It’s time to celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday! It’s also time to shout about great British design and our nation’s love of pattern. Who better to talk about patterned carpet then Alternative Flooring’s three collaborators Ben Pentreath, Margo Selby and Ashley Hicks?
Ben Pentreath is one of the UK’s leading architectural and interior designers. He is a great exponent of English style. His architectural practice has worked on projects including projects for The Prince of Wales.
‘I am thrilled to add pattern to Alternative Flooring’s distinguished ‘Quirky B’ collection. Pentreath & Hall designed a range of printed papers based on stone and marble flooring patterns by the prolific 18th century architect, Batty Langley. It was a delight to put these back where they belong, on the floor – but re-worked in a range of vividly coloured patterns in the Alternative Flooring wools.
These three-dimensional patterns play with space in a way that creates rich textures for the contemporary interior. Rooted in tradition, I am always surprised how fresh and modern these classical designs can be, and it’s been a real honour to work with the talented people at Alternative Flooring to bring this collection to fruition.’
Margo Selby is the Queen of weave, who has translated her colourful handcrafted fabrics to carpet and runners. Fair Isle and Shuttle reflect her trademark 3-dimensional graphic pattern in a punchy palette. These designs are developed on handlooms by Margo in her studio and then woven into broadloom carpets. These geometric carpets are also at the forefront of design for 2016
‘I am excited to see both carpet and colour are back in fashion. The designs were originally produced as soft silk and wool fabrics on my hand loom and have been blown up and re-coloured to make them suitable for flooring. The graphic colour combinations with contrasting light and dark shades give a deep textural feel to this patterned carpet and runners.’
If Margo is the Queen of weave then Ashley Hicks must be the king of British interior and furniture design. He has made his distinctive mark on pattern carpet too, designing Chainmail and Daisy.
‘I love pattern and especially on the floor. It gives instant character and vitality to a space. I created the Chainmail design for a roomset at Somerset House, but its angular geometry would work just as well anywhere. A play on traditional hexagon grids, its interwoven chain links give a dynamic edge to a room. Daisy, inspired by wall-decoration in an old temple in Sri Lanka, has a punchy, Pop presence that will inject a touch of 60’s glamour into any room.’
Britain has a fine history of craftsmanship and Alternative Flooring, continues this tradition making cool, contemporary carpet on axminster looms in Salisbury, Wiltshire. Supporting both British industry and manufacturing were key factors in launching Quirky B. Anything designed and made in Britain is quite a coup these days, making this patterned wool carpet a collection to celebrate.