The Florentine Issue

BIRDIE FORTESCUE

THE FLORENTINE ISSUE

A note to say...

We are delighted to introduce this season’s lifestyle magazine, The Florentine Issue. In this edition we welcome our new Spring Summer 23 collection, Florentine, a considered and timeless collection that is deeply meaningful to Birdie. Explore the journey behind its inspiration and design, discover interior styling tips, as well as conversations with friends, seasonal recipes and much more. As a small business we are always so grateful for your continued support and we truly value our loyal customers. We hope you enjoy discovering the new collection and find inspiration in The Florentine Issue.

Photography: Boz Gagovski and Cherise Bailey

Words: Gabriella Jones and Birdie Fortescue

Editorial design and editing: Amy Wilton and Jodie Hughes

A love letter to Florence

Introducing Florentine, new for Spring Summer 23, this inspired collection is a very personal one for Birdie. A love letter to Florence, the collection was born after Birdie visited the fascinating city where her daughter, Lydia, was studying fine art. Frequent visits allowed for more time to wander through charming back streets and stumble upon surprising, easily overlooked, gems of architectural decoration, which have inspired the unique designs and timeless pieces within our collection.

Florentine is a celebration of architectural design and decoration found across the city. From ironwork on balconies and balustrades, marble inlay on floors and facades, to the faded frescoes in churches and palazzi - the Florentine collection presents a clean and contemporary take on classical embellishment and detail. Our hero design, Santa Croce, is an interpretation of the soft geometric frescoes that appear in the Church of Santa Croce, whilst the astonishing marble floors of the Baptistery of San Giovanni have inspired two of our designs, the playful Piazza Chevron and Baptistery. Throughout this considered collection, every design tells a story - a detail of Flora’s dress in Botticelli’s Primavera is echoed in our floral print, the Finestra design pays homage to the classic quatrefoil motif, and Viale is the detail Birdie spotted on a painted architrave in Via Camillo Cavour.

Like all visitors to Florence, Birdie was struck by the extraordinary light; from the startling brightness of the midday sun to the soft translucency of early morning and evening. The rich and varying hues of Tuscany inspired the soft colour palette for the new collection. Cameo pinks, leafy greens and sky blues are at the heart of the Florentine collection, thoughtfully chosen in tones that sit harmoniously alongside past and future collections, providing a gentle and evocative backdrop to Spring/Summer living. Timeless geometrics and whimsical floral designs, block-printed by hand, feature across cushions, lampshades and table linens. These colourful textiles balance perfectly with the collection’s new range of Mid Century inspired rattan furniture,

with organic form and clean lines. The curated collection of new textural lampshades paired with eclectic table lamps add a playful touch, whilst the Cucito Rug provides the perfect anchor to the collection and is sure to be a summer staple.

Florentine encapsulates alfresco dining and contemporary living, with playful touches and textural accents. The thoughtful curation of this collection has been designed to complement modern day life, bringing with it a sense of wanderlust and nostalgia for Italian summers.

We hope you love Florentine.

Lydia Chapman

After an Art Foundation year at Oxford Brookes University, Lydia went on to specialise in Fine Art Painting at Edinburgh University, before spending four years at Charles H. Cecil studios in Florence. Lydia now lives and works in West London, working on commissions and exhibition pieces. She is currently taking both portrait and still life commissions, working mainly in oil paint and charcoal.

What drew you to portrait painting?

Ever since I was little I always remember loving this beautiful Phillip de László portrait, and perhaps this is where my love for portraiture began. In general, I have always been drawn to painting people over landscapes.

I love the relationship between painter and sitter, and I’m stimulated by the challenge of capturing their likeness and character. I feel that a portrait, unlike anything else, has the special ability to capture a person and their emotions over a period of time - you get more of a sense of their character rather than in one snapshot moment.

Are you making plans for the future and if so, what do they look like?

