Each Autumn, Graham & Brown the UK’s leading wallpaper and paint specialist, announces its Design of the Year and Colour of the Year, As we look to the future, and the world becomes more aware of the impact humans are having on our planet, we are mindful of the decisions we make and their repercussions. With that in mind, the in-house design studio has chosen to bring life and colour to long-forgotten pieces in the Graham & Brown archive, focusing on recycling and rejuvenation.
The 2023 Design of the Year FLORENZIA, and Colour of the Year ALIZARIN fall in line with the Flawsome trend. Developed from embracing the differences and imperfections of everything, the Flawsome trend celebrates the unique qualities found in our individuality. This can be shown through upcycling and restoration, bringing beauty to previously hidden objects and giving them a second life. The Design of the Year has been adapted from a historic Graham & Brown design, bringing colour and life to a previously lost piece of art. The Flawsome trend creates a melting pot for multicultural references, with an all-inclusive nature that allows us to be unapologetically ourselves.
GRAHAM & BROWN DESIGN OF THE YEAR 2023:
FLORENZIA DUSK
This year’s design, FLORENZIA Dusk, features a variety of traditional florals trailing through the artwork. The antique design has been re-worked with textures and a loose hand. painted finish to create a more relaxed, lived-in style with a unique twist. This, teamed with the vibrant shots of colour, create an upcycled rework of a traditional archival piece. The colours are friendly and welcoming, creating a neutral and affectionate feature that can also be bold and creative. The deep navy tones introduce depth to the design, whilst the use of golden and rusty hues add a playful pop of colour.
The Design of the Year FLORENZIA, is available as WALLPAPER, WALL MURAL, made to measure CURTAINS, and BLINDS, CUSHIONS and new to 2022, BED LINEN.
Florenzia is available in three other colour ways, in addition to Dusk is the vibrant Botanico, moody Nightshade, and opulent Terrazzo, Florenzia Botanico is the brightest design, tinted with vivid blues, reds and yellows. Florenzia Nightshade is mysterious and full of depth, with lilac and plum tones running through the design. Finally, Florenzia Terrazzo encompasses a rich background with bright pops of florals bringing a playful nature to the design. Each design is available as wallpaper, made to measure wall mural, made to measure curtains and blinds, cushions and bed linen.
Head of Design, Maryanne Cartwright comments,
“When creating our Design of the Year 2023 we really wanted to highlight the great value in bringing back the past, recycling and reworking old designs to continue their relevance and ensure that they continue to live on. The Florenzia design symbolises the restoration of historical beauty and celebrating bringing new life and colour into an artwork that has been carefully selected from our archives, The rework to change this old-style master to a modern design that works across wallpaper, mural, soft furnishings, and bed linen has inspired the design team to explore some unique colour compositions. The vibrant shots of colour have upcycled this traditional archive piece and breathed new life into an inclusive friendly and welcoming colour palette.
When choosing our Colour of the Year, we continued to follow the Flawsome Trend, recognise the past and understanding its relevance for the future. This deep and moody hue embodies the best russet reds and spicy terracotta shades, highlighting the beauty found in natural earthy tones. In the studio we enable this by seeing the beauty in items that would be discarded and making them shine again, creating a bespoke and special object. As the future can often be unsettling and uncertain, we find comfort in looking back, reimagining how something from the past can offer a soothing presence in the future.”
GRAHAM & BROWN COLOUR OF THE YEAR 2023:
ALIZARIN
To complement the Florenzia Dusk wallpaper design, Graham & Brown has announced its Colour of the Year 2023: ALIZARIN.
A deep and moody, yet refreshingly warm auburn hue, the Colour of the Year 2023 has been conscientiously curated to create an inviting living space. Alizarin is an affectionate and all-embracing hue, dark enough to bring colour and depth to a space, yet synonymously, it is a naturally uplifting and inspiring shade that provides a creative alternative to the grey and beige shades that have grown wearisome. Named after the pigment derived from the Rubia plant species that was historically used as dye throughout the world, this rich red transports us to ancient and exotic lands. It can be used in small spaces to create a cocooning effect or in larger rooms to transform the space into an opulent abode.
Like all Graham & Brown paint, Alizarin is and eco paint, it is water-based, odourless and low VOC, resulting in a more environmentally friendly product. The paint cans are fully recyclable and there is no animal testing involved in any Graham & Brown products.
DESIGN AND COLOUR OF THE YEAR 2023
STYLING:
Paula Taylor, Head Stylist, shares her styling tips for the 2023 range:
“The rise of earthly neutrals has been growing recently. They are warm and welcoming, providing the cosy feel we love in our homes. With energy bills getting higher, we are looking at ways we can evoke a sense of warmth in our homes and these tones and their connection with nature, create a warm, relaxed atmosphere.
Pairing the Florenzia design with rich ochre and rust hues such as Alizarin, will bring a warmth to any room and wooden furniture pieces with unglazed ceramics will add to this naturally cosy feel. We like to pair this with painted architectural highlights, to create a truly modern, fresh feel, contradicting the antique retro style and creating a brand-new look for the design.
When thinking tactilely, you can pair this with velvets, corduroy, jute or rattan to create a sensory delight. The Florenzia design utilizes the rich warm colours against a midnight backdrop that creates a vibrant modern palette to inspire the creativity in all of us.”
DESIGN OF THE YEAR 2023: FLORENZIA DUSK
COLOUR OF THE YEAR 2023: ALIZARIN
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