While color is undoubtedly one of the most important elements in interior design, adding color can be a complex task with an endless array of possibilities. At Schumacher, we want to make the process a little easier by spotlighting various color trends. After all of the attention it has received this year from The Pantone Color Institute and fashion runways alike, we think there is no better way to kick off our series than by highlighting the “it” color of the moment, orange.

Long associated with wealth and status, orange has held a prominent place in the history of color. In England, during the Elizabethan Era, only the royal elite were permitted to wear this luxurious hue. While in ancient Buddhism orange represented the strength, dignity and wisdom of the Buddha.

Today, orange’s exuberant energy pops in both traditional and modern spaces. Whether it is used to accent a neutral interior or fill a room as a bold statement, orange captivates as the focal point of any space.

“I love the color orange because of the optimistic energy and vibrancy it brings to a room,” says Schumacher Creative Director Susan North, “orange is the happiest color in the spectrum.”

Traditionally, orange has been paired with shades of brown, but a recent trend has emerged contrasting orange with charcoal grey creating a sophisticated, modern feel. Orange mixed with crisp whites brighten a room, while orange with complementary teal and blue or analogous hues of raspberry and pink makes an incredible statement in an often unexpected way.

So go on! Give your room, and for that matter yourself or your client, a pick-me-up and add a little orange flair to your living space.

Inspiring Schumacher oranges:

Kasari Ikat in Terra Cotta, 5005994
This graphic wallcovering features a lively chevron pattern with a warp-printed appearance. The bold terra cotta color against a wall creates an exotic yet sophisticated feel.

Gweneth Linen in Valencia, 64494
Our Hayward Chair, SH185, in upholstered with Gweneth Linen, a classic upholstery weight Belgian linen. Valencia, a bright hue of orange makes the perfect statement.

Trina Turk Indoor | Outdoor Collection
From modern and sophisticated patterns to subtle texture and fashion-derived color palettes, the orange hued fabrics in Trina Turk’s latest collection are perfect for a range of interior and exterior spaces. Featured: Carmel Coastline Print in Tangerine, 174695; Kalaheo Print in Hibiscus, 174662; and Beauty Bark Print in Cerise, 174714.

View more Schumacher orange offerings…

Show us your Schumacher!
Log on to www.facebook.com/schumacher1889 or Tweet us @Schumacher1889 #myschumacher to post a picture of how you used Schumacher Orange!

Imperial Trellis II in Ivory / Mandarin, 174410 and
Chiang Mai Dragon in Aquamarine, 173270, installation featured above by Hudson Interior Designs.

We would like to thank all of the talented designers who shared their work with us. We loved seeing how Schumacher’s indoor/outdoor fabrics are being used in innovative ways. It was difficult to select from all of the incredible projects. Congratulations to the winners on their inspiring entries:

TOP WINNER

Sheila Lyon and Meredith Sanders
Sheila Lyon Interiors – Houston, TX

Sheila Lyon Interiors Inc., a full-service Houston, Texas-based design firm, specializes in high-end residential interior design and handles high volume new construction, remodeling, and furnishings.

Awarded the honor of best “Outdoor Space” for 2011 by ASID, Texas Gulf Coast Chapter, this lake-side entertaining space, which the client primarily uses for hosting weekend football parties, features Super Paradise Print in Pool, Trellis Print in Marine, and Peacock Print in Pool, all from Trina Turk for Schumacher.

HONORABLE MENTION

Samantha Culbreath
Beckwith Interiors – Nashville, TN



Under the direction of Jamie Beckwith, the Beckwith Interiors design team creates luxurious, timeless, and functional environments for residential, retail, and corporate clients nationwide.

In order to bring color into this client’s neutral indoor/outdoor space, Samantha Culbreath—an interior designer with Beckwith Interiors—had these ottomans custom made so the medallion pattern on Schumacher’s Super Paradise Print in Driftwood would fit on the top. The space was literally a blank slate in regards to color so the design team went with Trina Turk’s fashion-derived driftwood palette—a direction they felt was young and fresh.

HONORABLE MENTION

Margaret Kirkland
MKC Designs/Margaret Kirkland Interiors – Atlanta, GA

MKC Designs/Margaret Kirkland Interiors is a full service residential design firm based out of Atlanta, Georgia. They specialize in classic and elegant interiors and create clean, comfortable, and sophisticated spaces.

Overlooking lavender fields and the Alpilles Mountain Range in the South of France, this terrace was designed for aperitifs, afternoon reading, and everyday use. Interior designer Margaret Kirkland searched for a fabric that would work with the natural surroundings, and at the same time add interest to the seating area by making a statement. Schumacher’s Soleil Indienne in Grass was the perfect match—a mix of fresh botanical shades and whimsical patterns.

HONORABLE MENTION

Carole Reed
Carole Reed Design – Southampton

After more than 10 years designing for commercial properties Carole Reed, Carole Reed Design, switched gears, and since then she has created home environments that people just love living in. Based out of New York City and Southampton, Carole uses combinations of old and new objects partnered with rich textiles and organic materials along with the right levels of lighting and tonality to create a sensory feast for the eyes.

