Matthew Williamson New Homes Collection
Award winning interior designer Matthew Williamson chats about being inspired by nature for his new homes collection, his love of painting and why creativity is his happy place.
Matthew Williamson seated on Majestic Peacock Duvet Cover Set (Red) €107.23, Leopard Rose Duvet Cover Set (pillows shown) €107.23, Kantha Indigo Bedspread €232.34, Cloud Mirror (Blue) €142.98, Ikat Pouffe (Red) €178.72, Planets Table Lamp (Blue) €77.45, Wild Garden Scented Candle €41.70, Leopard Print Cushion (Red) €59.57, DNA Leopard Cushion €59.57.
Famous for his flamboyant fashions on the catwalk, bold designs and feather peacock prints, interior designer Matthew Williamson says his latest collection feels like a lovely tick.
“If you were to say, ‘What would be your dream job?’ One would be the collaboration because I think it really sort of cements what I’ve been trying to do for a few years.
“It’s a solid proposition with a very respected, known brand,” says the Manchester-born designer.
It’s been two years in the making, “So a reasonably long, very enjoyable, creative process for me,” notes Williamson.
And it’s the largest designer homeware collaboration of its kind for John Lewis, with 90 artfully curated pieces spanning a variety of homewares, from cushions to bedding to mirrors and lighting – decorative, eclectic and joyful.
“The brief was really open to be honest,” reflects Williamson. “Obviously, I’ve been designing my whole adult life, and fashion into interiors more recently.”
He closed the chapter on his 20 year plus fashion career about seven years ago when he decided to take the leap and fully immerse himself in the world of interior design.
“So there’s quite a lot of history,” he continues. “There’s a sort of rich pot if you like, and I think it’s that they [John Lewis] were drawn to, as they recognised it’s quite a different DNA to their DNA. I think they saw I could bring a much more decorative element to the John Lewis table, if you like,” he observes.
The collection is inspired by the great outdoors, but also further afield. The 50-year-old, who lives with his partner Joseph Velosa and their daughter Skye in Mallorca, says he’s often drawn to different cultures and countries that have a very rich palette.
“You know, ornate decoration, so strangely or not, I decided with this collection to stay rooted here and therefore, look at what I started to say in my head was ‘doorstop design.’
“So whether that be a meadow or foraging in a hedgerow, or looking at a starlit sky at night, or the quintessential country garden, all those very sort of touch points of nature were my inspiration.” Williamson spent most of lockdown in Spain (where he lives) and designed the collection from there.
Alongside beautiful blooms, signature peacock prints, butterflies and floral meadows to inspire and leave a lasting impression, there’s also a focus on woodland themes, hacienda-style textiles and exuberant touches such as leopard print and exotic bedding sets.
“I’ve lived in Spain for six years now. So during that time, my work has definitely had a more shall we say, rustic approach. A more sort of authentic Spanish quality to it.
“If you’re going to generalise I would say India, Spain and England are the three consistent places in the world I look to for inspiration. I love the melting pot of those three countries.”
With the aim to create an artistic interplay between stand-out pieces and Williamson’s eclectic aesthetic, all the products (priced from €19 to €298) prompt a second look – and can effortlessly be introduced to existing schemes to elevate the everyday, or by combining colour with comfort.
“There’re two mirrors I love in particular,” says Williamson. “One’s like gilded peacock mirror. It’s sort of a gold frame. It’s pretty large scale and it has two ornately carved peacocks. So that’s a real statement piece that would elevate any space. It’s kind of grand, it’s a talking point. It’s a little bit whimsical – it’s definitely got a real character.”
L-R, Peacock Ikat Cushion (Teal) €77.45, DNA Butterfly Cushion €59.57, DNA Monkey Cushion €59.57, DNA Leopard Cushion €59.57, Planets Single Pendant (Green) €113.19, Planets 5 Light Pendant (Green) €268.09, Hedgerow Dark Duvet Set €107.23, Enchanted Garden Duvet Set (pillows shown), €107.23, Reactive Glaze Lamp Base €148.94, Ellwood Pleated Shade €95.32, Wild Cat Cushion, €77.45, Leopard Print Teal Cushion, €59.57
He says he also loves another mirror made out of a cast iron frame and finished in a glossy pillar box red.
“It’s made up of a sort of arrangement of twigs, metal twigs, and it’s such a cool, contemporary, modern piece. So those two mirrors are definitely on my list of things I want to have myself.”
“I’d probably say the lights as well. They’re these gorgeous domes, sort of spheres that you’d see in bars all around the world, quite classic glass domes. I reworked those into a mint green colouration and they’re also a favourite.”
And as he points out, then there’s the bedding within the collection, as well as lots of cushions and quilts and so on. “I definitely would have one of those printed bed sets to enliven a bedroom.”
Today, Williamson is slowly but surely building his portfolio and spends 50 per cent of his time on interior design projects, commercial and domestic, and the other half designing homeware goods. “Whether that be wallpapers with Osborne & Little or various other licenced partners I have across the homeware ranges,” he explains.
L-R Majestic Peacock Blue Duvet Set €107.23, Celestia Duvet Set (pillows shown) €107.23 Curvaceous Lamp Base (Teal) €102.78, Peacock Ikat Shade (Orange) €59.57, Planets 5 Light Pendant (Blue) €148.94, Cala Scented Candle €41.75, Leopard Print Teal Cushion €59.57, Peacock Ikat Cushion (Teal) €77.45, Matthew Williamson with Peacock Ikat Shade (Orange) €95.32, Reactive Glaze Lamp Base €148.94, DNA Leopard Cushion €59.57
The designer has also recently returned as a guest judge on Interior Design Masters, and a recent addition to the brand is his beautiful artwork on his website and online boutique,
Matthew Williamson Design, where he sells some of his paintings which he describes as, “Actually putting my paintbrush out as it were”.
Like most creatives, he finds it difficult to switch off when it’s time to relax. “The switch off button is not an easy button for me to find.” admits Williamson. “Not good at it at all. So it’s a good job I love what I do, because cliché as it might sound, I guess I’m relaxed when I’m working. “I love painting. I have a studio in Spain where I suppose that’s not necessarily work but it would be to paint, you know, creativity is my happy place.”
“So that’s going really well and I’m enjoying those pockets of time which are rare with a six-year-old. But when I can get time, that’s what I do to sort of tune off from work, but I am really busy. And there isn’t much downtime.”
The John Lewis + Matthew Williamson Homeware Collection is available now, visit johnlewis.com.
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