Thibaut’s “Jacaranda” Reflects on the British Colonial Style

Thibaut introduces “Jacaranda,” a collection capturing the refined, exotic elegance of British Colonial style. Palms, tropical foliage, rattan, and other natural elements are incorporated into the designs. The collection characterizes the influences made by the British on colonies when they dominated parts of India, China, and the South Seas during the late 19th century.

The collection starts with “Copa Cabana,” a large-scale free-flowing design of a tropical, flowering tree. Long, feathery plumes from the tails of exotic birds are gracefully woven into the pattern. An accompanying pattern called “Rattan” is a trompe l’oeil of a grasscloth. It complements “Copa Cabana” and many patterns in the collection with its realistic, natural-colored reeds, and helps beget an “imported” look to the book. “Capri,” a large-scale lush branching design, shows pineapples, grapes, mangoes, and pomegranates, and has leaves with a soft, fern-like appearance. “Bohemian,” another lead design, resembles a Persian tapesty. The design was taken from an antique fabric, and has an all-over pattern made with simplistic shapes.

“Camelot,” adapted from an old document, is a Jacobean style botanical study of exotic plants. “Jacaranda,” the signature design of the collection, is a soft, subdued tonal damask with bowing palm leaves. “Sangria” is a very bold and graphic large-scale trellis pattern. The trellis surrounds pineapples and all the design elements are depicted very simplistically.

Other designs in the collection include a rich and intricate paisley pattern, and a tonal mid-scale leaf design. The collection also contains several novelty patterns—an embroidered-looking print with tortoises, owls, monkeys, and peacocks; “Hula,” an open pattern with hula dancers and tiki huts, and “Laundry Daze,” a carefree, breezy open pattern with petite laundry lines tied between palm trees. Beachy t-shirts and checkered blankets hang out to dry, while reading books, flip flops, and beach bags are scattered under the lines and besides occasional hammocks.

Designs in the collection incorporate earthy and fresh-colored grounds--coffee bean, cinnamon, chili pepper red, curry, slate blue, charcoal, key lime, delphinium blue, and rosemary. There are also accents of butterscotch, purple, indigo, citrus green, and coral. Exclusive fabrics are offered, coordinating with designs throughout the book. They are heavy and textured, available in linen cotton blends, cotton duck, and fine warp cotton sateen.

Also see: Wallpaper Borders

Author Notes:

Daryl Marples contributes and publishes news editorial to http://www.beautiful-home-101.com. As webmaster I constantly add information and articles about home decor, design and building materials from suppliers and manufacturers.