In mid-19th-century England, amid a crashing wave of increased mechanization, the Arts and Crafts movement was born. These days, advances like AI make steam engines seem quaint by comparison, but one thing remains the same: our collective longing for the art of the handmade. Here, we celebrate the makers, designers, and brands keeping the movement alive.
Set the Table
Schumacher’s Ashbee Botanical fabric and wallpaper create a calmingly verdant atmosphere. Tumblers, Kelly Wearstler for Serax. Flatware, Eichenlaub Cutlery from Roman and Williams Guild. Candlestick, Perla Valtierra. Pendant, Nickey Kehoe.
Francesco LagneseSchumacher’s new Craft Revival collection reinterprets the era’s hallmarks, with stylized botanicals and woodland motifs in cozy, Bloomsbury-esque hues. Pair with warm woods and handwoven fibers for a lushly enveloping effect.
Decorate
Is it the timeless pull of motifs drawn from nature, the balance of utility with subtle ornamentation, or the enduring quality of hand-hewn materials that make these Arts and Crafts–inspired finds so endlessly appealing? All of the above, we’d venture to guess.
Travel
With designer Fabrizio Casiraghi at the helm, London’s recently opened Grand Hotel Bellevue feels every bit as intimate as the Victorian-era private residence it once was, with one-of-a-kind antiques, thoughtfully detailed upholstery, and warmly hued textiles filling each of its 60 rooms. From $230 a night, grandhotelbellevuelondon.com.
Visit
One of William Morris’s closest friends and collaborators, Emery Walker was an English engraver, photographer, and printer who helped establish the art of modern typography. His London residence, now a house museum, is a splendidly preserved example of Arts and Crafts design, featuring original Morris & Co. wallpaper, rugs, textiles, and more. For more information, visit emerywalker.org.uk.
Accessorize
From basketry to weaving to embroidery, ages-old handcrafts are being revived by modern makers in ways that feel both familiar and fresh. Embracing imperfection is part of the appeal—because in an age of mass-manufactured goods, a human touch makes all the difference.
Design
For proof that good design is forever, look no further than the work of these present-day designers breathing new life into Arts and Crafts motifs. The key to creating a mood that’s more of-the-moment than historic reproduction? Simplified shapes, offbeat hues, and a dash of global influence.
HEIDI CAILLIER
Perhaps it’s the Pacific Northwest’s famously drizzly weather that makes the Seattle-based decorator’s projects—like this San Francisco living room shaded in warm blush—the aesthetic equivalent of curling up with a cup of English Breakfast tea in front of a warm fire.
BEN PENTREATH
Ben Pentreath’s modern-day take on Arts and Crafts eclecticism has made him one of Britain’s most in-demand designers. (Check out his upcoming book, An English Vision: Traditional Architecture and Decoration for Today.)
HADLEY WIGGINS
Based on Long Island’s North Fork, Hadley Wiggins has a keen eye for unique vintage finds, timeless pattern, and era-spanning shapes that infuse her work with a soulful sense of history.
NICKEY KEHOE
A 1920s Spanish-style home in the Hollywood Hills gets an infusion of Arts and Crafts flair in this space by the Los Angeles design duo, who mix old and new with expert ease.
THIS ARTICLE ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN VOLUME 13 OF FREDERIC MAGAZINE. CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE!
