At Home With... Celia Birtwell

At Home With... Celia Birtwell

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Textile designer Celia Birtwell shot to fame with her feminine fabrics for Ossie Clark's influential fashion range. Today she is widely respected as one of the most influential designers of her time. Birtwell talks to mydeco about her new camping range for Millets, the importance of silk cushions and why she moved from fashion to interiors.
I started to design camping goods... because in my youth Millets was quite a key figure in fashion for art students like myself. Also, my daughter-in-law, Bella, is a keen camper and has been a fan of Millets for many years, so it was her idea to meet with them.
My only experience of camping... was when I was 21. I went to Greece and the whole experience was hot and itchy. Having said that,

I am about to go off for a weekend in Bella's 1971 VW Camper Van with strict instructions on how to camp in comfort and glamour. This, I am told, includes French Martinis at sunset, then whisky round the camp fire wrapped in a home-made cashmere blanket.
I particularly like... the family tent in my camping range, because for the first time a print is used for the inner tent as well as the outer lining. We have used Pop Check on the inside and Monkey Puzzle on the outside. The subtle colours sit beautifully in nature and I love the way the Monkey Puzzle grows up the tent.

The item I value most when camping... would have to be Bella, as she has camped all her life and knows how to do it in style and comfort.
I moved into interior design because... I felt exhausted with the fashion world after I stopped working with Ossie, and wanted to design something with a longer shelf-life. I hadn't ever designed for interiors before but had always been very interested in the challenge of making rooms look pretty. I like the slower pace of interiors.
I feel exceptionally proud... when I see a pretty girl walking down the street wearing one of my dresses or blouses. It is such an honour that people like my designs.

I live in... some would call it Notting Hill, but actually it's Bayswater.What makes a home... are all the trinkets, photos and nik naks that you gather over time that add your personality to your home.
I love... walking into houses where you can spend hours looking at different things on walls and shelves. I don't get much joy from the minimal look.

My favourite item right now... is a winged back armchair covered in my new Pop Story collection.
I love updating my living room... with new cushions from my shop. Silk cushions are always the most striking and luxurious.
Fresh flowers... are essential in the home every week.
If my house were burning down... I would grab my Carmen rollers, a painting or two and Jubilee, our cat.
I would love to own... a country retreat where I can escape at the weekends.

About the Author:
Annie Deakin is a journalist, fashion and furniture expert and editor at mydeco.com and is currently very impressed by the great range of outdoor furniture, tables and fitness equipment.



Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com


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