The story of two sisters, a family bond, and an undying love of Rod Stewart
Warning: This is a sentimental one.
Eileen came to me with two wingback armchairs that had belonged to her sister. She had saved them from being thrown into a landfill (did you know that 20,000 pieces of furniture are thrown into landfill every year in the UK?).
The fabric had seen better days, but they were still good, solid chairs. They deserved better.
When I asked what musical inspiration she would like me to use, the answer was Rod Stewart, specifically the song “Have I Told You Lately That I Love You.” It was her and her sister’s favourite. I always ask my clients if there’s anything else that they love so that I can get a feel for their aesthetic – an artist/movement, an interior style, a fashion designer. Her answers were Vivienne Westwood (very apt – Reduce! Reuse! Recycle!) and maximalism. She also mentioned that she has lost several siblings over the years and would like to honour them in the design too. Naturally, I asked for their favourite songs…the chairs were becoming quite the playlist.
Maximalism, when you have complete free rein of design, is a tricky beast. I decided to keep a tight, classic colour palette of black and gold while creating a number of clashing patterns that would evoke a Westwood-style, elevated punk aesthetic. This also, in my opinion, gives a more classic look that allows a lot of freedom and flexibility in the interior design choices both now and in the future – and we want these chairs to last a lifetime.
Thinking of Rod Stewart, my starting point had to be leopard print and tartan. What else could it be?! Next came the tricky concept of tying in lots of different musical inspirations and songs. I decided to add poignant lyrics from all of Eileen’s brothers’ and sisters’ favourite songs to the lines in the tartan. All of those memories, woven through the design. For a dash of extra Vivienne Westwood-inspired flair, I printed the tartan on a light cotton, gathered it with Westwood brooches, photographed and printed it onto luxury upholstery velvet, emulating her Trompe L’oeil designs.
To honour the sisterly connection, I created two complementing but not identical chairs – sisters, not twins.
I’m absolutely thrilled to announce my latest collab – a curated selection of Isaac’s Bazaar designs are now available on peel and stick vinyl to update
Beatles inspired Christmas gifts for all budgets Music lovers are a notoriously picky bunch, so I’m here to solve your Christmas present buying conundrum –
The Rock & Roller Collection is one half of the debut fabric range from Isaac’s Bazaar, launching Summer 2022. Isaac’s Bazaar is the home of bold, quirky