I want to paint as much as possible and I’m really keen to keep developing my own style, bringing colour and contemporary elements into my portraits and other works. In a broad sense, I know so many amazing portrait artists who are helping to make portraiture interesting and exciting againI’d love to be a part of that and to see where it goes!

What artistic inspiration did you take from Florence?

One thing that has continued to inspire me from my time in Florence is learning the craft of painting. For me, this was learning the sightsize painting method but it was also learning all the practices that go into being a painter, like stretching canvases and mixing paints. Florence

is a place where people take pride in the quality of what they do, whether it be food or art etc. - this undoubtedly has inspired me.

What were some of your favourite spots in Florence?

There are so many! La Reggia just outside the city is an amazing place to eat, overlooking the whole of Florence. Camillo is also one of my favourite restaurants. I spent a lot of time with friends at the bars in Piazza della Passera and Piazza Santo Spirito. In terms of churches, it’s tough but I’d say San Miniato al Monte is my favourite. It’s an ancient monastery/church up on a hill with an amazing view of the city. I also have to mention the Brancacci Chapel with its amazing frescoes and the Medici Chapel.

Which part of the Florentine collection reminds you the most of your time in Florence?

The colour palette of the collection transports me back to Florence - a combination of rich blues and reds mixed with soft pinks and leafy greens.

For commissions and more information visit: lydiachapman.com @lydiachapman.art

Self Portrait, oil on canvas

“The colour palette of the collection transports me back to Florence - a combination of rich blues and reds mixed with soft pinks and leafy greens.”

Creating Florentine

Inspiration

We caught up with our Head of Design and Production, Ella, to discuss the creative process and production of the new collection. Discover how small details spotted by Birdie are transformed into unique designs, which form timeless products, made to be cherished for years to come.

All of our designs are inspired by Birdie’s travels and the amazing work of artisans from around the world. This collection takes inspiration from Birdie’s frequent trips to Florence and after many visits spent stumbling upon hidden gems, Birdie returned to us with photographs and historical references from which to take inspiration. These references inspired the key colours, shapes and intricate details on which to base our designs.

Colour Palette

Each season, we look at trend forecasting to help direct our key colours. We also follow our own colour palette of seasonal shades to ensure we always create a timeless collection that allows the new pieces to sit harmoniously with previous collections.

Concepts

Next, we sketch out different products, compiling various concepts for our prints and designs. This is a collaborative process, with input from Birdie and the team on colour, scale, texture and technique. The unique designs are reimagined digitally and sent to talented block carvers in India and skilled furniture makers in Indonesia - ready to start the process of bringing the designs to life.

Consideration

Throughout the process every colour, pattern and texture is carefully considered to allow our customers to easily layer the new collection with previous designs. We receive samples of all block printed fabrics and textiles, as well as raw materials such as rattan, to ensure the collection is cohesive and unified.

Final Design

The collaborative relationships we have with skilled artisans from around the world are an integral part of our design process. By discussing new techniques they are developing we can ensure our products are designed to highlight their skilled craft. As the product designs become a reality there are multiple discussions, to check quality, finish and colours.

Rattan Sun Lounger - £975, Rattan Side Table - £250

Rattan Bowl Chair - £525, Rattan Sofa - £1,250, Rattan Coffee Table - £450, Bolla Glass Vase - from £12

George Carter

We caught up with George Carter, award-winning garden designer and owner of Silverstone Farm, to talk about all-things garden design, his inspiration and style. George was kind enough to lend us his beautiful garden and barns in Norfolk for our SS23 photoshoot, which provided the perfect backdrop to the Florentine collection.

How and where did your gardening career begin?

It began by being commissioned to work on the National Garden Festivals in the 1980s. They were urban renewal projects in depressed parts of industrial towns, and with Raf Fulcher we did several large scale schemes including two amphitheaters. This led to exhibiting at the Chelsea Flower Show for the first time in 1985 which was titled “A Vision of Versailles”. Even though it was only 20ft x 15ft it had impact and led to various other schemes inspired by 17th century formal gardens.

