Tuesday, May 12

Subtle things invite us to look closer. We narrow in on them, wanting to absorb every detail and commit it to memory. We focus more carefully, for longer. We might even move our body to see better. The act of looking becomes physical, and even more engaging. The harder we look, the more we notice.

In my art practice, I find focusing on a subtle moment to be clarifying and refreshing, a kind of reset. I often limit the colors I’m working with to a narrow value range when I want to refine an idea. A small range of colors, with the subtlest differences, can bring so much interest. I think the same is true in our homes. Sometimes a room calls for a quiet moment. A seemingly simple material, crafted with care, can engage our curiosity and draw us in.

I was reminded of this when I was working with designer Alison Elebash on the Southern Living Ideas House. She needed fabrics for the window treatments that wouldn’t compete with the other colors and patterns in the rooms, yet still add interest and detail. We landed on Evil Eye and Notched Vines, both lightweight embroideries with just a touch of color. I loved how light and breezy the panels turned out, the way they layered in an additional pattern that you really notice up close, when you’re pulling the curtains closed or drawing them open. They convinced me that we needed white-on-white embroidered linen in our collection.

Our new embroideries are an elevated version of classic white sheers, with simplicity and artistry. They’re machine-stitched in India, which gives them a soft, dreamy, handmade feeling that I love. I chose a few of my favorite patterns to use, with different types of rooms in mind, and explored variations on how to embroider them. Whites can be warm and cocooning, airy and light, shadowy and mysterious, depending on the subtleties of the design. Petals was my first pick because it’s one of my favorites, and this version has such a floaty and romantic mood. Little Palm feels so spacious; the embroidered fronds look airy and lacy. Our new pattern, Scattered Foliage, appears almost like botanical confetti, with its playful, leafy shapes. These three use a pure white ground, while Dotted Floral and Stamped Garland are stitched on a slightly warmer, off-white ground. I love how the embroidery gives Stamped Garland a beautiful raised texture. We spread out the “dots” of Dotted Floral out a bit; it’s perfect when you’re looking for more of an all-over print.

The overall effect of each is simplicity, but with craft and intention—just what a thoughtfully layered room needs. I hope they’ll become new favorites among our collection.

Fabrics like these are the ones you gravitate to in person. The stitching has a slight sheen that stands out against the dry linen fabric. You need to touch them and see the way the light filters through—that’s what makes them so appealing and so versatile. Log in to your trade account and place an order for complementary samples to add to your library now.

Thank you, Rebecca