Wool: Nature’s Wonder in Design
October is National Wool Month – the perfect time to celebrate one of nature’s most enduring, versatile and beautiful materials. From ancient tapestries to modern upholstery, wool has always been part of the way we live and decorate. At Retrouvius we admire wool not only for its sustainability but for the sense of comfort, warmth and richness it brings into a home. It’s versatility is what makes it such a remarkable textile: practical, durable and naturally beautiful.
Harris Tweed: Woven from Landscape and Community
One of our projects, Rodel House, is a striking property located on Harris in the Outer Hebrides surrounded by the most incredible views. We had the privilege of helping restart the essential dialogue between tradition and modernity to create a fresh, uplifting home. One of the ways we did this was by integrating Harris tweed – the community’s local wool.
More than just a material, Harris Tweed is a living expression of its landscape and community. Each length of cloth is woven by local islanders, using skills passed down through generations. Every inch of wool is dyed and spun in an island mill, every yard is handwoven at the home of a Harris Tweed weaver. Each piece carries the hues of the Hebridean environment – sea, sky, stone and moss – making every metre a reflection of place.
In one of Rodel House’s bedrooms, we upholstered the walls in a deep blue Harris Tweed. The padded wool finish brings warmth and acoustic softness, while connecting the building to its heritage and to the craftmanship that continues to sustain island life.
You can read more about this quite incredible house and the way we helped restore it, in our new book. or even experience its beauty first hand by booking a stay.
Dashing Tweeds
In this project for the owner of Dashing Tweeds – a company specializing in Scottish tweeds, we incorporated the company’s own fabric into the interiors. A vintage sofa which found its home in the dressing room was upholstered in a Dashing Tweed, while bolder colour choices feature in the chairs and pillow within the bar area (photos below are taken from this article in Elle Decor which features the project more extensively). Some more pictures from this project can be found in this post.
Natural Fibres, Timeless Appeal
In a recent talk at Ochre’s showroom in Pimlico Road, Maria praised wool’s many qualities in discussion with Lucy Bathurst – owner of Nest Design who uses a lot of wool in her mural work, along with Soleen from Ochre and journalist Harriett Quick who chaired the discussion. Wool was described as a “wonder material”, praising its softening qualities and natural fire retardant qualities.
Sustainable, renewable and biodegradable, wool is a material that not only enriches interiors but also respects the environment. For us, its a reminder that natural fibres are not a trend but a timeless investment – bringing character, depth and beauty to a space. In this entranceway for example in our Suffolk farmhouse project, (more on this in this article by House & Garden), we used this striking geometric vintage wool rug as a curtain – bringing warmth and colour to this space – a fitting reminder how it speaks to the enduring beauty of natural materials and the craft that shapes them.
In the same project, verdure tapestries like the one below features strongly in the opposite end of this kitchen above this generous teal sofa. Tapestries like this are an excellent choice for historic buildings with uneven walls and lots of beams. Often woven entirely from wool, they also bring depth to spaces.
Our Suffolk project also features in our book, Contemporary Salvage, Designing Homes from a Philosophy of Re-Use.
This month we celebrate wool in all its forms: on the floor, on the wall, in upholstery and in the woven narratives of tapestry. And if you were after some interesting textiles, our shop has lots of interesting pieces at the moment, which you can check out here.