How would you describe your design style?

I have always loved gardens from the 16th to the early 18th century. They are often much simpler than you think and adapt well even to a very small scale. They respond to existing topography and relate well to houses in a very direct way, plus they have a calm order and geometry that is essentially modernist. The plant palette of them is limited, but native and Mediterranean planting predominates. Flowers are showcased in a rather jewel-like way: a different way of planting to the Gertrude Jekyll drift (which by the way I admire and like to use sometimes). What people often miss is that 17th century gardens, in particular, have elements that are really simple and sculptural. It is an accident of

history that early Modernism in architecture wasn’t quite sure which way to go with the gardens that accompanied its buildings. After a brief flirtation with formality, Le Corbusier, for instance, chose an informal landscape park, of the type that Capability Brown might have devised, as most appropriate to the new architecture.

What are the most important aspects of designing a garden?

In small gardens the relationship of the garden with the house is paramount. The views out from the house and the engagement of the inside with the outside are the starting point. The axes of the garden come from the principal windows and doors of the house. In larger sites the topography of the site and the aspect to the sun are the initial considerations. The architectural style of the house is also important, and to some extent dictates the style of the garden. Again in smaller gardens the boundary treatment is important as it provides the backdrop to the scene. The ancient concept of dividing a garden scene into foreground, middleground and distance is also helpful - this applies to gardens of all scales. It is a useful way of deciding the colour and tone of planting - darker richer tones in the foreground, giving way to paler bluer tones adds to the effect of recession.

What was the inspiration for your garden?

Given that I live in flat Norfolk (paradoxically I am quite high up with long views) I have taken inspiration from Dutch 17th century gardens which were on the whole small and inward looking, subdivided into “rooms” of different character. Dutch gardens were rather different from French Gardens of the same period and, being made on the whole by middle class patrons, were more in tune with the scale of gardens today. They have a different take on the illusionism and grandeur of French and Italian gardens: easier to realise and simpler in detail. I like the fact that they can be quite minimal and their leitmotif is “Green Architecture”.

How do you decide on the architectural structure of a garden?

It’s very easy to work out the architectural layout of a garden - the principal axes are determined by the house and by pre-existing long views. In confined sites hiding distracting or unpleasant objects outside the garden give a clue to where camouflage

is needed. Garden buildings make a good distraction and provide a necessary viewstopper. I have designed many of these in a variety of styles. I rather like the 18th century idea of a building as a simplified facade in timber - at a small distance it conjures up a three dimensional structure. The detailing can be very bold and simplified - at a distance this gives a better effect than the most refined ornamentation. Broad effects of light and shade both in building and planting are usually the most successful - so think big and plant in large blocks backed by very simple hedges of contrasting hue.

George Carter will be talking at our Kings Road Pop Up, Wednesday 24th of May, more event information to follow soon.

For garden design enquiries visit: georgecartergardens.co.uk

Wensum Dining Chair - £395, Santa Croce Tablecloth - from £195, Pentola Cotton Mache Vase - from £25, Limited Edition Suzani Throw - from £295, Round Jute Placemats - from £12, Piastrelle Embroidered Napkin - from £18, Wooden Cutlery Set - £160

Summer Dining

Our new collection of block printed table linens, Woven Jute Placemats, and Wooden Cutlery have been designed to layer perfectly in the Florentine collection. As with all our designs, our tableware can easily be pared back for casual lunches or dressed up for more formal occasions and suit both contemporary and traditional schemes.

Our hero design of this season, the Santa Croce Tablecloth, is a contemporary interpretation of the soft geometric frescoes that appear in the Church of Santa Croce in Florence. Block printed by hand in India, this statement tablecloth will elevate any table setting and is perfect for both indoor and alfresco dining. Try layering with our Round Jute Placemats and Piastrelle Embroidered Napkins for a smart occasion or simply style the tablecloth on its own for a pared back look.

