Guest Picks: Weave In the Tapestry Trend
Give your home decor the look of woven wonders even if you don't want a real stitch in sight
Noelani Zervas
January 23, 2013
Interiors, styling, curating cool stuff / mom to Niko & Daphne / Boston & Nantucket
Interiors, styling, curating cool stuff / mom to Niko & Daphne / Boston & Nantucket... More
Whether woven for a wall hanging, chair, towel or tote, tapestries are having a fashionable moment. Tapestries' weft and woven roots came to life during the 15th century with skilled Flemish artisans tending the loom, and they have withstood the test of time. Now en vogue again, there are both antique collectables and modern interpretations at the ready. And at a fraction of the price: In 1515 the Vatican spent more than five times as much for 10 tapestries to line the walls of the Sistine Chapel than Michelangelo was paid three years earlier for his ceiling fresco. From the latest kitchen accessories to sculptures, you can find an easy way to incorporate some into your home and life. — Lani from Mon Petit Chou Chou
This sitting room by Joel Kelly Design lets the tapestry shine with neutral colors around it. I don't usually like a muted palette like this, but it allows the tapestry to be the focus — and rightly so.
This Gilded Tapestry place setting by Lenox is a modern take on classic woven patterns. I love the muted tones and earthy colors, which would be a perfect match for my dining room.
Frédérique Morrel gives tapestry a whole new funky life. Animal heads, antlers and horns are everywhere in home decor, but I have never seen anything quite like this. Each hand-crafted piece is one of a kind — and comes with a price tag to match.
The Bron armchair is hand-carved and upholstered in spun wool Aubusson. I scored my own tapestry chair from Skinner Antiques and Auctions this year for a steal.
This brocade parrot pillow is a riot of color, flora and fauna. It is sure to fit in any room. I would love to add this to my newly renovated study.
This set of French framed tapestry cartoons makes for a unique and artful wall grouping. The pattern reminds me of my bedroom screen, and these would make a lovely quad hanging over a dresser.
Echoing Jean-Honoré Fragonard's painting "The Swing", this vintage 1920s French tapestry is an affordable way to hang a classic in your home.
Tapestry dish towels, times three, from Anthropologie give you a color for every kitchen.
A tapestry in a bathroom? It's certainly one of the last places I would expect to find one, which makes it simply all the better.
Each woven ottoman from HW Home is unique and made from a one-of-a-kind kilim rug.
This tapestry-inspired throw would be a lovely addition to a cozy reading nook or couch. It's perfect for snuggling up with my pups.
I am not usually a fan of modifying antique trunks from their original states, but in this case, I will make an exception. This French trunk covered in an antique paisley tapestry would look smashing at the end of a bed or in the entryway.
Australian designer Suzie-Stanford (known for her jewelry collections at Paul Smith) has embarked on a new and wonderful project. She has been collecting discarded tapestries that she then snips, sews and magically turns into haphazard, expertly upholstered works of art. C'est magnifique!
This tapestry-inspired tray from artist Robin King features a little lamb. I love the patina and crackle finish. It is rustic, charming and perfect for serving up some tea or for hanging in a nursery.
Oh la la, French lovers seem to be a recurring tapestry theme. This oval platter displays a fetching couple engaging in a picnic and some amour. Each one is made to order.
This quirky red room is an eclectic juxtaposition of modern, antique, coral, zebra and tapestry. It's just the kind of room that I would be totally at home in, and I would love to have in my own space.
This Regency-style settee is upholstered in an 18th century tapestry. The final effect is absolutely stunning.
Jonathan Adler's J'accuse needlepoint pillows are modern and quirky. They don't strictly interpret classical tapestries, but they are just too fun to ignore. A pair of these would be too perfect on a bed, one for the left and one for the right.
This is antique and perfect for my living room. My husband and I have been on the hunt for a tapestry for some time, and this one is a beauty.
Splitting a pair of lovers on a tapestry-covered deer is bizarre and fabulous at the same time.
The muted tones of the Colette rug would perfectly complement my bedroom. It may be time to upgrade.
This handmade French silk tapestry pillow from Richard Rothstein and Co. looks like it came straight out of Versailles. It's utterly feminine and sweet.
The Etsy shop Queen Decor is well stocked with vintage fabrics that are perfect for your own DIY project.
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LOVE the Suzie-Stanford chair (inspired to copy using up my own fabric remnants), and that Regency settee is actually a Louis XV settee.