Date:  February 8, 2021  |   Story: Tiffany Adams  |   Photography: Rett Peek  |   Styling: Steph Smith  |  

From the halls of European royal residences to Dorothy Draper’s rendition of The Greenbrier and the popular Laura Ashley trend of the 1990s, chintz fabric is a design icon that transcends continents as well as time. Conceived in India in the 17th century, the pattern takes its name from the Hindu word chint, meaning variegated or multicolored. The pretty and practical prints featuring nature made their way to Europe quickly thereafter; in fact, they caused such a stir they were banned for a time period so as not to put French and English mills out of business. Printed on a cotton fabric with a polished coating, the colorful botanicals are ideal for everything from drapes and bedding to upholstery, and they are often used in repetition throughout a room. With the rise of grandmillenial style and a new interest in maximalism, chintz is experiencing a resurgence.

Multicolored fabrics available through Designer Effects, Little Rock, designereffects.net. Green-and-white fabric and pink trim available through Cynthia East Fabrics, Little Rock, cynthiaeastfabrics.com.