Modern Toile: New Twists on the Classic Pattern
Toile comes out of the box and into fun, contemporary interiors
I live in a loft in Brooklyn, a recent transplant to Greenpoint (love my neighborhood!). I work as a freelance writer, blogger, stylist, gilder, and crafter. I curate a daily personal lifestyle blog called the Haystack Needle (http://www.thehaystackneedleonline.com). I'm also one half of the shop Cabin 7 (http://www.shopcabin7.com) — a collection of gilded objects for the home. I started out in magazines, working in the home department of Real Simple magazine and later worked as the home editor of Redbook. I love to scout cool finds for the home — everything from an amazing loveseat to a green laundry detergent that really works. I'm a new mama to our baby girl, Juniper, who amazes me every day with her curiosity for life and big smiles.
I live in a loft in Brooklyn, a recent transplant to Greenpoint (love my... More »
Toile in its classic sense is defined as a pattern of regal-looking people or animals in some landscape setting, like a garden or farm. The traditional pattern is usually featured in a single colorway — trad shades of green, red, blue, or black on a white background. Thankfully, these rules have gone out the window. You can now find toile in every color palette (hello, pink!) and the designs often play around with scale. I'm also a big fan of the modern, cheeky twists on what images are now considered toile. You can find modern toiles that are whimsical and fun. So it's official: I've released toile from its fuddy-duddy style box where it used to live in my mind. Now I'm loving this pattern.
by Caitlin Wilson
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The periwinkle toile pillows steal the show — even in a bold, contemporary space like this one.
Tip: For a similar fabric, check out this blue toile by designer Thomas Paul.
Tip: For a similar fabric, check out this blue toile by designer Thomas Paul.
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| The stars of this room are definitely the toile barrel-shaped chairs — the pattern pops against the modern mix of rich blues, black and white. The toile pattern is more traditional in style and features images in black on a white background. By upholstering these mod chairs in a classic toile, you create a cool mix of styles. Tip: If you're considering reupholstering a chair with toile fabric, consider its shape. If the chair has many seams, you'll have to match up the scenery in the toile. That's much more difficult than reupholstering chairs such as these, on which the pattern simply covers one smooth side of the chair. |
There's something fresh and modern about the toile used for this window seat. The scale is larger, the colors are reversed (white images on a color background), and the most obvious twist — the pink color!
Tip: Don't be afraid to layer multiple patterns into a small space. You can unify two different patterns by choosing the same color palette. In this case, the two pink-on-white patterns complement each other.
Tip: Don't be afraid to layer multiple patterns into a small space. You can unify two different patterns by choosing the same color palette. In this case, the two pink-on-white patterns complement each other.
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by Globus Builder
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| In a classic red-on-white color scheme, this traditional toile warms up a bathroom otherwise outfitted in modern amenities. The patterned curtains balance all the white subway tile and hardness of the bathroom fixtures to add some cozy to the space. |
This space feels like a modern twist on some classic accents. I think it's all the whites, neutrals, woods, and the softer palette of the toile wallpaper (confined to just the lower half of the walls.) There's an airy vibe to this room that reminds me of the Scandinavian chic style I love.
These curtains channel that vintage grainsack look that's so on trend these days. The large-scale pattern and reverse colorway (white on red) makes this toile a standout.
A bathroom can easily feel sterile with all the metal fixtures and tile. The toile shower curtain in this bathroom adds a warm, chic style to this black-and-white space.
Here, the toile frame around the mirror adds a regal touch to the bathroom space. If you can't afford a fancy framed mirror, you could always try to make your own.
by Anthropologie
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Whimsical is the word for this modern toile wallpaper that features fun illustrations in a pattern that's less busy than traditional toile designs. I could see this wallpaper used in so many rooms — it brings out a childlike charm with its quirky illustrations.
by Flavor Paper
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From a distance, this wallpaper may look like a classic red-on-white toile. But up close, the scenes look like they're straight out of an illustrated comic strip.
by AphroChic Shop
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What a cool twist on toile: a mix of unexpected colors (purples, reds, and yellows) and decidedly urban scenes. This pillow is called Brooklyn Life Indoor. Super fun.
More: History Comes Home — The Story of Toile
See more toile in home interiors
More: History Comes Home — The Story of Toile
See more toile in home interiors
Comments
pigtown design I designed a toile of historic buildings in Baltimore. Toile de Baltimore! 
20 months ago · Like
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gabs2much Also check out the toiles of New Orleans, awesome.
20 months ago · Like
wordings Any Toile de Seattle? What a cool idea to create one for a city!
19 months ago · Like
Shannon Ggem ASID- Ggem Design Co LLC Whoa I totally want to buy some toile de baltimore!
13 months ago · Like
Lauren M. Levine The New Orleans toile was designed by actor Bryan Batt, better known as Salvatore Romano on Mad Men!
3 months ago · Like
Ideabook updated on Nov. 8, 2011.
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