BIRDIE
FORTESCUE versha / autumn
the story / india
The Versha textile collection introduces our new geometric design which is block printed on a natural linen in teal, taupe and aubergine. Our latest placemats, being circular in shape with a soft scalloped border, make a strong visual statement. Cushions are rendered in our geometric print and richly coloured velvets with a hand stitched, embroidered edge. The Versha collection is inspired by the ancient designs Birdie has seen on her travels which she has reinterpreted in her calm contemporar y style.
The Birdie For tescue brand is based on a rich heritage of global inspiration interpreted into a range of textiles and interior accessories designed to suit classic contemporar y living. Our look is about achievable style with an emphasis on clean lines and curated colour. India is at the hear t of our collections, providing the initial inspiration for ever y colour, pattern and technique. From Jaipur to Moradabad and Firozabad, Birdie works with highly skilled ar tisans using traditional dyeing, metalwork, glass blowing and car ving methods. The subtle colours of the textiles reflect the authentic natural vegetable dyes of Rajasthan. The borders and patterns in the textiles are hand block printed to Birdie’s designs. Minor irregularities in the printing and colours only add to the charm of this ancient technique.
green
‘of t h e c o l o u r b e t w e e n b l u e a n d y e l l o w i n t h e s p e c t r u m ; coloured like grass or emeralds’
Kadhaee Panel Velvet Cushion / 50x50cm Dark Green/Seagrass, Kadhaee Embroidered Cushion / 50x50cm Dark Green, Kadhaee Embroidered Cushion / 50x50cm Seagrass, Versha Tooth Velvet Cushion / 60x60cm Seagrass
Piyush Glass Lamp Base / Small Green, Natural Linen Lampshade / 35cm, Piyush Glass Lamp Base / Large Green, Block Print Lampshade / Taupe 40cm, Piyush Glass Lamp Base / Cylinder White, Natural Linen Lampshade / 30cm
‘ou r new t ea l ha s a wa r mth th at wor k s per fe c t ly wi th a l a r g e r a n g e of oth er c ol o u rs . We l ove how ve r s a til e it is’ Birdie
Painting: Double Landscape / Linda Jamieson 113x64cm, Wire Beehive Votive / Taupe / Green, Ribbed Hurricane / White, Bubble Glass Jug / Clear, Bubble Glass Tumbler / Clear, Versha Print Tablecloth / Teal, Versha Wave Placemat / Teal, Versha Border Napkin / Teal Versha Print Napkin / Teal
light for living
Piyush Lamp Base / Medium / Large / Cylinder, Blue / Lead / White Block Print Lampshade / 30cm-45cm base diameter / Taupe / Blue Natural Linen Lampshade / 30cm-35cm base diameter
a tale of teal & taupe
Painting: Still Life with Moon / Marie Boyle 56x56cm Versha Tooth Floor Cushion / Teal / Taupe Lahar Wool Rug / Large 170x240cm / Taupe
Painting: Shed of Marwells / Marie Boyle 36x36cm, Kadhaee Embroidered Cushion / 50x50cm, Tourmaline / Taupe / Lead, Versha Velvet Floor Cushion / Taupe / Teal 80x80cm Bubble Glass Jug / Blue, Tumbler / Clear / Blue
shoot journal a t e s t fo r o ur g re e n ve l ve t s o f a s h o t
the fron t of the en gi ne h ou s e
a s p l a s h o f l i gh t i n o n e o f t h e l ove ly o l d f a rm b ui l d i n gs
Ge orge’s b eauti ful g la s s h ou s e
the engine ho us e
o n e o f G e o rg e ’s f a b ul o us d e c o ra t i ve c o l um n s
location notes
We a re a lw ays on t h e h un t fo r intere sti ng l oc a ti o n s fo r o u r new col l e cti on ph o t o s h o o t s . This se a son we were l u c k y enou g h to sh oot a t t h e beau ti fu l N or fol k h o m e o f renow ne d g a rde n d es ign er, Geor g e C a r te r. We we re spoi l t fo r c h o ic e a t Silve r stone F a r m w it h t h e ru n of G e or g e ’s i m pe c c a b l e form a l g a rde ns, h is l ovely holid ay c otta g e a n d t h e s urro u ndi ng bu i l d in gs t h a t mad e u p th e or i g in a l fa rm. The Eng i ne H ou se, a c o u n t r y hous e i n m i ni a tu re, a l l owed u s to cre a te a se r i e s o f c o s y a n d warm si tti ng room s c en a r io s whils t th e ‘ pr i m a r ily green ’ g ard e n a c te d a s a wo n d erful ly rich ye t ne u tr a l b a c k d ro p fo r our ou tdoor i m a g es .
