Pressed Petals to Pattern: 150 Years of Floral Design
For centuries, people have been bringing dainty florals and extravagant foliage into their
homes. As early as 2500 BCE, Egyptians were using cut flowers in vases as decoration. It
was common practice for Ancient Greek and Roman civilisations and by the
nineteenth-century houseplants were an increasingly key component of interior design.
Flowers present a useful tool through which timeless decor can be curated. Encapsulating the charm of flowers on wallpapers or furnishings can freeze a moment in time; the moment created by an eye-catching floral display is forever captured in a room’s interior. This, alongside an ongoing popularity for flowers in the home ever since ancient civilisations gives floral designs a timeless feel.
The Sunflower
Our Sunflower design provides a stellar example of how floral designs create timeless spaces.
The design has strong historical roots. It was one of the four original wallpapers designed by our co-founder G.F. Bodley and its sunflower pattern resonates with the focus on florals and natural influences that was the driver behind the 1890s Art Nouveau movement.
This floral design will retain its relevancy, however, regardless of temporal contexts. The popular bloom has been - and will always be - associated with joy; sunflowers’ tendency to grow towards the light inspires an optimistic outlook. Furthermore, the design has been revived in bright contemporary colourways that echo the flower’s joyful nature, including a bold orange, Ottolenghi Spice, and a soft dusty Periwinkle blue.
This marriage between history and modernity means the design fits just as seamlessly in historical homes as it does in a later build. This flexibility expands opportunities to create luxury interiors that will remain fashionable for generations to come.
The Amicia
The Amicia reinforces this idea. The design has been dated back to c.1885; just one year after Watts’ genesis. It was originally discovered on the walls of Stokesay Court’s Billiard Room. The magnificent Victorian mansion was recently used for filming of Joe Wright’s ‘Atonement’. This brings the modern entertainment sphere into the heritage of this design.
The design depicts blousy wildflowers and tangled foliage reminiscent of English headrows. This in itself gives the wallpaper an enduring quality; while design trends come and go, nature will always remain a steadfast influence. Floral patterns, whilst in varying colours and scales, will always therefore remain a key player in interior design.
The Chartwell
Our Chartwell wallpaper offers a more recent design. It was a delicate reproduction of a 1960s wallpaper commissioned by the National Trust for Chartwell House; the home of Winston Churchill for over forty years. It was chosen by Lady Churchill to adorn the walls of her dressing room and their daughter’s bedroom.
The flowers in the design, Baby’s Breath and Chrysanthemums, keep the design relevant for a contemporary setting. Baby’s Breath, otherwise known as Gypsophilia, has historical roots - stemming from an ancient Greek name and having been historically associated with innocence - but plays a large role in modern floristry. Due to its hardy nature, it is commonly used by florists today for bouquets and corsages, especially when attempting to stay committed to sustainable floristry. Similarly, Chrysanthemums play a significant role in floristry today; they have been noted by the international florist Interflora as being an incredibly popular choice, second only to roses. The presence of these two flowers on the Chartwell therefore is as relevant today as it was in the 1960s.
Timeless Designs
The presence of flowers in interiors takes the space beyond any temporal setting. Whilst our Sunflower design perhaps looks the most modern, it in fact traces all the way back to the original designs of our founder G.F. Bodley.
Then, whilst the Amicia arguably looks like the oldest design, it actually is newer than many of our designs; it dates back to the Gothic era.
Finally, the Chartwell is one of our more modern designs, yet still holds strong historical significance and seamlessly matches many of our oldest fabric designs. This shows how floral designs can transcend historical periods.
14th September - Design Dialogues with Gaia Eros
To learn more about the versatility of flowers in interiors and witness a live demonstration of how to create a bouquet to complement the florals in your interiors once they have been installed, come along to our showroom on 14th September 2025. The renowned expert florist Gaia Eros will, alongside our director Marie-Séverine de Caraman Chimay, discuss the role that florals play in our designs and the power these flowers hold for an interior.
Written by Molly Wraith