DREAM TEAMS

Drawing inspiration from vintage prints, far-flung travels and even an affinity for taupe, three interior collaborations launched this month bring fresh creativity to home design

- BECKY DONALDSON

JOHN LEWIS X COLLAGERIE

Lucinda Chambers and Serena Hood, cofounders of shopping platform Collagerie, have collaborated with John Lewis’s in-house team to create an 86-piece collection celebrating vibrant patterns and bold colours.

It draws inspiration from the department store’s extensive archive, featuring more than 35,000 prints – some dating back 170 years.

These long-forgotten designs have been brought back to life across lighting, tableware, wallpaper, bed linen, cushions and nightwear.

Here, Lucinda – Collagerie’s creative director, former fashion director at British Vogue and a mother of three – shares her insights into the creative process.

Lucinda, what were your experiences with John Lewis before creating the collection?

“Everyone has their Peter Jones and John Lewis story. Even when I worked at Vogue, I would go there every day. There’s always a time in your life when John Lewis is very important and there’s no part of the UK that isn’t touched by it.”

When creating the collection, did you have a target customer in mind?

“I didn’t set out to create products for any one person or room – these looks naturally evolved and grew as we created the pieces.

“I love that there’s a colour anchoring each room; that gives you the chance to play with the pattern more.”

Do you have a favourite piece?

“The bedspread. It’s like a quilt and an eiderdown, and what’s brilliant is that there is a different print on each side. The quality of the fabric is wonderful and the print is a favourite as it involves green.”

How long did it take to delve through the archive?