Lately I find myself gravitating more and more towards the classics, and in the design world, nothing is more classic than chintz from Colefax and Fowler. Founded in the 1930s, Colefax and Fowler was instrumental in creating the timeless English Country House style I so love. (You can read more about the company’s intriguing history here.) Bowood is one of my favorite chintzes, but after seeing Fuchsia in Tory Burch’s Southampton bedroom, I decided to take a closer look at this beauty as well. Fuchsia is a delicate all-over design that features fuchsias printed on an off-white background. It was taken from an English document, circa 1830-1840, in the red/green colorway (Tory used the blue colorway) and launched by Colefax & Fowler in 1963. Below are many lovely examples of Fuchsia…
Lee Radziwill’s former Fifth Avenue bedroom, via the July/August 1975 issue of Architectural Digest.
Lady Wakefield’s Drawing Room via House & Garden
Jacqueline Kennedy’s weekend home in Peapack, New Jersey via Sotheby’s
Here Fuchsia is paired with another Colefax & Fowler classic, Roses & Pansies… more on that favorite later! Image via @medora2014
Fuchsia was created by the Colefax and Fowler Design Studio and today is distributed by Cowtan & Tout. Please visit Cowtan & Tout for more information, to find a showroom nearby, and browse products. The phone number to call for more information is 212.647.6900, and you may also follow @cowtanandtout on Instagram for daily inspiration.
British Elegance with Serena Fresson and Alice Naylor-Leyland
A Previously Unpublished Mario Buatta Apartment!
Chintz is Back in Bloom!
Imogen Taylor’s Burgundy Village Home
I LOVE ALL OF THIS I COULD DO NOW I CANT.YOU ARE THE BEST I HAVE EVERY SEEN.I GET ALL THE DECOR MAGAZINE LOVE IT
Gorgeous post, Andrea!!!
What is amazing, really, is how timeless the English style of incorporating chintz is…..Lee Radziwll in the 70’s and Tory Burch in 2017. It makes paying attention to fad/tends not a good idea. Classics are truly enduring.
Hi Andrea, I loved your Fuchsia post on Instagram and mentioned that I had used it a number of times over the years. You had replied that you would love to see pictures. These projects were done over 20 years ago and were not photographed. However, I do have professional photographs of two other Cowtan and Tout chintz rooms I did in designer show houses in 1991 and 1992. These chintzes are similar in color and feeling . I mention this in case you have a need for pictures at some other time.
Many thanks for all your wonderful articles and Instagram posts.
Have a great weekend !
Best,
Barbara Lewis