If you’re dreaming of a fall refresh for your home, textile artist Christiane Lemieux has a few creations to inspire you. Drawing on vintage prints and historical textiles, the interior designer and founder of European-inspired lifestyle brand Lemieux et Cie recently launched a richly hued 83-piece collection for luxe fabric brand Calico.
To design the line, Lemieux began by studying the library of fabric documents she has spent a lifetime amassing. "I collect textiles the way some people collect art," she explains.
Before studying design at New York City's Parsons School of Design, Lemieux earned a degree in art history. It was then, she says that "I discovered that I like the permanence of designing for the home, rather than the trend-driven fashion market. I also learned how to take inspiration from textile fragments and reinterpret the designs for modern usage."
As a starting point for the line, she pulled together pieces she’d picked up on her travels: documents found at the Paris Flea Market, a swatch from a 1920s-era dress, and a pattern inspired by a trip through Egypt. Then, working closely with global textile company Richloom, "our studio began creating designs by hand," she says.
The goal was to put a modern spin on more traditional designs, says Hannah Harvey, creative director of Richloom's Decorative Fabric Division.
"We were recreating looks but not inventing them," she explains. "For example, we knew that the Luis tiger print would be important (and not just because it is the Year of the Tiger). It’s a motif in Tibetan rugs and is found in historic textiles in many forms. We created a new environment for the tiger and placed him in a field of fantasy florals."
The textured pattern of the animal's body was then used to dream up the geometric feel of the Ellie print, which Harvey says "seems part zebra, part tiger."
That same degree of thought went into each of the nearly seven dozen textiles crafted for the Calico line. After studying trends and relying on her finely honed instincts, Lemieux filled the collection with rich autumnal hues such as saturated yellows, indigos, and jades.
"Christiane really thinks about the room," notes Harvey. "She doesn’t just pick colors; she was designing for that aspirational space. She understood what the consumer was responding to—the emergence of blush, the coming of ochre."
That insight led her to choose shades that "marry well to wood tones, stone finishes, and metals," adds Harvey. The result is a vintage-feeling palette that’s both soothing and sophisticated. Customers who fall for the designs can then pair the fabric of their choice with one of Calico’s pieces of custom furniture.
Lemieux’s aim, she says, "is to provide a selection that inspires you and allows you to create your own interiors, to find sanctuary there. If you have that grounding of a beautiful home, you can create the rest of your life in a more thoughtful way."
Here are a few of our favorite patterns from the collection, along with some tips on how to incorporate them into your space:
Christiane Lemieux Brooke fabric in Aegean
The beauty of this richly hued fabric, available in 11 saturated shades, is its simplicity. A works-with-anything type of velvet, it can be used atop a daybed or the Monica swivel chairs.
Christiane Lemieux Luis print in Orion
Inspired by a theme common in Tibetan rugs, this animalistic print, offered in four colorways, adds life to any throw pillow. It’s a surefire conversation-starter used as a wall hanging or window covering.
Christiane Lemieux Ellie print in Jute
The bold print makes neutral hues look anything but boring, but it’s still subtle enough to work on drapery or seating such as the Lynne chair.
Christiane Lemieux Mel print in Rose Madder
A fun spin on florals, this berries-and-branches pattern—available in a cool blue and a blush shade—makes for an eye-catching throw pillow.
Christiane Lemieux Mili print in Carbon
Pair this geometric nature-inspired pattern with other pillows to liven up a solid-hued sofa.
Christiane Lemieux Mitra print in Graphite
This diamond weave shines bright in all three colorways (graphite, linen, or zinc). But it’s refined enough to work on large furnishings such as the Ebonwood chair.
