Discover the new brand bringing charm, cheer and a global point of view to the world of interiors
WICKLEWOOD CUSHIONS AND BEDSPREADS STYLED BY LUCY BARLOW. IMAGE: JON BOND PHOTOGRAPHY
The beauty of colour, when done well, is that it can bring even the most unremarkable space to life. The drabbest beige rental can become the kind of welcoming home that simultaneously puts a smile on visitors’ faces and has them asking where you got your cushions.
But which colours go together? How do you mix prints? And will they work if you find yourself moving house? The choices can overwhelm, which is where our new favourite homewares brand, Wicklewood, comes into its own. Set up by Caroline Downing Nadel in 2015 when she moved back to London after living in New York, Wicklewood was launched out of Caroline’s frustration at the limited choice of affordable homewares which could work in multiple ways.
CAROLINE DOWNING NADEL AND ROSIE AXFORD MET AT SCHOOL AND LAUNCHED WICKLEWOOD TO OFFER AFFORDABLE HOMEWARES WHICH COULD WORK IN MULTIPLE WAYS
Having moved eight times in 10 years, Caroline wanted stylish, transportable homewares that could make a house a home, so she decided to design her own. Caroline’s graphic designer school friend Rosie Axford joined Wicklewood in 2017 and together they launched the business, running a truly international brand from their homes in London and LA.
“Today, more and more people are settling down later, creating an era of modern nomads,” says Caroline. “With the world as their address, they seek a space that reflects their style and feels like home. So, we’ve crafted a curated collection of décor made to move with you — focusing on design statements that transform simple spaces in an instant.”
And transform they do. From cushions to rugs, to dog beds, to beautiful decorative finishing touches; the pieces add individuality and style and all work seamlessly together, so you can mix and match to your heart’s content. Rosie tells us more….
CAROLINE DOWNING NADEL’S LONDON SITTING ROOM’S NEUTRAL BACKDROP IS BROUGHT TO LIFE BY WICKLEWOOD’S BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL SOFT FURNISHINGS AND CERAMICS
What sets Wicklewood apart from other interiors brands?
We’re different because we design for the modern nomad, and help you shop that way too. We’re inspired by three generations of women who are all passionate about textiles, design and individuality. The first is Caroline’s great, great grandmother – the renowned Guatemalan textile collector Lilly de Jongh Osborne, whose collection of textiles inspired our inaugural range of designs, influenced by classic weaving motifs from Guatemala. The second is Caroline’s mother, Liz Downing, and her business partner, Anne Dubbs, who launched the iconic British fabric and wallpaper company Blithfield 20 years ago and whose fabrics can be seen throughout the Wicklewood range. And finally, our own personal experiences travelling the globe and moving from home to home.
FROM CUSHIONS TO CERAMICS AND LAMPSHADES, WICKLEWOOD’S PIECES CAN TRANSFORM A SPACE IN AN INSTANT. IMAGE: JON BOND PHOTOGRAPHY
Where are your products made?
All Wicklewood products are ethically produced globally from Guatemala to India and back to the UK. We design our collection in our studio in London and work with expert artisans around the world who use classic textile techniques to bring our designs to life. We work with a women’s cooperative in Guatemala who weave ikats on backstrap looms; craftspeople in India who hand block print our quilts and hand weave our rugs, and women in the UK who turn our fabrics into beautiful final products you see online and in store at Liberty.
WICKLEWOOD CUSHIONS AND INLAY TRAYS STYLED BY WILLOW CROSSLEY. IMAGE: JON BOND PHOTOGRAPHY
What are the key interiors pieces that make a house a home?
We believe that whether you live in a flat on the fourth floor or a house with four floors, these four simple design statements can transform your home: colourful throw cushions, bold area rugs, beautiful bedding, one-of-a-kind global accents.
All our pieces are made to move with you, whether that’s from room to room, or house to house. They are small enough to move easily, but bold enough to make a big impact. It’s design that evolves as you do.
WICKLEWOOD’S QUILTS ARE HAND BLOCK PRINTED BY ARTISANS IN INDIA, WHILE THE CUSHIONS ARE MADE IN ENGLAND
What’s the Wicklewood way to use colour and print in the home?
We describe our style as eclectic chic – playful yet elegant. We spend a huge amount of our time colourway testing to ensure that all the colours within each collection compliment one another. This means we can get really playful with mixing patterns as we know the colours will work well together. When it comes to mixing patterns we really have no rules, but focus on the colours within.
We usually advise customers to start by cherry-picking their favourite piece and then drawing out colours from this piece to create a full look. For example, if you take our signature Caballo cushion (see below), you can see how the colours in this cushion change dramatically when placed next to other pieces. By starting with the piece you love you can then build out a larger collection that compliments your central piece, and the room in question, perfectly.
WICKLEWOOD’S OVERSIZED CABALLO CUSHION WORKS WITH A GREAT VARIETY OF COMBINATIONS
Discover more at Wicklewood and see more of our Brands We Love…
