The William Morris Story

“Do not be afraid of large patterns, those natural forms which are at once most familiar, and most delightful to us, as well as from association as from beauty, are the best for our purpose” - William Morris

William Morris is one of the greatest celebrated designers and creative minds of the 19th century. Furthermore he was a key character in creating the Arts and Crafts movement, Morris remains incredibly influential today. He sort to create homes and spaces that combined the ornate and decorative aspects of nature with the functional. With beginnings as an architect, Morris went on to become a decorator, poet, fabric printer, writer and much more. As a result he became one of the most revolutionary designers of his time, drawing great inspiration from the medieval era.

Strawberry Thief

Strawberry Thief is one of William Morris's most popular repeating designs for textiles.[1] It takes as its subject the thrushes that Morris found stealing fruit in his kitchen garden of his countryside home, Kelmscott Manor, in Oxfordshire. To print the pattern Morris used the painstaking indigo-discharge method he admired above all forms of printing. He first attempted to print by this method in 1875 but it was not until 1881, when he moved into his factory at Merton Abbey, near Wimbledon, that he succeeded. In May 1883 Morris wrote to his daughter, "I was a great deal at Merton last week ... anxiously superintending the first printing of the Strawberry thief, which I think we shall manage this time." Pleased with this success, he registered the design with the Patents Office. This pattern was the first design using the technique in which red (in this case alizarin dye) and yellow (weld) were added to the basic blue and white ground.

The entire process would have taken days to complete and consequently, this was one of Morris & Co.'s most expensive cottons. Customers were not put off by the high price, however, and Strawberry Thief proved to be one of Morris' most commercially successful patterns. This printed cotton furnishing textile was intended to be used for curtains or draped around walls (a form of interior decoration advocated by William Morris), or for loose covers on furniture.

William Morris Prints in the home

We are proud to be able to produce beautiful, long lasting furniture and soft furnishings that will last a lifetime in these notorious prints, with their contemporary colourways yet traditional designs.

We have recently created a brand new range of furniture & soft furnishing in the William Morris prints by Clarke & Clarke. Handmade in Somerset and finished beautifully by our small team. The perfect stylish addition’s to your living room, hallway or bedroom! You can shop them online our website here.

Pandora Skyes’ Home Inspiration

We absolutely love journalist Pandora Sykes' styling of her victorian London terrace. Much of Pandora’s inspiration for her home stemmed from her love of antiques and vintage finds. The colour blocking that can be seen in most of Pandora’s rooms is a timeless trend that works so beautifully for adding interest. Here are Pandoras’s words on the method: “These fabrics and wallpapers informed the colours of the adjacent furnishings, which were employed with impact and restraint. Most of the rooms have a palette of two predominant hues, with occasional tonal blocking.”

William Morris Gallery Walls

Over the past few years, there has definitely been a noticeable increase in popularity for William Morris Art Prints in the home. Popular print companies including Junique and Desenio, as well as small businesses on Etsy have hopped on this trend. Although the original Morris & Co folded in the 1930s, the Sanderson group acquired the archive, and has continued to print the designs ever since. Seeking to explain their continuing popularity, Claire Vallis, creative director of the Sanderson Design Group, cites a number of reasons. "There's the nostalgia of them – people remember them from their childhoods – and then there's such storytelling in his designs that I think people really connect with them.

Pattern Mixing

At Sparrow & Plumb we’re not afraid of mixing patterns, sometimes more really is more! We absolutely love the layering of texture and pattern in the below set up by Wallpaper Direct.

Although pattern clashing can be scary, choosing complimentary colours or a common theme or motif can help to tie all the elements together. The choice of colour palette is really successful in this bedroom set up by @amy.textiel on Instagram. We love how the different scales of the patterns work together and create a impactful yet classy style that is perfect for spring.

William Morris interior styling

We stock a range of William Morris fabrics by Clarke & Clarke so you can choose the perfect colour way for your home interior! You can check out our fabric range here . William Morris furniture and soft furnishings are the perfect timeless pieces to create luxury pieces in your living space, we have put together some of our favourite William Morris products as well as inspiration in the guide below.

If you have any questions on our product and fabric ranges please don’t hesitate to get in touch at info@sparrowandplumb.com!

Love,

Sparrow & Plumb x

William Morris Home Inspiration