Handwoven from hard-wearing jute, the Round Jute Placemats are now available in new soft summer colours. Versatile in design, they can be used for dining both indoors and in the garden. The Piastrelle Embroidered Napkins are timeless, with a clean and crisp finish. The contemporary embroidered geometric border adds a modern twist to traditional table linens.

Finish your summer dining table with stacks of your favourite dinnerware and a striking vase of seasonal flowers and garden foliage.

Above: Handwoven Circular Rattan Placemat - from £16, Set of 4

Handwoven Rattan Napkin Rings - £16

Opposite: Rattan Dining Chair - £375, Rattan Hurricane - from £50, Rattan Wall Mirror - £225

Gary Hunter’s

Pineapple Caramel and White Chocolate Crumble Verrine

Serves 6

White Chocolate and Lemon Crumble

Unsalted butter, cut into cubes and chilled

Soft brown sugar

Plain flour

Ground almonds

White chocolate (small pieces)

A few fresh leaves of lemon thyme

1. Preheat the oven to 175°C

2. Mix all the ingredients, apart from the lemon thyme, until the mixture resembles a moist sandy texture

3. Loosely crumble the mixture into a baking tray lined with baking parchment and bake for 1520 mins, until the crumble is golden brown

4. While still warm, break up any large pieces of crumble and turn out onto a seperate tray to allow to cool to room temperature

Pineapple Mousse

Gelatine powder

Water

Lemon zest (finely grated)

Fresh or tinned pineapple (drained)

Whipping cream

Condensed milk

1. Mix the gelatine powder and water in a small bowl, and leave for about 5 mins

2. If using fresh pineapple, chop into small pieces and place on a medium heat stirring constantly to break the pieces down whilst bringing to the boil. Cook until soft and then blend to a puree. Alternatively, use tinned pineapple and puree until smooth

3. Zest the lemon and incorporate into the puree

4. Whip the cream to a slightly soft consistency and then fold in the condensed milk

5. Melt the gelatine in the microwave for 10 seconds, and mix into the puree

6. Fold 1/3 of the cream mix into the pineapple puree, then carefully fold in the remaining cream

Caramel Gold Cremeux

Fresh milk

Double cream

Egg yolks

Caster sugar

1. Whisk together the egg yolks and caster sugar

2. Bring the milk and cream to the boil and carefully pour onto the egg mixture, stirring all the time. Return to the saucepan and carefully cook to a light custard, stirring until the mixture coats the back of the wooden spoon

3. Pour the custard over the chocolate

4. Mix thoroughly and pass through a sieve into a cool bowl. Leave to cool down in the fridge for one hour before layering in each glass on top of the mousse

5. Leave in the fridge for at least 4 hours or until the cremeux has set

Pineapple Salad

Pineapple

Passionfruits

Lemon zest (finely grated)

1. Finely dice the pineapple into a bowl and scoop out the passionfruit

2. Mix in the passionfruit and lemon zest

3. Spoon the pineapple salad into each glass on top of the set cremeux

To serve: Top each Verrine with the white chocolate crumble, and a few fresh leaves of lemon thyme. Complete with a decoration of your choice such as white chocolate shaving, and serve!

Get

@huntersfood2022

Served in our Wine Glasses and on our Foliage Side Plates

Rattan Pendant Shade - £250, Rattan Dining Chair - £375, Santa Croce Tablecloth - from £195, Shido Vase - from £30

In conversation with

Hannah Hunnam

We’re big believers that flowers make the perfect finishing touch to any interior, so we caught up with Hannah Hunnam, Norfolk-based Florist, to learn about the art of flower arranging. Hannah’s floral style is loose, natural and whimsical, working with locally grown and British blooms.

“After working in advertising in London for a few years, I decided to explore my floral calling. I booked myself onto a professional floristry course at an internationally renowned florists - Jamie Aston’s, in the evenings outside of work, and have never looked back! I started focusing full-time on

flowers in 2019 (just as Covid hit!), and have since worked on some amazing weddings and events. I’ve created flowers for wonderful private clients and worked with luxury brands including Viktor & Rolf, L’Oréal, Monica Vinader, Pandora and Edeline Lee.”