Carole Reed designed this Master Bath using fabrics from Trina Turk for Schumacher, including Peacock Print in Pool, Zig Zag Weave in Laguna, Pisces Print in Pool, and Arches Print in Pool. Also featured is the Schumacher Bel Air Slipper Chair (PDF Tear Sheet). She loved the idea of a bath in a seaside community that was impermeable to the elements.

Enter Your Design for a Chance to Win

Schumacher is inspired by creative uses of indoor/outdoor fabrics in a range of environments, from poolside cabanas to traditional dining rooms. We would love to see how our indoor/outdoor fabrics fit into your designs. Submit your favorite projects featuring our indoor/outdoor offerings for the chance to receive a $200 credit on your next order. The contest winner and three finalists will be featured on the Schumacher blog.

To enter, email whatsnew@fsco.com with images of your installation featuring Schumacher indoor/outdoor fabrics (no larger than 5MB total), a brief description of your project, your contact information, and a recent headshot. If you are submitting an interior space, please include why you selected indoor/outdoor fabric for this room. If you are submitting an outdoor environment, please specify why you chose this particular pattern or patterns.

Deadline: February 14, 2012

Contest will close on February 14, 2012 at 12:00pm ET. Winners will be announced the week of 2/20/12. Credit valid only on full price fabric, wallcovering, trimming, and furnishings. Offer does not apply to closeout or discounted Schumacher merchandise and excludes orders placed on Patterson, Flynn & Martin products. $200 credit valid through February 2013. Entrance only valid for designers holding active Schumacher trade accounts. Schumacher maintains the right to use images submitted on whatsnew.fschumacher.com.

In the eighteenth century and very early nineteenth century, when most Europeans were using linen and wool dyed in earthy tones, vibrant fabric panels from India—palampores—emerged on the scene. In this pre-industrial era, Indian dyeing technology was unsurpassed, and the Coromandel Coast was renowned for hand-painting and indigo dyeing on fine cotton cloths.

A palampore is a type of hand-painted bed cover that was originally made in India. The word palampore is derived from an ancient Hindi word meaning bed hanging. These patterns were usually very complex and elaborate, depicting a wide variety of plants, flowers, and animals.

The intricate cloth was created using the kalamkari technique, in which an artist drew designs on cotton or linen fabric with a kalam pen containing mordant paint and then dipped the textile into dye. The dye adhered to the cloth only where the mordant had been applied. This lengthy process had to be repeated for each color in the design. Then, small details were painted by hand.

Palampores became very popular in Europe, where they were often used as bed covers, wall hangings, and draperies. Europeans loved the colorful floral designs and the light, easily washed cotton.

While the tree-of-life motif can be seen as having come from India, it is likely linked to the Dutch and German herbals that first reached India in the sixteenth century. Historians, at one point, proposed that the tree-of-life motif was inspired by a combination of Persian miniatures, English crewel embroideries and European chinoiserie patterns. The huge blossoming flowers that curve around tree limbs on these palampores suggest a European influence. Ultimately, the palampore has become an exquisite amalgamation between east and west.

This tradition has stood the test of time and has been an important part of decorative textiles for centuries. We invite you to visit how this tradition continues in the Schumacher Collection.

The paisley pattern, characterized by an abstract tear-drop shape, can be traced back to ancient Babylon, where the design was used to represent the date palm. Patterned shawls with paisley motifs were originally woven in Kashmir, as early as the seventeenth century. The earliest designs were a single flowering plant brought to Europe during the mid-1700s. Since these luxurious shawls were hand woven, costly to produce, and extremely popular, they were often given as part of a dowry or used for ceremonial occasions.

After the Jacquard loom was invented in the early 1800s, Paisley, Scotland became the foremost producer of these shawls. As a result, the design became known as the paisley pattern, and gradually developed from an upright spray of flowers to a stylized cone-shaped motif.

Schumacher offers a wide range of paisley wallcoverings and fabrics, from grand scaled patterns in exotic colorations, delicately detailed designs adapted from antique shawls, and even graphic and modern interpretations of this timeless motif.

The art of the hand block is highly prized for its beautifully crafted appearance—subtle, softened and varied, each motif showing the hand and mark of its maker. Even the wood blocks used to create the designs are carved by hand, and much of the natural beauty lies in the intricately detailed forms and time-worn edges.

Beginning in the sixteenth century, the exuberant and exotic patterns of India, known in the Western world as indiennes and palampores, were imported to Europe and became very popular. As a result France and England developed their own block printing industries, and began to design block prints that took on a more European character, featuring abundant flowers, grand damasks and exotic patterns with botanical elements.

The patterns are carefully made by matching small pin marks at the block edges, which keep the pattern in registration. The block is pounded with a wooden mallet, called a maul, in an even pressure that requires an experienced and skilled hand. Printers then go back with dyes and brushes to hand paint. The result is one of a kind and artisanal—as each block impression is just slightly different than the next.

