Decorating: Heritage Fabric Collection

Text by Jenny Bradley

When developing their latest collection of fabrics, Lee Jofa opted to go to the archives rather than the drawing board. With a prolific collection of classic fabrics (and an equally prolific stable of talented licensees) at their fingertips, it just seemed an obvious choice. So they asked six designers to reinterpret their personal favorites for today. Not only did these six designers reimagine classic fabrics for today, they brought them to life in room-like settings.

Los Angeles-based designer Suzanne Rheinstein's "Clarendon" linen--available in Suzanne's signature palette--is a reinterpretation of a 1983 English documentary floral. Available in "mocha" and "linen."

Rheinstein's vignette was full-on feminine--pairing the warmly hued "Clarendon" with slipper chairs and lilac upholstered loveseats.

Designer Suzanne Rheinstein

Atlanta-based Suzanne Kasler completely reinvented a popular linen print to create "New Shiraz"--available in two colorways ("pink" and "white linen") on linen.

Kasler's light-filled vignette was swathed in "New Shiraz"--draped copiously at the window and fashioned into slipcovers and throw pillows.

Designer Suzanne Kasler

Design Thomas O'Brien chose to recolor "Nympheus Handblock"--a favorite pattern he uses frequently. Originally created in 1915 for G.P. & J. Baker, the handblock was inspired by silk panels of a 15th century Ming Dynasty screen. It's available in two colors--"teal" and "aubergine"--as well as the original.

O'Brien saturated his set with the varicolored "Nympheus Handblock"--used handsomely on the reverse.

Designer Thomas O'Brien

Drawn to the design by its "painterly quality," New York-based designer Eric Cohler chose to reinterpret a fabric called "Treyes Handblock." Feeling that it would be "beautifully presented" on glazed cotton, Cohler brought it back to life as a true English country house chintz. It's available in "pink/green" and "sage."

Cohler's room shows the more masculine side of "Treyes Handblock"--pairing it with a wool windowpane plaid.

Designer Eric Cohler

William Diamond and Anthony Baratta chose to recolor a favorite floral chintz called "Rosebank." Mixing things up, they printed a brown and pink colorway on chintz and a soft blue colorway on linen.

Diamond and Baratta's vignette accentuated the whimsical and romantic side of "Rosebank."

Anthony Baratta and William Diamond

Designer David Easton chose to re-create the Jacobean design "Gaddesden"--feeling that a softer palette would be more suitable for today. "Gaddesden" is available in "linen" and "red/green" colorways.

Easton's "Gaddesden" linen set a moody, sophisticated tone when paired with antiques and a sisal rug.

Designer David Easton