June 02--In the watercolor world of Scottish design brand Bluebellgray, large-scale flowers at peak bloom crawl up shower curtains and cascade down cushions. Jewel-tone stripes spread across pillows and art prints, and small pastel shapes -- triangles, dashes, leaves-- adorn lampshades and sheets.
It's the vibrant vision of Scottish artist Fiona Douglas who studied painting at the Glasgow School of Art before turning her attention to textile design. Now her business, Bluebellgray, is booming -- or perhaps we should say "blooming" -- with retailers selling her fabrics, throws, rugs, trays, bathmats (and so on) all over the globe.
Items that feel especially summery include the floral Taransay shower curtain, with its big brushstrokes and deep tones of red, purple and green, and the Lomond pillow, with its boldly colored stripes bleeding into one another, recalling a coastal landscape. Unlike more traditional floral designs, the painterly qualities and purposeful imprecision of Bluebellgray prints keep them from looking too perfect or prim. Plus, Douglas has a background in abstract painting, which she has incorporated into the brand. "I like the aesthetic of florals with abstract pieces," she told Design Sponge during a tour of her Glasgow home. "I find it difficult to do 'matchy matchy,' so I like things to sit together in a kind of haphazard manner."
If you're still hesitant to bring floral prints into your home decor, take Douglas' advice (told to Canadian retailer Indigo): "Choose a few bold statements pieces and mix with bright block colors to contrast." For a vibe that's eclectic and casual, she says, "Don't be afraid of mixing a variety of designs in different and scales and patterns."
For more information and retailers, visit bluebellgray.com.
Laura Pearson is a freelance writer.
lpearson@chicagotribune.com
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