WORDS: Danielle Weakley
Smart Brit Ann Grafton is the dynamo behind GP&J Baker – the traditional English decor house that’s home to Baker Lifestyle, Mulberry Home and Threads.
Fortunately for Ann, her job at the forefront of decor means that she gets to travel the globe – and while she is in South Africa at the moment as a guest of St Leger & Viney’s trend workshops, she is also recently returned from this year’s super-sleek decor and design Mecca, the Maison et Objet trade show in Paris.
“If you look at trends in decor – country, beach or urban – neither country nor beach has changed that much over the years,” Ann asserts. “Whether you’re bush, safari or English country, the décor is still reflective of country life – and beach is the same – whereas urban décor has seen a huge change over the past 10 years.
“The world has shrunk and, as a result, decor has become more international. People today have such a broad awareness of the world and access is so easy. Look at any design book and you’ll find city apartments that could be in New York, Madrid, London or Bejing.”
Naturally, she’s brimming with enthusiasm for the upcoming trends and thrilled to be showcasing a number of them in GP&J Baker’s current portfolio of fabric and wallpaper collections.
For what it’s worth our money is on ikat (see picture), which you’ll find in GP&J Baker’s Spring collection. You’ve got to be certain that a trend is made of stern, long-lasting stuff when even news bastions like the New York Times are devoting column inches to its revival – and in decor circles the hit that has everyone hot under their Thomas Pink collars is ikat – the traditional woven print that uses a resist dyeing process similar to tie-dye.
Best remembered as a favoured 70s throwback, it’s having another moment in the fashion sun with everyone from the sartorially savvy to the textile designers reinventing its ethnic charm.
Upcoming trends
We asked Ann to further commit to a highlights package of the big trends for the seasons ahead from the design-centric streets of Paris…
> Green – and we do mean the colour, not the movement – in all its many variations, from willow to celery, moss and emerald is big news. It also buys into legendary trend forecaster Li Edelkoort’s predictions that future lifestyle movements will be predicted by the colours and materials of the Earth.
> There’s a continuation of the trend for brights, which Ann agrees is a good modern look – “a pared-down room with a single accent of bright colour, like indigo, paprika or lime,” as she puts it.
> Thanks to the wildly popular Ballet Russes exhibition (Diaghilev and the Golden Age of the Ballets Russes, 1909-1929) at London’s V&A Museum, which closed earlier this year, there’s a strong focus on the riotous colours and patterns inspired by the costumes.
> There was also a strong focus on linen and heavy, old-world bedding in particular.
‘It’s about personalisation’
Having revealed all this, Ann is quick to add, “I don’t like the word ‘trend’, as I believe homes evolve. Most people collect things in their lives that become integral to them – plus, you simply can’t change your sofa as often you change your handbag.”
Alright then, so where to from here, Ann?
“I believe it’s about personalisation and how you interpret trends into your personal lifestyle. Decor should be stylish but not too challenging. At the end of the day, you have to live with it.”
And if that mantra doesn’t work for you, then our advice is to remember this word: “ikat”.
GP&J Baker fabrics are locally available via St Leger & Viney: www.stleger.co.za.
GP&J Bakerr:
The classic collection is an adaptation of archival designs for present-day trends.
Baker Lifestyle is a younger, fresher, less formal decorating scheme appropriate for family living.
Mulberry Home mixes craft and innovation; style and a classically modern design. The home and fashion collections underpin each other in terms of quality and longevity. Look out for the new Mulberry wallpaper collection, which launches at London Design Week with the classic Flying Ducks and Paisley patterns.
Threads is a modern, elegant collection that extends to every category of design and architecture, from a Victorian house to a South African lodge to a Moscow penthouse.
