BIRDIE FORTESCUE THE CHOWA COLLECTION AW20
INTRODUCTION DREAMING OF FOREIGN CLIMES... Our new collection embraces the ancient philosophy of Chowa; the Japanese wisdom that encourages the quest for harmony through the balance of contrasts. Influenced by the traditional textiles of the Ainu tribespeople in Northern Japan, our core collection encompasses bold geometric motifs, small scale Hana prints and detailed embroidery. By using a palette of rich autumnal tones to harmonise the diverse traditional patterns, Birdie has created a collection that looks stunning placed in either a co-ordinated setting or as part of an eclectic ensemble. Our new range of cushions include sumptuous velvets embroidered with the Ainu motif, hand blocked stripes emulating tribal robes, and our latest embroidered Sakura cushions. East and West meet harmoniously with the merging of our staple favourites and the dynamism of the Chowa collection to bring an understated elegance to our homes.
LIVING The eclectic layering of cushions and accessories lends this Drawing Room a welcoming feel for every season. Our new collection of luxurious Siriki velvet cushions with their bold geometric motifs and the striped linen cushions blend effortlessly with the delicate Hana floral print and cherry blossom embroidery. The two striking tones of midnight and merlot in the vintage Turkish Suzani are echoed in the prints and decorative ceramics while the merlot draws out the hues in the textural Pattee jute rug. Next to a vase of Japanese anemones sits our latest woven Pandanus lampshade where the combination of natural and tonal blues co-ordinate perfectly with the collection.
Siriki Velvet Embroidered Cushions - Midnight £75, Chowa Stripe Cushion - Midnight £65, Hana Floral Cushions Starting at £55, Sakura Embroidered Cushion - Azure £65, Vintage Turkish Suzani £700, Pattee Stripe Rug - Watermelon £395, George Bronwin Pottery Starting at £60, Assorted Gourds Starting at £29.50, Millie Straker Screen Prints Starting at £250
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elax against a pile of gorgeous cushions and forget the cares of the world! The rich hues of clover and merlot in this Study create a deeply satisfying sense of comfort making it a luxurious retreat from the wintery elements. Our statement velvet embroidered Siriki cushions are inspired by the distinctive designs woven into the robes of the Ainu tribespeople of Northern Japan. Stylish and clean in design, the cushions create a perfect backdrop for our latest collection.
New to the collection, these texturally rich lamps made from coiled banana leaf fibre pair beautifully with our woven shades and create a tactile duo.
Siriki Velvet Embroidered Cushion - Merlot, Walnut and Clover £75, Woven Pandanus Lampshade - Red Starting at £70, Limited Edition Cushions Starting at £60, Chowa Stripe Cushion - Merlot £65, Henry Dean Vases Starting at £29.50, Assorted Gourds Starting at £14.50, Classic Glass Vase - Green £65, Millie Straker Screen Prints Starting at £250
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he abundant melange of cushions and contrasting autumnal tones of lamps together with the textures of our Pattee rug and the vivid greens of our latest Kantha throw are all anchored by Cornelia O’Donovan’s mesmerising painting ‘Swan Diptych’. These dominant tones are subtly complemented by the clover hues of the Stripe cushion and the multi-tonal layering of our Khadi cushions and Siriki velvets.
Chowa Stripe Cushion - Clover £65, Siriki Embroidered Velvet Cushions - Merlot And Clover £75, Limited Edition Kantha Throws Starting at £125 , Henry Dean Vases Starting at £29.50, Asymmetric Smoke Lamp Base £125 , Woven Pandanus Lamp Shade Green Starting at £70, Cornelia O’Donovan ‘Swan Diptych’ £6500, 19th Century Painted Swedish Sofa £3300, Pattee stripe Rug - Vetiver £395
SLEEPING A bedroom is our sanctuary from the bustle of life and is pivotal to our sense of well-being. Where better to practice the Chowa philosophy of harmony and serenity than where we sleep? Key to the collection is our off-white cutwork and applique linen bedspread which has been designed in our Norfolk studio and exquisitely hand embroidered by our artisans in Delhi. Its restrained Suzani motifs balance with the meandering detail of the floral throw, the delicate embroidery in the Sakura cushions and whimsical paintings. The symmetry is enhanced by painted raffia lampshades in a gentle tone of green which sit on ceramic basket weave lamps either side of the bed.
