Hit the Beach
Hemp, one of the oldest-known cultivated plants, is seeing a revival thanks to its sustainability credentials: a low-impact crop, it requires no pesticides and little irrigation, and even returns nutrients to the soil. And, far from being a bland neutral backdrop in a design scheme, it can be colourful, opulent and glamorous, too, as this new ‘Harbor Hemp’ wallcovering (above) from Phillip Jeffries shows.
It is part of a collection released in time for summer that exudes a relaxed aura of sun and sea. ‘Harbor Hemp’ was inspired by bleached boardwalks, and each of the pieces that make up its chevron pattern is prepared and woven by hand before being washed, dyed, cut to shape and laid down on a natural ground.
Elsewhere in the collection, ‘Santorini Stone’ has a free-flowing pattern of vertical wavy lines, inspired by pebble beaches and pristine waters; while the punning ‘Toile de Sea’ (above right) is a big-hitting bold pattern, featuring a fantastical aquatic landscape of coral, seahorses undersea plants, available in five colours. There are also embroidery stripes, painterly small-scale dots and plain linens, all evoking carefree beachside living.
The brand recently moved to a new, larger showroom within the Design Centre, where these new collections plus many more can be seen in all their glory.
