Sun, sand, summer, stripes! Always in style, stripes are a classic design motif. America declared independence from Great Britain on July 4th, 1776. A year later the first American flag with red and white stripes was officially adopted. Our love for red, white, and blue stripes is connected to France’s support for the Americans in the struggle for liberty. So, in the spirit of liberté, égalité, fraternité let’s look at how a few American and French designers use stripes, and how rugs adopt, adapt and support stripe motifs.
The American flag features horizontal red and white stripes while the French flag has vertical red, white and blue stripes. Known as the vertical-horizontal illusion, we tend to see vertical stripes as taller and narrower than they are IRL, while horizontal stripes seem wider and larger. Sleight of hand stripes go beyond the vertical-horizontal illusion. If you love stripes, but want to keep it subtle, our hand knotted Gabbeh in sea-inspired blue stripes, can take center stage and be highlighted with stripe-effect illusions such as vertical folds in window curtains; horizontal “stripe” shelving, a channeled upholstery headboard, or “striped” flooring planks.
Considered a “design neutral”, stripes pair with pattern, a fact Alfredo Paredes (formerly of Ralph Lauren Home) often relies on for his “All-American” interiors where stripes enhance symmetry. A New York realtor known as “Prewar Eva” on Instagram specialises in blue-chip homes in Long Island’s Hamptons. She recently noted the area’s trend to traditional architecture with interior design that reflects “Steven Gambrel style” – a classic mix of pattern and stripes.
Often described as a “bold” design choice, stripes are bold (or not) depending on their scale. The big end of the scale is seen in the interiors of the Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia. Founded in 1778, its iconic interior design was created in the 20th century by Dorothy Draper. Her love of huge theatrical stripes is everywhere. Big stripes cover columns, race up archways, and are gigantic wall features. Flooring features chevron stripes and checkerboards.
On the small end of the scale are slim French ticking stripes – a historic fabric once used to cover mattresses. American designer Sister Parish popularised ticking, and it’s now an interior design staple. Slender ticking stripes feature on French designer Antoinette Poisson’s “Rayures Provençales” (Provençal Stripes) with rambling roses climbing each stripe. If you’re inspired by her style, consider our hand knotted wool Angora Oushak where a delicate vine design overlays a central pink “stripe” and a blue “stripe” border.
David Hockney’s watercolor “Interior with a Lamp” was recreated IRL for Paris Design Week 2023 by Amélie du Chalard. Known in his youth for wearing striped rugby shirts, Hockney’s watercolor is a masterclass in how to mix stripes. Sofas upholstered in bold red and white stripes contrast with a carpet with a wavy version of chevron stripes. If you love the rugby stripe look, consider our reversible hand woven Afghan wool kilim. Or if you prefer sharp chevrons, why not our vibrant yellow hand woven wool kilim?
Wherever you spend your 4th of July, we hope it’s happy, and remember that every home can benefit from the joy of stripes.
