Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Lusting after Laura Ashley

Never thought I would use the words Laura Ashley and Lust in the same sentence, but alas it’s true.

 



To be honest when I hear the words Laura Ashley I think of florals and matching outfits. When I was little I grew up in Manhattan and right near our apt was the  South Street Seaport, which had a Laura Ashley store. I always remember seeing the matching mother/daughter outfits with the matching window treatments and wallpaper in the windows and thinking I’ll never want a thing from in there.

 



Eating my words now. Don’t get me wrong I’m not running out with my mom to pick out outfits, but I wouldn’t mind  bringing a little Laura Ashley into my life.

 



Tilbury Lapis to be exact.

 



It works nicely in a texture filled, rustic home full of neutrals by Healing Barsanti via House Beautiful.

 



 



Used as a headboard in A Single Man the ikat fabric just oozes glam.



 



One of my favorite uses of this fabric is in a Domino favorite room. The room is a bit preppy, a bit modern and a bit global with the same touch of Tilbury in Lapis.



 



While it is a to the trade fabric I was able to find it online here for only $42.98 a yard.

 



Click to enlarge

 



I searched high and low for a look alike. While I couldn’t find an exact one this one from LS FABRICS had the same shape IKAT and similar colorings just in different places. Plus it’s only $12.98 a yard!

 



Khandar

 



What’s currently on your must have list? Any Laura Ashley prints making a reappearance in your home?

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25 Comments:

Blogger Katie @ Noodle and Boof said...

Love that first room!

February 23, 2010 at 12:22 PM  
Blogger Dreams of Perfection said...

Glam doesn't even begin to described that headboard..HOT DANG! Never have I seen ikat as glam until I saw that headboard. WOW WOW WOWZA. I'm totally swooning over it.

February 23, 2010 at 12:24 PM  
Blogger Averill said...

Wow I haven't thought about Laura Ashley since the '80s -- and we not only had matching mother-daughter outfits but mother-daughters outfits (though sometimes my sister wore the blue version and I wore the pink). But that print is great -- a very friendly color palette and the ikat is right on trend. Thanks for the tip!

February 23, 2010 at 12:37 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Very pretty! I've seen a very simular ikat mre muted version at Calico Corners

February 23, 2010 at 12:39 PM  
Anonymous Jami said...

Great finds! I love that fabric! And the upholstered headboard!

February 23, 2010 at 1:14 PM  
Blogger Design Esquire said...

Love it! I never would have thought it was from Laura Ashley.

February 23, 2010 at 1:50 PM  
Blogger Susie @ Maddie G Designs said...

I went to all girls schools until high school....Laura Ashley conjures up some nice images of 1/2 my wardrobe. Thank godness my mom wouldn't buy me the bubble pants LA jumpers!

These are beautiful selections. I am off to see more.

February 23, 2010 at 1:58 PM  
Blogger bluehydrangea said...

I can't believe that is Laura Ashley...she sure got hip!

February 23, 2010 at 2:03 PM  
Blogger Fargerike Dagny said...

I actually love Laura Ashley. My livingroom wallpaper is by LA as well as some amazing table lamps I have (so not frumpy!)

Haven't seen the fabric before, but I'm really really digging it! :D

February 23, 2010 at 3:13 PM  
Blogger Laurie from Laurie Jones Home said...

I have been loving ikat for awhile and these fabrics are amazing, it doesn't surprise me to see Laura Ashley is making a coming back especially since floral prints have been hot in the fashion world for a few years now. It's so refreshing to see florals, stripes, and all types of patterns, it reflects the times I think!

February 23, 2010 at 3:42 PM  
Anonymous Laura@JourneyChic said...

I love that fabric! I was obsessed with Laura Ashley when I was young. My 8th grade graduation dress was quite the number, with giant flowers that looked better on a 1950's couch than it did on me. And don't get me started on the bedding! It adorned my bed in college all four years. http://journeychic.com/2009/09/28/dorm-style-my-freshman-room-revisited/

February 23, 2010 at 5:08 PM  
Anonymous ABC Dragoo said...

