Prints Charming, the cheekily titled book from the design duo behind interior firm Madcap Cottage, John Loecke and Jason Oliver Nixon, is about to become your favorite decorating companion. The pair are certainly authorities on the subject of prints and pattern, with a body of work that effortlessly layers striking motifs and tons of fun color. The Madcap gents let us in on some of their favorite ways to work in a bit of print. So, prepare to retire those neutral palettes and see below for the scoop on punching things up in your life.
1. Don’t know where to start? Try your own linen closet!
“Take your white-on-white bed, and mix and match the linens. For example, use a white fitted sheet with a colorful flat sheet and then layer-in floral pillowcases, a great quilt, and a striped throw. What’s better than shopping the contents of your linen closet to dip your toe in the fabulous pool of prints and pattern without having to spend a cent? And if you don’t like the look, the results are easy to undo. Adding patterned throw pillows to a plain sofa or chair are another great way to embrace the alluring world of pattern.”
2. Floral is always in bloom
“John and I are crazy about florals, they are forever fresh and will make a room sunny and bright all year round. Eternal summer, what can be better than that? You can never go wrong with a great lightly polished chintz, especially in a floral or toile. Pair that overblown floral with an exotic ikat to create a global, well-traveled vibe that is whimsical and a tad bohemian.”
3. Find inspiration from print-lovers past
“We are mad for Sister Parish and her small-scaled prints that are timeless and forever fresh. Billy Baldwin mixed pattern with a genius touch, and Dorothy Draper was the queen of prints-rich, theatrical interiors that worked especially well in commercial applications. Syrie Maugham mastered the white-on-white look that was full of energy and excitement because of her masterful use of layering textures, and Laura Ashley guided us through the 1980s.”
4. It’s all about your tastes!
“Forget whatever you think are the rules, and have some fun. If you like the way prints and pattern work together in a space, that’s all that matters. Have some fun.
With that said, here are some tried-and-true tricks.”
5 Foolproof Print & Pattern Tricks:
- Carry one color throughout a room. So, let’s say you have a blue-and-white room. Use various shades of blue throughout the space, from pale blue to turquoise to navy: The eye will connect the dots between the florals, stripes, and all-overs that you use in these hues.
- Mix overblown patterns with smaller scale to keep the eye engaged.
- Wallpaper can make any room look bigger without having to break down walls.
- Stripes and animal prints will connect any pattern combination. If you are worried how to fix a toile with florals, for instance, throw in a stripe and voila!
- Pattern can be texture, so don’t overlook the mix of grasscloth with stone, nubby textiles with stainless, etc.
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Lead image by John Bessler