I have a craving for rich, decisive color and complex, eye-intriguing patterns when winter winds fell the last of the leaves and gray skies are more prevalent than clear. That is the whole point of winter decorating, to use color and pattern to inject some life and spirit into your decor, whether decorating for the holidays or the dark, dreary months that follow.
A stylish and classic jolt of pleasing pattern and cheery color can easily be provided by the use of toile. Pronounced 'twall,' this fabric has enjoyed increasing popularity since its invention in the early-18th century when cotton-and-linen fabric was first printed using engraved copper plates depicting domestic scenes, exotic locales, historic incidents and fantastical botanicals.
Toiles were originally printed in a single color because the copper-engraved plates could only be covered with a single mordant or dye-fixative. The complex story-telling engravings did not lend themselves to a repeat stamping and application of color. But it didn't matter. The colors themselves were rich and vibrant, the patterns sharply etched and detailed. The fabric became the rage.
The finest examples of it were made in the late-18th century at a factory in Jouy-en-Josas, France. Ultimately, the style of fabric itself began to be called "toile-de-Jouy," after the French factory town. Later, multicolored toiles were created by adding color with wood blocks after the engravings were pressed, but the ones I prefer are the more traditional, single-colored toiles — chocolate brown, cherry red, amethyst or indigo on a white or creamy background.
The popularity of toile has had its peaks and valleys over several centuries but right now it is on a definite high. It seems toiles are appearing everywhere, not just on the usual table and bed linens, wall coverings and window treatments. Now you can find toile on lampshades, tissue boxes, bulletin boards and wastebaskets. Furniture makers are hand-painting or decoupaging toile designs on dresser fronts, armoires, headboards, high chairs and on table tops. Apparel fashion has also gotten into the act with toile slacks, blouses, handbags and pajamas.
What I love about toile is also what I love about books, the fabric tells a story. The ones that I find most exciting and interesting are the historic toiles, the ones that depict actual events or commemorate, much like a monument would do, history's heroes and legends. I've seen toiles honoring the American founding fathers, decisive battles in the French and American revolution-
ary wars, or, from more modern times, toiles printed with scenes from the first balloon and airplane flights, or commemorating Charles Lindbergh's crossing of the Atlantic.
It seems that some people are a little intimidated using toile in their home decor because they imagine that toile has to be used as an all-or-nothing design statement. Indeed, there are toile rooms, where an entire space is dressed-headboard, bed covers, shams, bed skirt, curtains and walls-in a matching toile. This is generally characterized as a French toile treatment as opposed to the more timid English habit of using bits of toile as part of a more balanced whole — a toile covered sofa with color coordinated curtains and side chairs but not all matched.
Some people, like myself, are in love with toile and use it whenever possible, not worrying if the toiles match in motif or color. In my kitchen, for instance, I recently slipcovered the chairs around our rustic pine breakfast table in a black and white commemorative toile. Mismatched red toile pillows provide further cushioning and encourage leisurely meals. In the living room I have several brown-and-white toile patterned pillows with the design printed on a matelasse fabric. Toile bedspreads on matching twin beds create a harmonious whole in the guest bedroom, while a different toile wallpaper lines the shelves in the built-in cupboard.
During the holidays, toile prints, especially in holiday colors of red, green, purple or blue, are a festive option for Christmas tree skirts, floor-length table covers, paper or ribbon for the wrap or stockings on the mantle. A toile placement under the punch bowl, toile pot holders to carry out the turkey or toile table runners festooned with tea lights and candles are all happy alternatives to traditional holiday themes of Santas, trees, snowflakes and stars.
New Year's festivities could also be enhanced with toile designs. Toile napkins would add a gala touch around the champagne bottle, lining a tray or breadbasket, or place a stack of them at the cocktail table. A framed toile panel could greet guests in an entrance hall or add romance to a powder room.
After the holidays, keep the toile skirted table, extra pillows and throws and the toile touches to add a needed dash of color and a pattern to puzzle over, decipher and discuss during cozy winter evenings at home.
In the meantime, Merry Christmas toile and toile a good night.
Chris Casson Madden, host of the Home & Garden Television show "Interiors by Design," is also author of 14 books, including the newly released "Bedrooms," Clarkson Potter Publishers.