St Leger & Viney managing director and owner Gary Searle was in Durban recently. He shared some of the delights and discoveries of his recent travels, which all seem to point to the return of English country charm, writes Omeshnie Naidoo.
There are about 29 000 flowers in the garden outside Buckingham Palace.
There’s no doubt the royal nuptials – arguably one of television’s biggest events in 2011 – have drawn the world’s gaze to fall upon Britain and all things British this year.
With gardening being such a strong aspect of their culture, it’s no wonder the Brits are putting on their best, beguiling the fashion world and driving trends in décor.
Searle said the prevailing zeitgeist was reflected in gardening. “At the moment it’s about all things nostalgic. The English countryside is awash with colour and people are grouping together the beautiful things that they love.”
Floral, he says, is back in a big way, often with oversized flowers and a distinctly contemporary edge.It’s the florals of the 1860s and 1940s and the look is based on comfort.
In the past it was brown, now it is grey teamed with whites and silvers or soft pastel grey with florals. Naturals continue with plums and pinks, green and yellow and blue.
Think of the recent Ralph Lauren ad campaigns based entirely on English style, layering, detail, romance and the treasuring of things from the past.
We’ve gone from the brown, leather and chenille to the much more feminine and delicate.
Antiques will have increased importance
In the Southern hemisphere there is a craze for embroidered textiles and items of provenance such as African art.
The arts and craft movement is also going through a revival.
The home this year is about the distilled essence of wholesome country life, represented in elements of harmony and symmetry – a place that is appealing when life is chaotic.
Searle says in South Africa we tend to remove the layers of time, to over-restore, whereas the trend at present is a look that is not over-polished.
These are interiors of integrity and honesty as they have a sense of age, he says. - The Mercury