Various Black and White Patterns

I follow Pattern Observer, a blog all about patterns, what patterns are fashionable, how to mix and match, how to make them. I always look at patterns and find the repeats. Here are a few I put together, look how black and white holds these various patterns together.

New Wallpaper

     ©kellyfannon

My new wallpaper for my iPhone. I have been playing with Instagram, so much fun,  follow @kellyfannon and see new patterns and colors each day.....thanks, Kelly

Blue Patterns

Fabrics, wallpaper and rugs from the Designer's Guild showroom on Kings Road. I was there recently looking for something green but saw these pretty blue and white patterns that reminded me so much of a William Morris pattern but updated, less color and less layering of pattern but same overall flow. Pretty, fresh and lovely hand painting, looks almost like gouache on paper.

From the new collection: Kasuri and Kimono Blossom

Some Details

Source: flickr.com via Kelly on Pinterest

As much as I like the clean lines and unadorned materials of minimalism, the embellishments of the last century in architecture and furniture are beautiful.

Fireplaces with Robert Adam elegance or scrolls along the cornice, covings with patterns along the outer edge of the ceilings give rooms style and what many love in these spaces, character.

I have to admit, the decorations are pretty. In London and New York where so much of the housing stock is from the 19th century and early 20th, there is much of these lovely decorations in the old buildings. I find it a treat to work with these details and blend them with contemporary colors and lighting schemes. Above are some details.

Old and New Patterns

I was researching the other day some patterns for curtains and upholstery and was struck by the similarities of the two prints:

Source: google.co.uk via Kelly on Pinterest

Source: manuelcanovas.com via Kelly on Pinterest

The red print was done by Raoul Dufy in the 30's, the black and white is from the current collection at Manuel Canovas. Influences, I find it so important to know the old stuff, it is always new and fresh when revisited.

Cherry Patterns

Source: ohdeedoh.com via Kelly on Pinterest

Source: design-muse.blogspot.com via Kelly on Pinterest

Fresh early summer patterns of cherries

Indigo

Indigo... a deeply moving color.

Patterns of Light and Shadow

On bright sunny days when light streams through a window,  it will often leave a pattern of shadows from the window frame, a shutter or a lace curtain across the wall or floor. They are ephemeral patterns. Sometimes they will elongate and stretch out, other times they will be short, brief and transitory because of a passing cloud.

These patterns of light and shadow tell us what time of day it is, they fill the room with a temporary design, but I like to think it also guides us on window treatments; what kind of curtains should we have,  I would never want to cover a window so that we would loose daylight, but they are so necessary at night.

With such a wide window and the varied grid pattern the light creates, a wide curtain pole is needed so it doesn't interrupt this lovely shadow. What a marvelous pattern.

You can feel the breeze, but look at the pretty shadow on the wall, to me it is prettier than the curtain.

And this dramatic screen of the shadow of a tree.

Light, natural light, the way it illuminates our rooms, our minds, I find is an essential element in the concept of interior design. It gives the room soul and when you find a quiet moment you will see the light.

images via Flickr