How Many Stripes Does it Take to Make Plaid

Have you seen it or is it just me, all indication points to plaid on the horizon, but before I begin, let’s start with stripes, since it takes several to make a plaid.

Stripes are classic have been around since early forms of decorative painting, but I’m always impressed in how they can be used in new ways for interior design. Just look at these examples.

Stripe chairs_Crate&Barrel_fall 2012 catalog, as seen on Slipcovers for your walls, casartblgo — Stripes take new form in furniture from Crate & Barrel

Stripes_Jean-Louis Deniot_Elle Decor 9-12, as seen on Slipcovers for your walls, casartblog — Specialized wallpaper with paint & plaster layered stripes by Jean-Louis Denoit Interior Design via Elle Décor, September 2012 issue

Jean-Louis Denoit Stripes via Elle Décor, as seen on Slipcovers for your walls, casarblog — Same width stripes conceived by Daniel Buren for Deniot via Elle Décor

Stripes - Denoit via Elle Decor, seen on Slipcovers for your walls, casartblog — Stripes that don’t stop by Denoit via Elle Décor

If you are already missing summer (fall is officially here) and you want a coastal look without all white, what can you do? Antonina van der Meer, the editor-in-chief for Coastal Living, was interviewed in the Washington Post’s Home Front (online chat) by Jura Konicus as saying, “Stripes give you a great coastal look…We also are big believers in slipcovers over here…[and] whitewashed wood…all lend a casual beachy flair.” In fact, aren’t those stripes that I see in the background?

When I saw these curtains, I thought are they stripes or are they plaid? The vertical folds over the stripes made me think they were plaid at first glance. Either way their design works and I think they make the perfect cross over between both.

Which leads me into plaid…I’m seeing it making a comeback — on the covers of fashion catalogs, furnishings and box-store ads to cite a few. Interior design often follows fashion, as my latest High Point Market books everything coming this fall is stemming from a fashion focus, with texture, graphic details, jewel tones, vintage and ethnic flavor. And get ready, although, I’m not a big fan, big cat animal prints are baaaaaaack! Hey, don’t get me wrong, I truly adore cats and if used sparingly, these prints can be done well but are often over used as a “fur-pas.” My suggestion, go with a style you like and that can be timeless, although, with Casart, you can always easily change your wallcovering whenever you want. Karen Robertson Tortoiseshell is one that fits the bill of high impact animal print without the big “MEOW.”

Now for plaid…

Plaid Crate & Barrel fall 2012 catalog on casartblog — Crate & Barrel’s new plaid collection

Plaid Trousers LL Bean, as seen on Slipcovers for your walls, casartblog — LL Beans’ Plaid Trousers. I could see getting a pair of these with this coat!

Target Plaid Ad, as seen on casartblog — Plaid is making a comeback and flying everywhere

Scottish Plaid via Traditional Home Oct 12 on casartblog — Plaid has a long history of Scottish Heritage, via Traditional Home Oct 2012

And if like these styles but you don’t want to be conventional, try something that Kelly Wearstler did in this example from Elle Décor’s September 2012 issue. Personally, the rooms are a little too dark for my taste but I certainly can appreciate the decorative effort with stripes and that real onyx fantastico is stunning and something I’d like to paint.

Oh, and if you want the answer to how many stripes does it take to make plaid? Well, at least two but as many as you want, overlapping in horizontal and vertical directions. With Casart you can make your own Burberry.