One of my favorite jumpers was from LA when I was a girl. Overall-esque, with billowy legs, buttons up the front and a fabric tie on each pocket in the front.

My mom bought all the "poppy" fabric to make me a Laura Ashley quilt, because we couldn't afford to buy the pre-made one at the time. I still have the squares, promising myself that one day I will finish that quilt! ;)

Thanks for the blast from the past.
ABCD

February 23, 2010 at 5:17 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

leave it to you to make me rethink my aversion to all things laura ashley. that ikat would match my blog header quite nicely, don't you think?

February 23, 2010 at 5:28 PM  
Blogger LindsB said...

I would have never guessed that was a Laura Ashley fabric!

February 23, 2010 at 8:13 PM  
Blogger KSK said...

I had no clue that fabric is Laura Ashley. What a shocker! I've loved it since seeing it as accent pillows on the Domino twin bed pic too :)

February 23, 2010 at 10:58 PM  
Blogger Fran said...

Love the LS fabric you chose! Think it is the same fabric used in this kids' bedroom featured in Southern Living: http://www.southernliving.com/home-garden/idea-houses/southern-living-georgia-idea-house-childrens-bed-bathroom-00400000050972/

February 23, 2010 at 11:44 PM  
Anonymous Bailey @ peppermintbliss said...

I am LOVING this ikat, I want to use a similar colorway ikat from Brunschwig that I thought was out of our budget until I found the fabric we wanted to use in our bedroom marked down from $150 to $30 a yard. I think YOU of all people can imagine the happy dance that was done. Sooo now it looks like a little splurge might just be possible!

February 24, 2010 at 10:08 AM  
Blogger Marija said...

Not at all what I expect from Laura Ashley! Great pattern and I love the green and yellow together! marija

February 24, 2010 at 4:46 PM  
Blogger Laura said...

Ha! This post gave me a good laugh. I definitely remember all the chintzy Laura Ashley stuff in the 80s. It holds a special place in my heart because my given middle name (before I was married) was Ashley, making me Laura Ashley! My parents SWEAR they didn't know about the brand until after I was born. . . although my mom was a big fan of their drapery and bedding collections, and I definitely had a pink-and-white-floral bedroom from age 10 until high school. (I loved it, too, by the way. So girly!)

This past year for my birthday, my mom gave me (as a joke) a copy of Laura Ashley's Complete Guide to Home Decorating, published in 1989. She found it at a thrift store for 75 cents. It's like a time capsule! Really takes me back. Loooooots of ruffles! Maybe I'll post some photos. . .

February 24, 2010 at 6:02 PM  
Blogger Laura said...

By the way, I should have said: I just found your blog recently and it's great! Thanks for all the inspiration.

February 24, 2010 at 6:19 PM  
Blogger bazaarofserendipity said...

great post! ive been dreaming about this fabric also, ever since i saw that headboard.

www.bazaarofserendipity.blogspot.com

February 24, 2010 at 7:02 PM  
Blogger SpryOnTheWall said...

I LOOOOVE that Laura Ashley fabric - I dream of it ;o)

February 24, 2010 at 10:02 PM  
Blogger No.35style said...

this appears to be the same fabric?! http://www.calicocorners.com/product/designer+fabrics+for+the+home/shop+fabrics+by+color/aqua+and+teal+fabric/tilbury+lapis.do

March 15, 2010 at 3:18 PM  
Blogger 72 and sunny said...

hey, I just had new curtains made for my living room out of this! I'm dreaming up what the walls will be. Gray or a pale blue....hmmmm

July 13, 2010 at 6:34 PM  
Anonymous Julie said...

omg! i just found 3 yards of this fabrics for $5/yard on a haphazard remnant table. truly a gem and I can't wait to come up with a fun project for it.

November 8, 2010 at 1:18 PM  

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