Michael S Smith has just bought out his latest book ‘The Curated House. Creating Style, beauty and Balance‘ and we thought we would coincide this with a press breakfast for the leading lifestyle magazines in England to discuss his fabric collection that we represent in the UK. In particular we wanted to introduce the recent collaboration between Michael S Smith and Konstantin Kakanias.
Flowers from Scarlet & Violet to welcome the Press.
We felt there was no better place to have our breakfast, than amongst the Michael Smith fabrics themselves. We laid our long refectory table in the middle of our Pimlico showroom and set out a wonderful feast for our guests surrounded by the Michael Smith Fabrics.
As a way of introduction I spoke of my first meeting with Michael that was spawned from him seeing my first apartment in the World of Interiors in 2001. We have a had a firm friendship since and Jamb has been part of many of his projects since. For Michael, Jamb is the perfect environment to house his fabric collection.
Eva (who has worked with us for many years) runs the Jasper fabric and wallpaper collection and gave a lovely introduction to the collection and explained Michael’s latest collaboration with Konstantin Kakanias. Luckily Eva herself is Greek so the name just slipped off her tongue unlike my earlier attempt! Even before selling his fabric designs, Eva was a fan of Kakania’s work, loving his cult figure ‘Mrs Tependirs’ a caricature creation of an high society Art collector.
Following the spoiling breakfast and lots of coffee the press gathered to muse over their favourite fabrics.
Tara Craig looking at the Pommeroy in Nutmeg
Tara Craig a freelance stylist and interior designer is well acquainted with the Templeton range having recently used the Marie Antoinette fabric for a day bed and Eton Mess to cover a chair and sofa. Introducing her to the new collection, her favourites were the Madeleine in Linden Green and the Templeton Pommeroy in Nutmeg above.
“The fabrics are so chic and versatile. I love the greens and blues in the Madeleine. It would be great for Curtains or blinds and I would love to upholster a piece of Georgian furniture in the Pommeroy.
With the World of Interiors I discussed the concept of light and how it affects fabric choice. The colour and weight of fabric you would put in an English home is totally different from a Californian light. Michael has over one hundred and fifty fabrics of all different weights and tonal backgrounds that work perfectly in any setting from the English County Home to a house in the Hamptons.
Mother and Daughter Team, the Pownall’s looking at the Kakanias fabrics.
World of Interiors picked out the Pommeroy in Basil, while Elfreda Pownall (writer for publications including House & Garden, The Times and the Telegraph) honed in on Paradise Lost.
Paradise Lost
Elfreda explained “I love the leaves and subtlety in the combination of different colours. It’s so useable. The weight and gorgeous drape of the fabrics is perfect. They are proper fabrics. Deep and layered with the chevron weave”
Summer Breeze
Arabella Youens, the Interiors Editor of Country Life, fell in love with Kakanias’ Summer Breeze design “I totally love this! It is so fresh and just instantly makes me happy!” she mused. One of her other favourite Templeton designs which is equally uplifting is Indian Ice in Pistachio.
Indian Ice in Pistachio
House and Gardens left with the clutch of Kakanias samples including Summer Breeze, Lips and Wheatcheaf.
J’taime Rouge
Such was the diversity of what everyone was drawn to, it shows that with the demands of reflecting a client’s taste and personality, there is a fabric there for everyone.