Kesmek Linen Bedspread £495, Limited Edition Suzani £315, Cornelia O’Donovan ‘Heath Flower Vine’ £1300, Cornelia O’Donovan ‘To Weave Garlands’ £1300, Painted Raffia Lampshades - Green Starting at £65, Sakura Embroidered Cushion - Magenta £75, Basket Weave Lamp Base - White £140, Pattee Stripe Rug - Watermelon £395
BLOSSOM, CERULEAN, VETIVER AND TRUFFLE ...
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hese lightly quilted bedspreads are printed in our favourite Crosshatch design, a contemporary take on traditional Kente cloth. Our pared down version of this design is hand block printed in Blossom, Cerulean, Vetiver and Truffle. The gentle colours together with the geometric design enable these bedspreads to sit perfectly in a minimalist bedroom or a more eclectic setting.
Limited Edition Turkish Velvet Ikat Cushion - Green £80, Painted Raffia Lampshade - Pink and Blue Starting at £65, Cross hatch bedspreads - Double £395, Single £325
DELICATE AND MEANDERING...
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e love the balance created between the intricate design of our Hana print featuring maple leaves, flowers and cherry blossom. Lightly quilted and made of the softest linen, its gently undulating edging adds interest and co-ordinates with the detailing on the cushions. The colours of meandering blossom reflect the dreamy tones of the watercolour ‘Arroyo’ by Dana Finch, and reappear in the trim of the lampshades, the linear design of the rug and the stripes of the Turkish cushions. By using a minimal palette of colour the room exudes an aura of simplicity and indulgence.
Hana Floral Quilted Bedspread £395, Kela Fibre Lamp Base - Blue £85, Hana Floral Cushion £65, Raffia Bound Lampshade - Blue Starting at £55, Limited Edition Turkish Linen Cushion £75, Dana Finch Painting ‘Arroyo’ £640, Carbuncle £29.50
DINING Table styling is a perfect opportunity to express our individuality as we conjure up the mood for a particular occasion. By interchanging a few decorative pieces and adding accents of colour, a look can swiftly transition from formal elegance to a more relaxed setting for friends and family. The quiet linear backdrop of the tablecloth in our new Chowa collection is smart yet unobtrusive and creates an ideal anchor for any table arrangement. Coupled with the clean geometric design of the co-ordinating placemats and napkins, the collection provides a simple and understated foundation for layering a table.
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rich and vibrant tablescape is created using our Siriki table linens, the design being influenced by the traditional ceremonial robes of the indigenous Ainu tribes people of Northern Japan. Ainu women embroidered border designs on clothing to weave their affection into the fabric to protect their families.
Siriki Stripe Tablecloth - Merlot Starting at £135, Siriki Napkin - Merlot £14, Siriki Placemat - Merlot £17, Tall Ribbed Glass Bud Vase £16.50, Short Ribbed Glass Bud Vase £14.50, Tall Flute Bud Vase £19.50, Short Flute Bud Vase £17.50, Set of 6 Pulegoso Glass Tumblers - Clear £59.50, Wine Glass £9.50, Miniature Glass Lampshade £13.50, Noodle Bowls £125
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here is an air of ‘joie de vivre’ as light bounces off the myriad of glassware on this elegant table. Tumblers with a midnight coloured ribbon detail mix happily with the corresponding rimmed wine glasses and bud vases. Our Limited Edition Japanese noodle bowls reflect the lustrous blues of the glassware and are framed by the strong outline of the Siriki placemats. The enchanting floral Hana napkins add a playful contrast and charm to the setting.
