One of the highlights from Salone del Mobile in Milan this year was designer Faye Toogood’s Muse collaboration with Brooklyn-based wall-coverings brand Calico Wallpaper.

The directional British designer and artist is known for her expressive and thought-provoking work. Founded by Nick and Rachel Cope, Calico have successfully worked with Toogood before; notably on the 2017 ‘wall-scapes’ inspired by the British panoramas of Toogood’s childhood.

The Muse collection taps into the current zeitgeist with its abstracted depictions of famous women. The incredibly beautiful figurative artworks have been hand-painted and then translated into six colourways, each named after a woman who both Toogood and the Copes admire, including Marie Curie and Coco Chanel.

Muse Collection ‘Marie’, Faye Toogood for Calico Wallpaper. Image: Architectural Digest

Described as ‘a celebration of the feminine in all its forms’, Toogood’s sweeping brushstrokes present a thoughtful array of faces and expressions against a striking backdrop of distinctive colours.

Muse Collection ‘Vera’ by Faye Toogood for Calico Wallpaper. Image: Architectural Digest

Individualism is fundamental to Toogood’s design – a section of the artwork can be selected to be transformed into an immersive custom-fit mural.

Catherine Martin by Mokum

Closer to home, we love Catherine Martin’s fourth collection with Mokum/James Dunlop Textiles – Majorelle.
Martin is famous for her Academy-award winning set and costume designs, in collaboration with husband Baz Luhrman on iconic films such as Romeo + Juliet and The Great Gatsby.

With an unquestionably fine eye for design, it was only a matter of time before Catherine Martin moved into interiors, and with exquisite results.

The Majorelle range for Mokum is a collection of luxury textiles, trimmings and wallpapers and references Jardin Majorelle, Yves Saint Laurent’s retreat in Marrakesh, globally famous for its exotic designs and brilliant blue exterior. It has long provided inspiration to artists and designers, with its enchanting, textured extravagance and vibrant colour palette.

Majorelle Wallpaper, Catherine Martin by Mokum. Image: Porter’s Paints

Martin’s designs give the vivid impression of life about to burst through the surface. Says the designer:

“Celebrating my love of mixing discordant textures and patterns, into extravagantly contrasting but nevertheless visually enticing combinations, I seek, in this collection, to find a style where being baroque is elegant and modern. Marrying animal print and embellished tropical designs and an exuberantly luxurious palette of fabrics, this is a collection that is meant to be both glamorous and playful.”

If you’re looking for inspiring fabrics and surface materials in Australia, mark your diaries for the 17th edition of Decor + Design, Australia’s No.1 Interiors Trade Event, which will take place in Melbourne from the 16th – 19th July 2020.

The show will feature leading brands across indoor and outdoor furniture, lighting, home furnishings, art and textiles. It also includes a dedicated area for surface artists: WALL ST. This is a forum for textile designers and surface artists to showcase large format, original visuals to the Australian interiors industry.

Subscribe now to receive regular updates on exhibitors, as well as global inspiration from the world of interiors.