Penny Morrison has spent over three decades turning a passion for global textiles into a design language that blends history with modern interiors. What began as a fascination with antiques, particularly rugs, suzanis, and Turkish embroideries, evolved into a business built on fabric and wallcovering designs rooted in those very finds. Today, the brand’s aesthetic remains defined by its ability to weave tradition into contemporary spaces, one layered pattern at a time.
The company’s fabrics often rely on white grounds to create depth, allowing patterns to coexist without overwhelming a room. Take Dominica, a design inspired by an antique bed hanging from the Caribbean island of the same name. Its bold berry and chocolate hues are balanced by the linen base, preventing visual heaviness. Pair it with red-toned antique cushions or throws, and the result is warmth, character, and a touch of mystery, qualities that raise even the simplest seating arrangement.
Wallpapers like Persian Poppy, launched this year, follow the same principle of historical storytelling. Based on a suzani, a traditional Central Asian textile often used as a dowry, the wallpaper’s stylized motifs carry symbolic weight. Red, a dominant color in suzanis, adds richness while keeping the design accessible. The pattern’s narrative potential makes it versatile, whether used in a dining room, bedroom, or hallway.
For those preferring subtler textures, Evora and Rosa offer a gentler alternative. Both draw from antique chintz block prints, rendered in deep reds and chocolates that mirror historical dye techniques. Their textured grounds and delicate florals create visual interest without dominating a space. Available as both fabric and wallpaper, they adapt to different scales, ideal for layering with larger prints or standing alone.
A lesser-discussed but equally intentional part of Penny Morrison’s catalog is its pleated lampshades, crafted from Tussar silk, a natural fiber produced by wild silkworms. The brand’s designs reference Victorian-era lampshades, originally used to diffuse gaslight and later electric bulbs. Today, they serve dual purposes: functional light diffusion and decorative accents that break up monotonous walls. Their golden-beige sheen and varied pleating styles ensure they complement any color palette.
While fabrics and wallpapers dominate the collection, the brand’s first grasscloth wallcoverings mark a recent expansion. Introduced earlier this year, these reproductions bring iconic patterns, like Jamawar, inspired by a 17th-century Kashmir shawl, into new colorways. The paisley motif, a staple of global textiles, remains a cornerstone of the brand’s identity. Its teardrop shape, found in Persian, Indian, and European designs, lends interiors an inherently layered, collected feel. The Spring 2024 relaunch in five fresh hues adds texture and romance to spaces where boldness isn’t the goal.
