When Are The British Coming?

My friend Mitchell and I always talk about what's next in interior decorating. How long can the Belgian/Swedish/French pale face trend continue? Or the Domino inspired girl world chic chick decorating?


We both love color and pattern and a layered look, so we think it's logical that some sort of return to English style or English country will be the next big thing.

Mario Buatta interior design

In the 1980's into the early 1990's I was a lady-in-waiting to Mario Buatta The Prince Of Chintz, who still does what he has always done, beautiful colorful rooms filled with pattern, and layered to the nines.

Maheshwar Stripe by Sanderson

But except for a handful of Mario Buatta's clients, there seems to be very few jumping on the chintz band wagon on this side of the pond.


The English never stopped loving wallpaper and prints, and tea cozies.

Holy Tea Cozy! Is English decor coming back?!

The look certainly has evolved and is more modern looking, almost in a Domino way.

Finches by Sanderson

Sanderson, a home furnishings company in the UK is celebrating 150 years of English decoration.

Lacecap by Sanderson

This is a momentous occasion for the oldest surviving English brand in its field. The Sanderson story spans many eras of changing tastes and styles, and the designs have moved with the times, always reflecting contemporary style and new technologies. The company has experienced both success and struggle across its fifteen decades, and is proud to remain today a prosperous British business with an international reputation for lasting quality and timeless style.

Ever wondered who produced the first coordinated collection of mass-produced wallpapers and fabrics in Britain? Or built what has been called the world’s most fabulous decorators’ showroom and invented the hinged display screens now seen in showrooms worldwide?




How about who was first with post-impressionist wallpapers, or even earlier, the sole source in Britain of the most extravagantly expensive French papers?

Early Tulips by Sanderson

Then again, what company – from the Americas to the Far East – is most closely associated with the English chintz style? And who received the first Royal Warrant granted to a wallpaper manufacturer? The answers to all of these questions and more are revealed in an exhibition celebrating the 150th anniversary of Sanderson, to run from 19 March – 13 June 2010 at the Fashion & Textile Museum, London.

Love this chic Chinoiserie by Sanderson

As Sanderson celebrates its 150th anniversary it marks this significant occasion, and introduces ‘Vintage Wallpapers’. Nine wallpapers offer a glimpse of treasures in Sanderson’s unparalleled archive. The resulting collection is a celebration of the creativity and diversity.



The shelter magazines in the UK have never stopped showing chintz in some form. And Tricia Guild is certainly true to keeping English style going in a huge glam way.

Tricia Guild - Pavilion fabric

Yet, here in the USA we shy away from wallpaper and floral prints, not to mention color.


And layering is now associated with he dread 'C' word: Clutter.


A small segment of die hard cottage style/shabby chic decorators hang in there, but there is nothing tempting us in the vein of the great Nancy Lancaster.

The great Nancy Lancaster HERE

What do you think? Will English style, in the form of the great English country decorators be rediscovered and be the next big trend?