Enchanted Verdure and Sophisticated Blooms: The English Summer Garden
Nothing epitomises summer quite like strolling through a garden in bloom; the scent of freshly cut grass swirls in the air amongst rose bushes’ heady aromas; the rich tones of lofty purple irises and azaleas contrast neat green lawns; butterflies and dragonflies dance amongst grand statues and topiary; and shady trees offer welcomed retreats from the sun. As the peak of summer approaches, a cold drink in a shaded English garden is becoming more enticing than ever. It’s the season of the summer garden and there’s never been a more fitting time to bring the outside in.
Bowood Lime Green brings a sophisticated elegance, reminiscent of tennis courts and fragrant foliage, to interiors. Its eighteenth century damask and baroque-style foliage is evocative of grand, well-kept lawns and its vibrant green brings the vitality of summer to a space. Previously used in palaces, churches and aristocratic homes, it creates the perfect instrument through which a flow between an interior and exterior can be created. House and Garden recently commented upon gardens being ‘reflections and extensions’ of the house, and by bringing the freshness and peacefulness of a garden inside, Bowood makes this reflection and extension two-way, helping to develop a cohesive yet unique design narrative.
Cleopatra facilitates a similar narrative. Encapsulating the notorious beauty of its namesake, the lampas’ silky feel, bolstered by the rich heritage of drawings reminiscent of Egyptian cave art, creates an air of luxury. Its colourways are the epitome of the English summer garden; the Aswan’s muted chartreuse brings to mind the yellow-green tones of tennis balls, enticing memories of long summer games, whilst the Luxor’s peony pink casts the mind towards perfumed, blousy blooms. Likewise, the rich muted purple of Marmaduke Sloe Moss (a large scale-paisley c1880, originally discovered at the breathtaking Victorian Stokesay Court) and Medici Opal Pearl (an elegant silk that harks back to Renaissance Italy, when the highly notable Medici family played a large role in Florence’s art and architecture scene) transports the imagination to fields of fresh lavender or fences of trailing wisteria.
Similarly, Hampstead Verdure, our most popular design, brings summer’s luscious foliage into an interior. Utilising the leaf designs from our Wolterton Verdure Mural, the fabric’s tapestry-effect works exceptionally well on upholstery. Inspired by London’s beloved heath, the different tones and shades of leaves embrace a wide spectrum of greens, making it versatile for matching but also expanding upon design schemes. Hampstead curtains, cushions, or upholstery capture the imagination and transport it to settings of luscious green vegetation. This biophilic approach to design has been proven to improve wellbeing, due to its ability to embrace nature’s calming qualities. The act of bringing the vibrancy and delicacy of an English summer garden indoors also holds a level of nostalgic childhood magic. With many children’s classics, such as The Secret Garden, the Beatrix Potter and Brambly Hedge series’, and The Wind in the Willows, to name just a few, having gardens and small creatures as their focal point, there is a childlike enchantment to embracing influences from nature. This youthful wonder infuses the room with a mesmerising tranquility.
In conjunction with Hampstead’s biophilic properties, our extensive Passementerie Collection, available to be woven in any bespoke colour, adds the daintiness and colourfulness of summer flowers, to cut across the sea of green. Extravagant tie-backs and braids emulate the statement effect of eye-catching summer blooms, such as deep purple foxgloves, whilst dainty rosettes and trims add the delicacy that smaller flowers, such as forget-me-nots or sweet-peas, add to a flower bed.
Finally, Alice’s majestic blooms, influenced by the Napoleonic era silk damasks of textiles pioneer, King Ferdinand of Naples and Sicily, can rejuvenate an interior. The playful nature of the Caterpillar Green provides a burst of joyful colour, yet remains deeply elegant; the design has a similar silhouette to the flower urns so typical to the well-curated grand English garden. The red and white contrast of Queen of Heart’s red resembles ripe summer strawberries served with fresh cream, therefore alluring to a quintessentially British summer. A renowned tradition since the nineteenth-century, the combination has become a British staple during the berry’s peak season of mid-summer. As a tradition that began as a symbol of splendor and luxury, with strawberries being an expensive rarity in the nineteenth century, Alice’s allusion towards this heritage gives it a sense of grandeur.
The design’s name further expands upon its quintessentially British nature; it embraces the magic of C.S Lewis’ beloved childhood tale: Alice in Wonderland. The red and white Queen of Hearts colourway refers to the story’s antagonist, the Queen of Hearts, ordering all white roses in her beautifully curated garden to be painted red. The context behind the design therefore adds to its associations with classical English gardens.
As we begin to enter the peak of summer, bringing the bewitching charm and timeless spirit of the classical English summer garden into interiors ultimately creates a space awash with vitality and character. To learn more about our collection, or to book a private consultation with our specialist team, please click the 'Enquire' button or contact us directly.