For this blog post, we wanted to tackle the (often intimidating) topic of patterned textiles and how to mix them into various spaces! We will be taking a look at Kate’s own textile designs that she created with her daughters and how she uses the colors and motifs of the KMH Textile collection in her home. We’ve also sprinkled in a few tips on how to add patterns in your own home!
The KMH Textile line all started one sunny morning with Kate pulling out watercolors, paint brushes, and large sheets of art paper and sitting with her daughters at their kitchen table. What started as a few preliminary brushstrokes eventually grew to include motifs of different sizes and hues as the three ladies built upon each other’s ideas of shapes, color pairings, and scale.
Kate then distilled the patterns into a select few and pulled together a sun-washed, muted color collection of individual colors that complemented each other and provided a mix of solids, florals, and more linear designs.
TEXTILE SAMPLES
TIP 1: Ensure the color palette is cohesive. While certain colors may be neutrals, even a navy or soft pink, make sure that a bolder color is used in a smaller quantity so as not to dominate or distract.
Accent Pillows
TIP 2: Keep pillow combinations balanced by selecting three of the four: a floral, a stripe, a solid, and/or a geometric print. Ensure that the scale varies a bit so a small floral is not competing with a small geometric, for example.
This combination includes the following patterns (from left to right):
The watercolor, The Millie, The Leo,
The window seat over at Leo cottage showcases three different patterns that work well based on scale and style of pattern.
Drapery
TIP 3: Bring attention to an exterior view by dressing up the window with pattern.
Break up a neutral wall or frame a window by adding a large swath of patterned drapery. Though this sounds like a visual investment, pattern on a larger scale - whether it’s drapery or wall covering, or upholstery, has a way of calming over a large area as opposed to being an attention-grabbing focal point.
Featured here is our drapery from the Black Oak Project. It’s in the Myla pattern.
We also love to bring pattern into a Roman shade - the perfect way to bring a dose of personality to a kitchen, bath, or kids’ bedroom!
This is a roman shade with the Leo pattern.
Upholstery
Kitchen and Dining spaces are often distinguished by multiple smooth surfaces - counter stone, wood, and/or metal from appliances. With the many one-dimensional surface textures, seating is the perfect opportunity to add dimension and interest in the form of pattern! Kate knew as soon as she spotted her sunny Breakfast Room that she wanted her favorite KMH pattern in Mae Coal to cover a banquette on which her family could begin their day each morning!
Banquette by LEE Industries in Kate’s own pattern, The Mae.
TIP 4: Blend function with beauty by upgrading a staple piece of furniture in a whimsical pattern.
In Kate’s oldest daughter’s bedroom, Kate had an existing bed upholstered in The Lillian pattern to pay homage to both her daughter’s design and name in a color palette of classic navy. The timeless lines of the bed and feminine pattern are grounded in a color palette of navy that can easily pair with a variety of styles and colors as her teen daughter’s tastes change over the years ahead.
Rich blue balances the feminine motif
Another example of an eye-pleasing focal point of pattern amongst neutral decor is over at our Honeysuckle project, where two round inky blue poufs in The Myla pattern contrast the rough natural stone of the fireplace just behind it.
TIP 5: Designate one piece to be a patterned focal point while keeping the rest of the space neutral
Small Touches
The small lamp shade features the Myla pattern.
If incorporating pattern still has you a bit out of your comfort zone, start small! Small scale, small print, small piece! Something as petite as a patterned sconce shade can add a custom touch that elevates a space with little commitment!
TIP 6: Start with a small investment to get started - think coasters, table linens, sconce or chandelier shades, one long lumbar pillow.
The sitting area from our Honeysuckle Project. The small lumbar pillow has the Mae pattern.
BRING OUR KMH TEXTILES HOME WITH YOU!
We hope these tips and images encourage you to try something new in your space. For those eager to freshen up your home, we’ve curated a handful of pillow cover collections for you to shop. Pick out your ideal pairs and go from there! Shop The Fabric Textiles Now.
If fabrics are not what you’re in the market for, we also have our textile patterns available to purchase in tiles too! Click the link below to purchase your desired tile pattern. Our tiles are sold through The Fine Line in Chicago. Shop The Tile Textiles Now.
