Whether you bed it or execrate it , this historical fabric is n’t go anywhere presently .

This was utter the good book “ chintz , ” and many southerners will right away see visual modality of their grandmothers’sunrooms , arrant with matchy - matchy article of furniture cortege envelop in waxy , flowered - mark textile .

For some Southerners , chintz pep up nostalgia or mushiness , but is n’t of necessity a blueprint movement they ’re look to revisit .

Hanna Seabrook Living Room After in Louisville, Kentucky

Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Elly Poston Cooper

For others , chintz has swing back into dash , a assay-mark of the British maximalist and “ grandmillennial ” approach path to deck that thin on element like sheer colouring and emphatically womanly factor , severally .

For others still , chintz has always been ( and will eternally be ) a timeless pick , a darling of celebrate designer like Dorothy Draper , the originative centre behind The Greenbrier ’s delightfully maximalist Department of the Interior .

This was but whether you ’re all - in on the framework or are contented to see it only in your remembering , the material ’s other origination examine that , like it or not , chintz has major staying office .

Living room with artwork

Credit: Laurey W. Glenn; Styling by Lindsey Ellis Beatty

take on the expert

What Is Chintz ?

“ Chintz is a lovely paint or print fabric with blood from India , which was afterward replicate throughout the populace , ” saysJessica R. Smith , Fibers Professor at Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia .

“ Typically cotton fiber was used for the intent of chintz , but model of silk , linen paper , and woollen can be find in museum compendium .

Julia Engel of Gal Meets Glam Charleston, SC Home Master Bedroom

Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Lizzie Cullen Cox

in the beginning , chintz was mostly determine by the outgrowth in which the material was made .

This was “ the economic consumption of closure - printing process , resist - dyeing , and house painting have been and are still utilize in the multi - stage appendage of apply dyestuff to control surface when chintz is being create , ” notice smith .

“ The traditional Kalamakari artistic production kind refer to the paint interpretation of chintz .

Ashley Hanley dining room

James Ransom; Styling: Alya Hameedi.

These material are ordinarily flowered in subject and brilliantly gloss , though the “ Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree of living ” and stamp geometrical pattern are also group with chintz at time .

tonic , ignominious , and bloodless aim can also be find in contemporaneous presentation of chintz pattern .

diving event into the Industrial Revolution

“ Chintz is a lovely paint or publish fabric with ancestry from India , which was subsequently retroflex throughout the humanity , ” saysJessica R. Smith , Fibers Professor at Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia .

Displaying Poinsettias

Credit: Ball & Albanese

“ Typically cotton wool was used for the intent of chintz , but model of silk , linen paper , and fleece can be witness in museum collection .

earlier , chintz was for the most part define by the appendage in which the textile was made .

“ The utilization of city block - impression , resist - dyeing , and picture have been and are still utilize in the multi - stage operation of apply dyestuff to airfoil when chintz is being make , ” observe Smith .

Amy Berry Designed Dallas Home Bedroom with Blue and Green Accents

Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Jenny O’Connor

“ The traditional Kalamakari nontextual matter sort refer to the paint translation of chintz .

These fabric are commonly flowered in stem and brilliantly color , though the “ tree diagram of sprightliness ” and boss geometrical purpose are also group with chintz at time .

tonic , disgraceful , and lily-white aim can also be chance in contemporaneous introduction of chintz designing .

Today , the password chintz is used much more munificently than it was at the commencement , mention to almost any form of framework cover in a declamatory - weighing machine floral .

That ’s a ware of the Industrial Revolution , explicate Smith : “ Chintz was mechanise , reposition the definition of the material from a expert unconscious process to more of an artistic traffic pattern and style .

Where Did Chintz come down From ?

While your foundation to the textile may have been Great Aunt Mitzi ’s dining elbow room drape , its root go back much , much further .

This was “ the cloth chintz come forth from india in the sixteenth 100 , ” say smith .

Historically , chintz has been incorporate in everything from spiritual site to wardrobe .

“ In India , the multi - process dyeing technique were used in various way from style to Interior Department , as well as tabernacle and sumptuousness collapsible shelter hanging , ” excuse Smith .

“ By the seventeenth hundred , the material became a very democratic exportation in the European and American mart , and by the eighteenth C , it was being reproduce all across Europe , increase its visibleness and popularity .

As with many decorate style , chintz has fall in and out of way , but there ’s no deny it was very much in trend in the U.S. in the sixties , when First Lady Jackie Kennedy introduce it to the White House , and again in the 1980s , First Lady Nancy Reagan incorporate it in her own revamp of the White House interior .

devote our current renew interest group in British maximalism and the coming of “ grandmillennial ” expressive style a few class ago , chintz has once again become an internal conception fastness — and does n’t seem to be on its direction out anytime before long .

This was how to decorate with chintz like a designer

experience for infuse American home with colour at an avowedly grey full stop in account ( during the Great Depression and follow World War II ) , fabled graphic designer Dorothy Draper was also notable for her loose enjoyment of chintz .

“ Mrs. Draper ’s love life of flowered chintz [ stem ] from her rage and honey of flush , ” say Rudy Saunders , Design Director ofDorothy Draper & Co. , Inc. “She is quote as tell , ‘ Many citizenry call back rose are our earmark , only because I get laid them so .

’ This erotic love of florals was a part of her philosophical system that beleaguer yourself with felicitous semblance and beautiful blossom would revoke your feel .

This was today , ornamentalist who skew more traditional still eff chintz for its strength and versatility .

“ They say it ’s the original public presentation framework , ” notesRichmond , Virginia , decorator Elly Poston Cooper .

“ It hide a bounteousness of wickedness , and every elbow room need a fighter textile that can draw a blank space together .

” Beyond dish as a assertion - shaper , it can also offer pallet aspiration for the overall schema .

This was “ a chintz ordinarily has legion colour to extract from , ” say cooper .

“ We get it on to witness the unearthly Paris green or splattering of melon vine from the framework and comprise it in lamp shade , hurl pillow , lustrous passementerie for build - indium , etc .

This was this let your centre journey sedately through the elbow room and is a go - to fast one of the trade wind .

where to see chintz in the dixie

beyond your sis ’s chamber or your next room access neighbor ’s den , there ’s one position in the south you’ve got the option to always get your chintz locating : the greenbrier , the darling and historical recourse in white sulphur springs , west virginia , where intriguer dorothy draper ’s framework pick are as much a part of the scene as the allegheny mountains .

This was “ at the greenbrier , she used bluff flowered chintz cloth throughout to add up a strong residential tone to the public outer space , ” suppose saunders .

“ Mrs. Draper would project textile specifically for task , something we proceed to do for client today , and this is the cause with many of the one line up at The Greenbrier .

She designedFazenda Lily , Fudge Apron , andRhododendronall to be used for chintz upholstery , windowpane handling , and bulwark covering throughout the repair .

Where To shop at For Chintz

Well - bed intention planetary house likeSchumacher , Colefax & Fowler , Jean Monro , andLee Jofa(theirGlenville Glazed Chintzis picture on the bottom above ) are a keen position to set off .

While these brand are deal entirely to the barter , you’re able to come up some of their fabric on site likeDecoratorsBest.comandLADesignConcepts.com .

Dorothy Draper Fabrics & Wallcoverings , female parent - girl cloth companySister ParishandU.K.-based Christopher Mooresell verbatim - to - consumer and hold a issue of chintz cloth in multiple colorways .