Classic design motifs and genres are making a big comeback and Chinoiserie is at the forefront of this movement. If you‘ve followed me for any length of time you will know that it is probably my favorite historical element to mix into interiors for a dash of the exotic. It’s clean lines and bold colors make it a natural compliment for todays vibrant interiors and todays forward thinking manufacturers are serving it up in large doses.
Global Views had several vignettes featuring bold Chinoiserie prints paired with a vibrant tangerine palette and bright white accents.
C.R. Laine went all in with the majority of their showroom sporting one derivative or another of the popular style. Their front window was a great example of how manufacturers are pairing these traditionally busy prints with modern styling to create a lively mix of culture and contemporary design. Silhouettes and simplified prints bring the motifs into a more relevant form for todays designer and consumer.
Décor 55
Simplified Asian style toiles were in abundance and most often paired with zebra prints for a touch of contemporary exotica. Décor 55 a semi custom, drapery manufacturer showed off this pairing with their high quality ready made panels complete with interlining and superior workmanship!
Surya
Always on trend – Surya debuted a beautiful painterly selection of vibrant Chinoiserie styled pillows in a large range of colors and styles. Printed on silk these pillows raised the bar for Suryas extensive pillow program.
Wesley Hall
The Wesley Hall showroom never disappoints and it was clothed in a wide assortment of Chinese décor from lamps to art, upholstery and drapery; they truly embraced the Eastern vibe. We fell in love with this trellis style “lantern” fixture.
In our last post we discussed the broad use of Greek Key trim by vendors and Wesley Hall was among those who used this classic element to tone down the busy visual of Chinoiserie prints and add a tailored edge as seen in the trim applied to the dust skirt of these lovely chairs. Never underestimate the power of a little bit of trim!!
While they do not sell the wall art that adorns the showroom we have to give a shout out to the design team for providing a complete theme throughout their vignettes with superbly chosen wall décor that brought the rooms home.
Thibaut has always had a selection of Chinoiserie patterns in their line up but their new Enchantment Collection features a diverse blend of traditional Eastern motifs and graphic patterns that create a fresh, trend forward coordinated look.
From beautiful embroidered medallions to a boldly graphic toile, there is something for everyone in this well defined selection.
Terms you should know
Chinoiserie French for "Chinese-esque", Chinoiserie is a recurring theme in European artistic styles since the seventeenth century, which reflect Chinese artistic influences. It is characterized by the use of fanciful imagery of an imaginary China, by asymmetry in format and whimsical contrasts of scale, and by the attempts to imitate Chinese porcelain and the use of lacquerlike materials and decoration.
Chinoiserie in a broader scope refers to a mixture of Eastern and Western stylistic elements for both the decoration and shape. The style held particular favour during the Rococo period and the court of Louis XV, with which its fanciful, ornate and idyllic imagery is commonly associated.
Toile or Toile de Jouy is the term for a style of decorative pattern consisting of a plain ground color with an overlayed pattern usually depicting scenic subject matter which is most commonly printed in one color. Modern toiles can be multi colored, rendered in silhouette, or colored in reverse with the background being a dark color and the toile pattern done in a lighter color. Toiles can be used on fabric, wallpaper, and other decorative surfaces.
