Interview with Birdie:
Creating Wanderings

Birdie Fortescue - The Wanderings Collection

Q What was the inspiration behind the new collection?

BF For the first time I’ve taken inspiration from lots of different sources. This collection takes ideas from Eastern European folk art, Arts & Crafts textiles, English cottage interiors and a whole host of different countries

Q Has designing this collection been a different experience due to the pandemic?

BF Absolutely. Ordinarily my travels form the basis of each collection so there’s usually a strong connection to one geographic location. This is why globetrotting from my desk at home has been such a departure for me! But a good one I think - this is definitely a strong collection

Q We can probably guess but where did the name of the collection come from?

BF I’m sure you can! Wanderings relates to the fact that inspiration has come from all over the globe in a very meandering, organic way. It’s also quite ironic as no actual wandering took place at all!

Q Tell us about the look

BF Wanderings is made up of lots of different layers of block prints, embroideries and textures. The idea is that it looks authentic and eclectic however you style it. There basically isn’t a wrong way to put the pieces together! This is something that our customers really appreciate as it makes it so effortless to choose pieces and add them to a room

Q Do you have a favourite print?

BF I love our Ilex print - it has turned into such an elegant and contemporary interpretation of an Arts and Crafts design. It also works so well on cushions and table linens so is incredibly versatile

Q How did the design process work?

BF As we were in the grips of the pandemic at the time I started all of the inspiration work at home. Once I’d collated my key ideas and influences I sent them on to my design team. We then took to Zoom to start working on key motifs within the seasonal colour palettes (these are decided months in advance).

All of the designs are sketched out by hand before being drawn up on the computer. It’s these final drawings that are then sent on to our wonderful makers in India.

Q Is there anything completely new in this collection?

BF Yes! Our fabulous new furniture range. This is the very first time that we have produced our own collection of furniture and it has been incredibly well received so far which is so gratifying. I based all of the pieces (chairs, side tables, hall tables and coffee tables) on one of my favourite mid-century antiques. It was a very stylish table with the most elegant tapered legs that I wish I hadn’t sold! I used the basic form and structure of this piece as the basis for the collection. Unlike the original all of our pieces are painted in rich colours to give them a contemporary edge.

Sustainability was key to the purpose of this range. All of the tables are handmade by skilled furniture makers right here in Norfolk so no air miles to speak of! Their workshop is right next to the river Wensum - hence the name of the collection!

Q If you could choose one hero piece what would it be?

BF Such a hard question! It would probably have to be one of the pieces of furniture - I’m particularly pleased with the bedside tables.

Whether you are a dab hand with a brush or planning to get someone in, here are a few ideas of ways to enhance your space using our new paints.

Color swatches labeled with names from 'Birdie Fortescue' collection by Fenwick & Tilbrook.

Dining table setting with floral arrangement, candles, and plates in a room with a framed artwork on the wall.

Light and dark

Console table with decorative items against a green wall with floral artwork

This is a classic look for two reasons. Aesthetically speaking, splitting your wall into two distinct shades of light and dark – in this case, Nar above and Bure below – creates a sense of height and space in the room. The darker tone helps to ground the room while the brighter shade creates lightness and lifts the eye. From a practical perspective, the darker colour on the dado rail and wainscoting is also more forgiving for the wear and tear that our homes endure. It is also a very effective way to showcase paler coloured items of furniture like our Marble Top Crackle Console Table. We used our Coloured Wall Lights to link the lighter wall back to the rich tones of our Varuna Hand Tufted Trellis Wool Rug.

Handy hint: Rather than testing a paint colour directly on your walls, apply it to an A4-sized sheet of art card. That way you can audition the colour around your room and see how it changes with the light. You can also hold the painted card against your existing furnishings to test how they work together – and take the colour out with you when shopping for the room.

Beyond the pale

For those who think pale colours are a bit too safe or dull, please think again. For when used correctly they can create a wonderful space that is both warm and engaging. Here we have embraced the lightness, by using a combination of our Waveney paint above and Tud below. These hues provide a calm backdrop against which exquisite patterns like our Dumaloq Suzani can truly shine. The icing on the cake in this scheme is the sophisticated stripe of our Felipe Border pasted directly above the dado rail. Notice how it picks up on the accent colours within the Namda Felted Rug, and our Lattice Crewel Work Cushion.

Handy hint: Wallpaper borders are an easy way to create character and add a sense of structure to a plain room. If you are planning to paint a room just one colour, consider how a well-chosen border might add that extra something along your skirting boards and around the perimeter of your door frames.

Paper and paint

Here at Birdie HQ we love a patterned wallpaper but we also appreciate how four walls of it can feel a bit much. This is where a well-chosen paint comes into its own. For this scheme we combined the small-scale geometric tile pattern of our Sintra wallpaper with the deep calming

tones of our Wissey paint. The pair work wonderfully together creating a space that feels layered and considered. A bolder style such as this sits well with plainer pieces like our Abacus Floor Lamp and a treasured antique like this French 1970s Ulphostered Armchair, helping to bring out their sculptural qualities. Just a few judicious pops of pattern like our Crewel Work Cushion and the paintings of Lucy Innes Williams are all that is needed to complete the look.

Handy hint: When choosing your paint colours remember to consider how they will look against your flooring. For a more seamless look you may want to paint your walls and skirting boards the same colour. This works well in smaller spaces where you want to maximise the sense of space. However painting the skirting boards a different colour can be useful for balancing the transition from walls to floor – and adds an extra layer of interest to your scheme.

Gallery walls

Blue and red dining room with Fenwick and Tilbrook painted walls

If you own a very special piece of art, why not let it lead your paint scheme? Remember, you do not require clinically white walls to show pictures at their best. All you need is a sensitive eye and some thought as to what colours speak to you in the work and how they might translate into your room. This will ensure that your décor is complimenting not competing with your art. In our dining room, a rather splendid print by Keith Haring inspired our choice of Thurne for the richly painted dado and wainscoting, while we used Burn for the walls to allow the artwork space to breathe. Thurne’s bold red colour continues as an accent in the scheme from our Pumpkin Candlesticks and Ladder Stripe Napkins to our colourful Ziggurat Kilim Rug which provides a wonderful grounding for the space.

Handy hint: When your project is complete, be sure to transfer any small paint leftovers into a jam jar. This will come in very useful for touching up any future bumps or scrapes in the paintwork – and the paint will keep better as there is less air in the jar than the original tin. Should you find that you have a lot of paint left over, consider using it to paint the inside of a cupboard or an old piece of furniture that would appreciate the boost.

Neatly made bed with decorative pillows in a bedroom setting.

Which paint colour best suits my style?

Whether you’re drawn to soft, timeless neutrals or rich, characterful hues, our new paint collection has been carefully curated to bring warmth, depth, and individuality to your home. Each shade has been thoughtfully blended in collaboration with Fenwick and Tillbrook to harmonise beautifully with our furniture, lighting, and accessories - making it easy to create a cohesive and inspiring interior.

From grounding dark tones to uplifting pale shades, these paints offer endless possibilities to refresh and transform your home. Explore the collection today and discover the perfect colour to complement your style - available exclusively from Birdie Fortescue.