Get in touch with Hannah: flowers@hannahhunnam.com hannahhunnam.com @hannah.hunnam

Your Spring Flower Arrangement

Equipment

• You’ll need a pair of sharp scissors to work with - I always recommend Japanese floristry scissors

• Wire cutters (for cutting chicken wire if using in the arrangement for structural support)

• Chicken wire - an excellent, sustainable method for providing a basic structure and allows the flowers to drink naturally

• Pot tape - to secure chicken wire to vessels

• A vessel

Sourcing

A good selection of greenery and a mixture of flower shapes and textures will help to create a good balance. At this time of year, my all-time favourites for an arrangement are Ranunculus, Fritillaries, Hellebores, Tulips, Blossom, Guelder Rose, Icelandic Poppies, Spiraea, Wild Rubus and so much more!

Conditioning

• Preparing your flowers before arranging them is key to ensuring they stay hydrated and strong - keeping the vessels squeaky clean and using cool, fresh water is essential.

• When receiving your flowers either from your local Florist or Grower, re-cut the stems at a sharp angle by at least 1cm. This creates a greater surface area for the stems to drink more easily.

• Ensure any foliage below the water level is removed to prevent it from decaying in the water - this would introduce bacteria and shorten the vase life of your flowers.

• Leave the stems for a good few hours (ideally overnight) in a cool, dark place once they have been prepared.

Creating

• If using chicken wire as your base mechanic inside your vessel, fold to create multiple layers of chicken wire and secure in place with the pot tape.

• Place your large greenery stems and blossom in first to form the initial outline of your arrangement. Then, continue to fill out the shape of your design with your greenery.

• Next, begin to add your flowers starting with the larger, accent flowers first - for example the Ranunculus and Icelandic Poppies.

• Complete your arrangement by adding in the more dainty, wispy stems, such as Tulips and Fritillaries, to achieve a natural ‘hand-picked from the garden’ look.

“Top tip - try not to overthink your design. The most important thing to do is have fun and enjoy the process of spending time with beautiful flowers and creating something wonderful to enjoy in your own home!”

Scalloped Finestra Lamp Shade - from £65, Super King Rattan Headboard£800, Santa Croce Block Print Cushion

- £75, Rectangular Embroidered Velvet

Trellis Cushion - £75, Piazza Pleated

Lamp Shade - from £80, Pentola Cotton

Mache Vase - from £25, Ziggurat Kilim Rug - from £795

Birdie’s Top Picks

Pentola Cotton Mache Vase

This playful vase, handmade from 100% recycled cotton, is one of a kind. With clean lines and a textured finish, it is such a fun vase for flowers all year round and is water resistant!

Cucito Stitched Jute Rug

I love the combination of taupe and off-white in this contemporary rug. Made from hard-wearing jute, this is a fabulous base for any interior setting.

Rattan Dining Chair

Inspired by alfresco dining and the café culture of Florence, the new Rattan Dining Chairs are a timeless classic for all seasons.

Baptistery Cushion

Inspired by the astonishing marble floors of the Baptistery of San Giovanni in Florence, this playful block printed cushion is the perfect addition to an armchair or sofa.

Paper Raffia Lamp Shade

I love the relaxed feel of these lamp shades. The colour in the stripe mixed with natural raffia gives your interior a textured and earthy finish.

Handwoven Rattan Tray

A simple but smart tray which is perfect for summer living. Versatile in design, the tray can be used both indoors and out, ideal for garden drinks or styled on a coffee table.

Pattern Up

As with all of our collections, Florentine has been designed to be styled in a number of ways - whether you’re looking to ‘pattern up’ in a maximalist scheme or ‘pare back’ for a more minimalist look. Every piece has been created with versatility in mind, catering to both traditional and contemporary interiors. The carefully selected colours and detailed designs can be mixed and matched in a variety of combinations to create unique looks for every customer.

