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For Focus 2024, the annual event at the Design Centre Chelsea Harbour bringing the design community together, we invited Hare & Humphries to collaborate with us to create a new finish to demonstrate their skills whilst showing the versatility of Lincrusta.
They chose our William Morris Fruit as their textural blank canvas. As many will know the original Morris & Co. hand-blocked version was multi-coloured, using over 16 blocks of individual tints to build the design. In contrast, the Lincrusta version, with our unparalleled emboss, is all about the seeing the pattern in relief. Up until now we had only presented it painted in a single colour or two tone. Both we hope you agree are stunning in their own right.
But as you can see from the opening image Hare & Humphreys re-imagined it on a whole new level!
The initial source of inspiration for the finish was Cordoba leather. In the Lincrusta showroom we are often asked for this type of treatment. We felt that it was also a good fit for the pattern, given that there was a link back to Morris; he had experimented with ‘faux leather’ embossed wallpapers, that were fashionable at the time. The best example of which, is Chrysanthemum Toile housed in the Morris & Co archive.
Cordoba leather takes its name from the city from where it originates. The city is famous for its leatherwork and its most historic technique, ‘Guademeci’, which was the embossing of intricate designs to the leather which were then gilded and decorated further. The process dates back as early as the 9th century. According to Juliette Davies, project manager at Hare & Humphreys ‘between 16th and 18th the gilding technique mostly consisted of silver gilding over which a tinted resin was applied to give a gold look. We thought that these old Spanish techniques were perfect for Lincrusta, due to its depth of emboss and leather like quality (Lincrusta being much simpler to work on also due to its regular form as opposed to working with differing hide shapes and sizes). We chose earthy colours taken from the William Morris designs but added an extra punch to bring a jewel like quality to the final piece. Peach tones with a contrasting blue’
Stage 1: The all-important Prep
Once installed the panels were primed using Lincrusta Bonding Primer, this removes any residual wax from the process and prepares the surface to accept the paint. This stage ensures that whatever paints or finish we apply from that point onward have good adhesion and creates the foundation for the design to look great now, but also to last over time.
Stage 2: The Base
Acrylic size came next, painstakingly applied by Sara in the form of water-based adhesive with metal leaf. The colour choice here was imitation silver provided by Aluminium Leaf. This could be switched for a multitude of leaf types – again depending on the desired final look and of course when using real gold leaf – budget!
Stage 3: The Detail
Hare & Humphreys mixed acrylic paints in three tones then applied the colour quite loosely. The idea was not to just paint in the shapes but for each different brush stroke to add depth and character. This adds an element of human variation to a repeat design, which we felt worked well with this specific design as it adds some life and a playful edge.
Stage 4: The Finishing Touch
We could have stopped at this point and kept the panel looking bright and contemporary. However, the aim was to create a look that could cross traditional and modern spaces, so another luxuriant layer was added in the form of a resin called ‘Liquin’. As well as adding richness to the patina and colour of the piece, its oil-based nature allows a longer amount of time to work with the medium to achieve the perfect balance across the panel.
We were delighted with the final result! A sophisticated finish with the aluminium leaf adding depth through its subtle shimmer.
We would love to welcome you into our showroom to see it In Real Life! Find us on the 1st Floor, Design Centre East.
Founded in 1987 Hare & Humphreys evolved into one of the leading specialists in painting, gilding, conservation and all forms of decoration. They offer specialist paint techniques across marbling to wood graining and beyond, all forms of decorating and are experts in hanging the finest of wallcoverings.
Founders Paul Humphreys and Peter Hare learnt the trade as apprentices and the company ethos maintains a hands-on approach, with project managers and decorators from all different backgrounds and skillsets. They encourage possibility and when the brief allows, imagination to ensure that they source the correct materials for the job to create not only beautiful but functional and practical spaces too.
In 2017 H&H aligned with Atelier de France, a worldwide group with companies and artisan workshops throughout the UK, France, Asia and the US. The sister companies share the same values and complement each other, each by offering their own specialism.
Hare and Humphreys have a team of approximately 70 decorators working on various projects across – high end luxury residential, commercial spaces, hotels and other distinguished historic and contemporary buildings through-out the UK and abroad.
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