In stitches

2-MIN READ2-MIN

Published: 12:00am, 6 Aug 2006

Once considered rustic, even dowdy, tapestries are popping up in sophisticated homes as pleasant counterpoints to modern and contemporary interiors. They can be used in myriad ways - as cushions and pillows covers, wall hangings and curtains, and to upholster furniture. In an interesting twist, tapestry designs are also appearing on trays, stools and occasional tables.

Top fabric makers such as Brunschwig & Fils are putting their spin on tapestry, with a green and macadamia-coloured floral jacquard fabric (www.iluvfabrix.com). Clarence House offers needlepoint fabrics inspired by the Aubusson French tapestry heritage. These cost from US$100 a metre.

Faux tapestry tops enliven basic wood surfaces such as a side table from the Powell label (www.cjhomeandoffice.com). Elsewhere, references as varied as traditional pastoral, renaissance, medieval and Victorian can add a retro-kitsch cool to just about any living space. At The Tapestry Store in Burlington, New Jersey (www.european-wall-tapestries.com), operations manager and design specialist Krista Kerwood says demand for such items as wall hangings (below) is skyrocketing.

'People are looking for something different,' she says. 'Tapestries have texture and are more dynamic than the usual floral prints. They add another dimension to decor.'

Especially popular are the art nouveau-inspired renderings of Czech artist Alphonse Mucha, who died in 1939 and whose glorious paintings of seasons and characters are being used as templates for tapestries. His autumnal landscapes and nature-based images are particularly in demand, as well as pensive shots of American Indian princesses and other iconic characters. Contemporary artists such as Cristin Atria and Vail Oxley (a former Beijing resident whose paintings the city has influenced) also produce work that lends itself to tapestries. Other offerings include animal landscapes and still lifes, which recall a Victorian sensibility.

At Heirloom European Tapestries (www.tapestries-inc.com), reproductions of museum classics dating from the 12th to 19th centuries can be pricey. Some of these use the images of French artist Francois Boucher, who lived in the 1700s and was known for his rococo style, or 19th-century British artist William Morris, a famous designer of wall coverings and tapestries.