‘Pattern up’ your living area by layering Florentine’s block printed cushions in both geometric and floral designs. Don’t be afraid to

mix bold patterns together; the collection has been designed to create a mismatched yet harmonious look. Intersperse the Florentine designs with our classic Velvet Trellis Cushions to balance your sofa arrangement. To ‘pattern up’ further try adding an embroidered Suzani throw to your sofa. In a maximalist scheme where multiple prints are combined, it is important to carry colour through your interior as a visual thread - use lampshades, decorative accessories and artwork in coordinating tones to bring your scheme together and create a cohesive yet eclectic look.

At Birdie Fortescue, our considered collections are designed to layer together but we also ensure that every piece creates visual impact when styled on its own too. Depending on your own personal style or the occasion, a ‘pared back’ approach explores the age-old mantra that less is more. The key to creating a stylish pared back look is to choose high quality pieces that incorporate different textures and pick one or two key colours. Pared back doesn’t have to mean beige or neutral tones, for example, this pink and green bedroom scheme is still calming and cohesive, without being bland. When opting for a pared back approach try layering patterned cushions behind a plain velvet,

so there is a hint of interest without overpowering the space. Choose earthy and natural materials, such as the Rattan Side Table and Super King Rattan Headboard, to give the scheme texture. Pair your lamp base with a shade in a coordinating colour to provide a playful finish that isn’t overly fussy. The Cucito Jute Rug grounds the schemehand crafted from natural materials with a stitched border, this contemporary rug is the perfect base to any interior.

Below: Cucito Stitched Jute Rug - from £350, Piazza Pleated Lamp Shade - from £80, Single Rattan Headboard - £450, Rattan Wall Mirror - £225, Opposite: Ziggurat Kilim Rug - from £795, Rattan Urn Lamp - £150, Scalloped Finestra Lamp Shade - from £65, Claire Oxley ‘Breezy Magnolia’ - £1,400

Try experimenting with unexpected colour and print combinations, which might not immediately seem obvious, but result in a wonderfully eclectic look.

Diana Forbes

As a self taught painter, Diana always felt a strong pull towards art. Her works celebrate the surrounding nature, change of seasons and an appreciation of home. Themes used in her work often feature ceramics, fabrics and florals. Diana creates whimsical, joyous and vivid works with a fresh contemporary twist. She works primarily in acrylics, ink, oil pastel and charcoal in bold strokes, fine marks and plenty of layers to achieve her textured and expressive style.

We gave Diana a sneak peek at our collection so that she could create a series of paintings around this season’s colour palette. Featuring Florentine’s leafy greens, sky blues and cameo pinks, these oil pastel still life collages will work wonderfully in both contemporary and traditional interiors and are the perfect centerpiece for any Florentine scheme.

Diana Forbes Stoneware Bowl and Pomegranates series - £915 each, Rattan Deck Table - £125, Rattan Sofa£1,250, Rhombus Rug - from £225

Timeless interiors, designed by Birdie, curated by you

We always love to meet our customers and understand the importance of seeing products in person. We are delighted to now have two shops in North Norfolk, including Holt and our Outlet in Fakenham. We will also be returning to Kings Road in London twice this year. As always, our experienced team can help with advice on styling and guide you through the new collection, as well as our range of antiques and art.

Visit Us Holt

10.00am - 5.00pm, Monday - Saturday

The Barn, Feathers Yard, Holt, Norfolk, NR25 6BW

Fakenham

10:00am - 4.00pm, Monday - Saturday

Clipbush Business Park, Hawthorn Way, Fakenham, Norfolk NR21 8SX

London

Spring Pop Up, 13th May - 21st June 2023

Monday - Saturday, 10am - 6pm

Autumn Pop Up, more information coming soon!

336 Kings Road, London, SW3 5UR

The new collection is also available to shop online at birdiefortescue.co.uk. Please contact us if you require more information:

01328 851651 info@birdiefortescue.co.uk