This season, Schumacher introduces Jaipur, an exquisite collection of entirely hand block printed wallcoverings that use traditional methods and classic patterns in new interpretations and colorations. The designs vary in scale, from small and delicate bhuti prints and decoratively detailed stripes, to bold damask motifs, Greek key patterns and multihued paisleys. The timeless quality of these prints is enhanced with durable surfaces and inks, creating versatile wallcoverings that are suitable for a variety of modern and traditional interiors.

Watch the artisanal process used to create Darya Ikat…

Traditional warp printing and hand weaving techniques are used to create this dramatic woven fabric in a crisp blend of linen and cotton yarns. A fine warp is table printed using silk screens and transferred to a loom, where it is carefully woven by hand. This process softens the bold look of the original design. Darya Ikat features an exotically patterned stripe design that gives a new look to ikat. Colorations range from sophisticated neutrals to brilliant jewel and spice shades. The color and weaving variations within each length of fabric are considered hallmarks of an authentic ikat fabric. Darya Ikat is perfect for both drapery and upholstery in a range of interior spaces.

For fall, the color orange is popping up everywhere, from red carpets to runways and interiors alike. The psychology of orange is optimistic and uplifting, even rejuvenating, like the sweet fruit originally brought from China and India.

Historically orange is associated with nobility. In the Netherlands, it is the color of the Dutch Royal Family, dating back to Willem van Oranje (William of Orange). During the Elizabethan Era in England, only the aristocracy was permitted to wear this hue, since the bright color represented an elevated social standing and wealth.

Today, the inviting, autumnal color can be used for chic accents and bright focal points that are inspiring both fashion and interior design. Schumacher offers a stunning variety orange fabrics and wallcoverings for both classic and modern interiors.

• Metropolitan Velvet in Blood Orange
• Madison Wool in Mandarin
• Montebello Damask in Russet
• High Voltage in Berry & Spice
• Palermo Mohair Velvet in Butterscotch
• Bagan in Spark

Serengeti Silk is wonderful for draperies, but also makes beautiful upholstery for modern chair frames such as this Chanaux Armchair (SH180).

Serengeti Silk is a silk chinè, a type of warp print traditionally produced in Europe. This centuries-old process involves printing a fine silk warp and then weaving it on a power loom. The loom is stopped periodically during the weaving so the loose weft threads that hold together the warp during printing can be removed by hand, one inch at a time. Serengeti Silk has an exotic quality evocative of a rare animal print as well as a softly shaded fauxbois that is perfect for both classic and contemporary interiors.

Serengeti Silk on the loom as it is being woven.

Summer has officially started, which calls for a holiday abroad! Pack up your bags and head out to soak up the sun on a tropical beach, sightsee ancient architecture, and immerse yourself in a different culture. Whether you’ll be spending the summer jet setting or enjoying a long weekend at home, get inspired by world-traveled, exotic design.

As Brazil prepares to host the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics, the world is watching. Known for rich natural resources, including beautiful beaches and people, Brazil has so much to offer the design savvy.

Tell us what country inspires your aesthetic…

Independence Day is just around the corner, which means it’s time for fireworks, BBQs and red, white and blue inspired decor. This season, stripes are all the rage in both couture and interior design. Designers from Prada to Louboutin show off their stripes on and off the runway, and we want to showcase some of our own.

From shoes to handbags, leopard accessories add an element of excitement to trusted basics. Timeless spots aren’t just for the fashion forward, using animal prints in interior spaces can add a dash of danger and a whole lot of glamour.

• Randolph

• Samburu

• Safari Epingle

Pair striking prints with neutrals for a pop of something unexpected. Updated tribal motifs and bold ikats infused with exotic elements create a fresh look for interior spaces.

Tashkent

Kerala

Maya

Kandira

Tashkent Velvet

Trina Turk’s fresh originality, bold designs and visual punch are reminiscent of Dorothy Draper’s legendary interiors, which embodied the idea that bigger and brighter was always better.

Dorothy Draper caused a nationwide sensation with her custom-designed cabbage rose chintz for Schumacher. This best-selling pattern began a decades-long collaboration between Draper and Schumacher. The partnership created brilliantly colored textiles, wallpapers and carpets that flourished during the post-war period.

Launched in 2009, Trina Turk’s first collection for Schumacher provided the same uplifting and optimistic use of color that Dorothy Draper’s collections provided after the Great Depression and WWII.

Continuing in this tradition, Trina Turk’s second collection for Schumacher offers a splash of vivid colors and graphic impact to uplift interiors everywhere.

The above title is not in reference to the cursory plans for an architectural masterpiece. No, we are talking about the gorgeous prints in striking shades of blue for spring. Inspired by Refinery 29’s article on the emergence of fabulous blue prints seen on the spring ’11 runways, we offer our own selection of blue designs.

As a nod to April’s impending showers, embrace this blue trend and accent your interiors with a midnight stripe or a cerulean floral.

• Pyne Hollyhock
• El Sol
• Beatrice Bouquet
• Delray Stripe
• Georgica Floral
• Beauty Bark

Tell us how you are using blue prints in your interiors…