Siriki Stripe Tablecloth - Midnight Starting at £135, Hana Napkin £14, Siriki Placemat - Midnight £17, Tall Ribbed Glass Bud Vases £16.50, Short Ribbed Glass Bud Vase £14.50, Ribbon Tumbler £19.50, Rimmed Wine Glass £19.50, Miniature Glass Lampshade £13.50, Noodle Bowls £125, Decorative Glass Bud Vases - Set of 6 £59.50,
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laying with the palette of tonal greens in our Sikiri tablecloth, this informal yet inviting arrangement is perfect for a relaxed gathering. Creamy clouds of hydrangea add a casual yet celebratory feel to the table. The puffed flower heads echo the informality of the cabbage ware dinner service and scale satisfyingly with the bulbous vases and generous glasses.
Cabbageware Dinner Plate £22, Cabbageware Side Plate £14, Cabbageware Bowl £13, Tall Ribbed Glass Bud Vases £16.50, Short Ribbed Glass Bud Vase £14.50, Ribbon Tumbler £19.50, Rimmed Wine Glass £19.50, Assorted Candles £1.50, Mishran White Moroccan Candlesticks Starting at £29.50
ACCESSORISING Nothing personalises our homes more than accessories. For every new collection, Birdie dedicates time while travelling to gather artefacts and inspiration for embellishing the collection. While some have a practical function, others may be fun or purely decorative. This season’s selection is as textural as it is beautiful. True to the Chowa philosophy, our accessories balance the natural earthiness of ethnic influences with striking accents of contemporary colour. The rich hues of blue, red and green coordinate flawlessly with the tones of the new collection.
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ur wall baskets are hand braided with palm leaves and Sabai grass by women artisans in the remote villages of Odisha. Their eye-catching decorative design brings both traditional charm and contemporary decoration to your home.
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raditionally used for storing and measuring grain, these vintage Kulu pots and wooden tribal dishes from Himachal in Northern India bring originality and quirkiness to the collection. Grouped together they create a colourful and architectural ensemble.
Assorted Wall Baskets Starting at £25, Assorted Wooden Kulu Pots Starting at £39.50, Set of 6 Pulegoso Glass Tumblers - Clear and Indigo £59.50
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e love our latest range of textural Kela lamp bases and the synergy created between these and our ever popular raffia bound lampshades. Made from the fibre of banana leaves by artisans in India, these coiled woven lamp bases are available in a variety of colours and two tactile shapes which would suit a traditional or contemporary interior. Kela Lamp Base £85, Raffia Bound Lampshade Starting at £55, Assorted Kantha Throws Starting at £125
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ur vibrant vintage Kantha throws have been hand picked by Birdie in West Bengal and are made from layers of cotton saris sewn together with Kantha stitching. Each one is over dyed and printed to co-ordinate with our collection. These versatile throws make stunning bedspreads and tablecloths or can be draped over a sofa or chair.
LOCATION CREAKE ABBEY
The impressive ruins of Creake Abbey stand in a meadow between North Creake and Burnham Market on the North Norfolk coast. Originally a hospital, it prospered during the reign of Henry II, rising in status to Priory before finally becoming an Abbey. Sadly, the flint ruins tell tales of the successive disasters, fire and demolition.
Our photo shoot features the main house, the recently restored Carrot House and the historic brick and flint walled barns.
Creake Abbey was violently ravaged by fire and plague resulting in the death of the last abbot in 1506. At this point, the abbey was given to the newly founded Christ’s College in Cambridge and saved from inevitable destruction during the Reformation. Today, the ruins are owned and maintained by English Heritage and are open to the public. The adjoining house and barns have been painstakingly restored by the Scott family to create a stunning family home and a successful rural retail site with a monthly farmers’ market.
WITH THANKS LOCATION North Creake Abbey EXISTING INTERIORS
Kelling Designs
PHOTOGRAPHY Matt Keal FLOWERS King.Witham WORDS Celia Middleton
B I RDIE F ORTE S CUE Shop online: birdiefortescue.co.uk online@birdiefortescue.co.uk 01328 851 651 Visit us in store: 4 Clipbush Business Park, Fakenham, Norfolk, NR21 8SX Follow us: @birdiefortescue
