The Art of Reimagination: The Creative Process Behind the 'Seedpod'
Drawing from a historic archive is an art form in itself, requiring both a deep reverence for the past and a fearless willingness to create anew. At Watts 1874, this balance is second nature. For 150 years, we have reimagined the designs of our founders, George Gilbert Scott, G.F. Bodley, and Thomas Garner; each generation breathing new life into a rich heritage.
As Watts’ vision expanded, so too did our archive. In the spirit of innovation, collaborations with Britain’s grand houses, from Castle Howard to Wolterton Hall, have continually enriched our collection. Now, we are proud to add Eastnor Castle, an 18th-century treasure in Herefordshire, to our roster of distinguished partnerships.
The Gothic Drawing Room at Eastnor Castle
Eastnor, home to the Somers family for over five generations, offers a particularly daring chapter in our story. Much of the castle’s opulent character is owed to the 3rd Earl Somers, whose ‘extravagant’ tastes saw him travelling the world, amassing a magnificent array of furnishings and artefacts to fill his newly built castle . Though his passion nearly exhausted the family fortune, the legacy he created, rooms bursting with treasures from across the globe, remains awe-inspiring. Each chamber at Eastnor feels like stepping into an entirely new, yet miraculously cohesive, world.
Queen Mary's Bedroom at Eastnor Castle
One such world became the starting point for our latest collection: Queen Mary’s Bedroom. Contrary to its name, an affectionate nod after Queen Mary’s brief stay, the room houses one of the most lavish examples of chinoiserie Watts has ever encountered: an extraordinary, panoramic hand-painted scene, unfurling across all four walls.
The original scans of the 'Queen Mary Chinoiserie'
Captivated by its layered beauty, our studio embarked on a meticulous journey of reimagination. Using our advanced photomosaic technology—pioneered in our Murals collections —we scanned the original paintings to create a digital base. This allowed our design team to honour the spirit of the original while expanding its possibilities.
Highlighting the 'Seedpods', lifting them from the full chinoiserie design
Beyond creating a full chinoiserie wallpaper from the panorama, we delved deeper, isolating specific botanical motifs: gooseberries, japonica flowers, and the whimsical seedpods found in the adjacent Chinese Room. Each element was redrawn and reinterpreted to capture the delicate brushstrokes and spirit of the original hand-painted design.
Trailing different colours to find the perfect ground colour for the Seedpods
The result: four digitally printed wallpapers, where sprawling branches and natural forms dance freely across new colourways. True to the Watts ethos of bold, uncompromising beauty, the grounds for these designs were selected after many trials—saturated washes of Turmeric, Matt Brown, Coral, and Daylight Blue. These vibrant tones allow the historic chinoiserie to step confidently into the 21st century, whether adorning a grand staircase, a powder room, or a bedroom retreat.
The four 'Seedpod' colourways
At Watts 1874, we have always placed artistic creativity at the heart of everything we do, drawing from the past to inspire the future. Our collaboration with Eastnor Castle is not just a celebration of historical craftsmanship but a bold reassertion of the timelessness of beauty. It is this very spirit of fearless reinterpretation that has allowed Watts to thrive for a century and a half, and will continue to guide us into the next.
'Seedpod' Wallpaper in 'Tumeric' Yellow
Click here to discover the full Watts 1874 X Eastnor Caslte Collection