A l o n gs id e o u r gard en sh o t s, we p h o t o gr aph ed ext ensively in t h e l ovely t r ad it io nal f ar m b uil d in gs. H ere t h e mixt u re o f b ric k , powd er y plast er and m o t t l ed c o nc ret e walls h and fin is h ed by Geo r ge provid ed t h e mo st wo nd er f u l juxt ap osit io ns wit h o u r c ris p l in en and su mpt u o u s vel vet fabr ic s. A s a b ac k d ro p t o o u r a ut u mn/ w int er c o llec t io n, G eo rge’s gard en c o u ld n’t h ave b een mo re per fec t . I n s p ired by fo r mal gard ens o f t h e 17t h c ent u r y, it is a ga rd en o f arc h it ec t u r ally a rr a n ge d spac es wh ere ‘ c o l o ur is su bser vient ’ t o t h e s c ulpt u r al.
pink
‘of a colour intermediate between red and white, as of coral or salmon’
cushion talk ‘a s y mm etri cal cus hi on arrange me nts work ve r y we l l on s ofas to add d epth and inte re st. Mi x d if fe re nt s hap es , s i z es and te xtu re s within a t o na l p a l e t t e for an i nvi ti ng , conte mporar y look’
at the table
‘the t a u pe col our way i s a per fec t neutr al a nd is dis cre e tly u n d e r stated; ideal to offs e t j ewe l co l o u re d fr ui t, fl ower s and fo l i a g e ’
R i b b ed Hurri can e / Pi nk / L a r g e, B u bble G la s s Tum b l e r / P i n k / C l e a r, Versha Wave Plac em a t / Ta u p e, Ver s h a B orde r N ap k i n / Ta up e, Ve rs h a G eom et r i c N ap ki n / Ta u p e
a floor story
Cotton P r inted Rug / Taupe / Bl ue / G reen / Pi nk 1 2 0 x 1 8 0 cm L a ha r Wo ol Rug / Bl ue / G reen / Taupe / Pi nk R un n e r 8 0x240c m / Medium 120x180c m / L arge 1 7 0 x 2 4 0 cm
the new aubergine
La k a d e e Vase Lamp Base / L i ly Wh i t e, B loc k Pr i nt ed L a m p s h a d e / Ta up e 4 0 c m Wi re Be e h ive Voti ve / Taup e L a r g e, Ver s h a G eom et r i c C us h i o n / Ta up e 5 0 x 5 0 c m / 40 x 60cm, Versha Tooth Cu s h i on / Au ber g i ne / 40x 75c m / 6 0 x 6 0 c m Ve rs ha Ve l vet Tooth Floor Cu s h i ons / Ta u p e / Au ber g i n e 8 0 x 8 0 c m La h ar Wo o l Rug / Taupe 17 0x 240c m
Wire Beehive Votive / Taupe, Versha Geometric Tablecloth / Aubergine, Versha Wave Placemat / Aubergine, Versha Border Napkin / Aubergine
the abundant table ‘ a c el e b r a tor y ta b l e is th e per fec t o pp o r tun i ty to a d opt a pol ic y of ‘ m o re i s mo re ’ . The key to ac h ieving a n a bu n d a n t a n d d e cor a tive l ook with b o t h b a l a n ce a n d s ty l e i s to buil d th e lo o k i n l aye r s. On ce you h ave a t a bl e c l oth, r un n e r o r b are tabl e as a foun d a ti o n for your c ol our s s t a r t wi th the p l a ce se tt ing s and th en bu ild u p wa rd s . Fo r e x tr avag ant fl or al dis p l ay s we a lway s a dd c andl es l ast a s the se a re best tuc ked i n a mo n g st th e fol iag e’
Versha Geometric Cushion / Aubergine 50x50cm, Versha Velvet Tooth Cushion / Aubergine 60x60cm, Versha Velvet Tooth Cushion / Pale Pink 40x75cm
Wire Beehive Votive / Blue Large, Versha Velvet Tooth Cushion / Aubergine 60x60cm Versha Geometric Cushion / Taupe 50x50cm, Versha Velvet Tooth Cushion / Aubergine 40x75cm, Lahar Wool Rug / Taupe Large 170x240cm
with thanks George Carter / location g e o r g e c a r t e r g a r d e n s . c o. u k Beth Philpott / photography
BIRDIE FORTESCUE norfolk w w. b i r d i e f o r t e s c u e . c o . u k @birdiefortescue
autumn / winter 2018