Over 35 years ago Venetian Murano glass was the inspiration behind our first collections of colourful flatweave and to this day, we still see its influence throughout our work.

Just as in 1989, we continue to draw inspiration from the arts, fashion and nature both locally and around the world and this collection is no exception to that. Feeding on inspiration from historic and modern interiors as well as our own archives, The Venetian Collection has been worked on and evolved over the past two years in our design studio in Herefordshire, weaving our distinctive handwriting and dedication to quality British craftsmanship into every stripe.

In addition to Murano glass, it was design house Missoni whose vibrantly coloured stripes and geometric rhythm motivated the reinvention of a classic Roger Oates herringbone.

Named after the dynamic Italian city, Milan is available in four carefully curated colourways, each one revealing an intricate web of complex colour, mirroring those iconic design inspirations. In this article, we will take a closer look at Milan Rosa; the careful colour selection and design versatility that makes Rosa one of our most interesting colourways.

Selecting the colours

With its blended colour and a complex optical herringbone weave, like many designs, Milan began its life in the form of yarn wraps. Seeking the creation of a new ‘multicolour’ flatweave, the design uses more than ten colours, similar to classics Moritz Multi and Kobe Blossom. However, unlike these designs, Milan steers away from distinctive stripes, maintaining instead a complexity of pattern, colour and structure – giving this design a unique partnership of both delicacy and depth.

Like the Murano glass it takes its inspiration from, Milan Rosa features a vibrant layering of distinct, speckled colour where a palette of Airforce, Croft Blue, Plum, Antique Pink, Peach and Chestnut are blended in an array of colours from across the spectrum. With the weft featuring the earthy, grounding shade of copper, Rosa’s overall effect is that of a warm toned flatweave featuring light brown, red, and pink.

Often an overlooked element of our flatweave, the weft is the unsung hero, holding the pattern together and providing a backdrop against which the colours of the design can shine. For this reason, choosing the exact shade of the weft is something our design team take very seriously. Carefully considering a range of different options, as part of our design process we will create multiple samples, each with the slightest of tweaks in colour, ensuring that the best possible combination is made. Despite popular misconception, the weft colour can affect how the whole design is perceived, altering what tones our eyes pick up on.

It is the copper tone in the Milan Rosa that sits quietly behind the warp, creating a beautiful sense of depth within the piece, providing contrast with the brighter colours running through and seamlessly blending the whole myriad of colours together.

Finishes

This versatility in colour can be seen particularly well when crafted into a flatweave rug. With its multi-spectrum arrangement, a wide choice of linen tape colours work beautifully against Milan Rosas’ dynamic and blended stripes. If you’re not sure what colour to choose, why not order a few samples and have a play around with how the different colours appear against the flatweave. Our knowledgeable sales team are also on hand to offer advice and help you select the right colour pairing for your room.