me to put the light where I need it when I need it!

11. My existing full length mirror has a white lacquer frame. It's a little modern looking and I love it!

12a. New sheets is a must! I love the combination of the Maroc Embroidered Euro Shams and Duvet Cover with the Stripe Sheet Set, both from West Elm. I think this is the perfect combination of modern masculine stripes and soft feminine embroidery.

12b. And since you always need a back up set of bed linens, I would use the Stripe Edge Sheet Set with the Stripe Duvet Cover, again both from West Elm.

13. One thing that I absolutely love about my current bedroom is my upholstered headboard! I don't imagine that I'll ever change this!

14. I also really love my existing bedside lamp, and so this would make it through the re-do.

15. A new bedside table would be great! I love this industrial modern side table from CB2, the Harvey Nightstand in Carbon.

16. Lastly, the other bedside table would remain as is. It matches my Ikea dresser and so everything is tied in. I like having mis-matched bedside tables, it keeps things interesting.

Now, time to put my piggy bank to goo use!

xo,

Loralie