Nostalgia Revisited

There is something intrinsically appealing about the patterns of bygone eras. Whether a blowsy chintz, a mattress-ticking stripe or even a quirky 1950s print, they stand for the opposite of today's fast-paced, mass-produced lifestyle, evoking a time when craftsmanship was, perhaps, a little more appreciated. Nostalgic pattern celebrates the hand-made and the individual, produced with love and care – a pieced quilt, a hand-blocked wallpaper, a needlepoint cushion cover. Stitching, knitting, printing, lace-making, crochet, weaving and other such time-consuming, traditional processes are the partners to this look, together with the use of charming, soft colours, often faded by time and wear.

Informal and easy-going, this is a look that is usually rather understated and, consequently, very comfortable to live with. It is not, however, necessarily an old-fashioned look. Although they can easily be used to create gently traditional interiors, the point about these nostalgic patterns is that they can also be reinterpreted in quite a modern way – by using fresh colourways, by juxtaposing them with pieces from other periods, or simply by paring everything down so that they become a focal point in a clean, minimal setting.

Nostalgic pattern evokes memories – real or imagined – of carefree living, of simple pleasures and happy times. It is utterly appropriate as a quintessentially English country or seaside look, though would be just as much at home in an American log cabin or a Scandinavian cottage, for example. It is pretty without being fussy, familiar without being predictable, and utilitarian without being dull.

What it never is, though, is showy, loud or hard-edged. The perfect complement to modest vernacular houses made from local materials, with log fires, small windows and low ceilings, nostalgic pattern can also be used to lessen the imposing nature of a grander home, or to soften a modern property, adding interest and personality to what may be otherwise bland or harsh features.