What We're Seeing | Reply or Forward to a Friend

Flight of Fancy:
Passion for Peacock Plumage is No Fly-by-Night Fad

Find out why designers and homeowners are flocking
to add perky peacocks to their homes
One of nature’s most sensational show-offs, the peacock seems to be everywhere these days. Its luxuriant colors and striking silhouette symbolize beauty, especially when translated as decorative items for the home. But don’t jump to conclusions; this is no recent trend.

Skipping quickly through history reveals that peacock motifs have been around since ancient times and utilized by a variety of cultures. It’s reported they’re found in early Christian tomb art, as well as ancient Rome, Greece and the Ottoman Empire. The imagery eventually made its way to Western Europe and was embraced by designers like William Morris and a group of English artists known as the Aesthetics. It maintained its popularity into the Art Nouveau movement (think Tiffany and his iridescent Peacock Vase created in the 1890s).
The proliferation of peacock-inspired décor we spotted includes Confetti Peacock , proudly displayed by Picture Source Somerset at High Point Market (shown above). What better way to make a colorful statement than hanging vividly hued dramatic art?
As Lauren Jacobsen, president of Lauren Jacobsen Interior Design in Toluca Lake, California, points out, the peacock is native to India, where it represented royalty, guidance, and protection. In 1963, the peacock was declared India’s National Bird because of its rich religious and legendary involvement in Indian tradition. “Who doesn’t want to experience that sense of dignity and beauty in their own lives and homes,” she says. And, just to clarify: the peacock is the male peafowl, while the female is known as a peahen. The male is the only one to sport that fabulous feathered tail, which is correctly called a train.

That’s why we weren’t surprised to spot the flamboyant motif still strutting its stuff all around the recent High Point Market--and internet too--in just about every category imaginable. Let’s take a stroll and see what brilliant ideas have been hatched. We’re all aflutter!
Cotton+Quill was proud as a peacock to share their Grand Plume fabric from the Portico collection with High Point attendees (shown above). Known for her punchy colors and crisp designs, founder Mary Catherine Folmar’s hand-illustrated fabric (used as a table skirt here) is also available as wallpaper in six vibrant colorways.

1. Wallpaper: We think it’s easy to add rich color and impact to a room with this whimsical Deco Peacock wallpaper that struck our fancy at High Point. And if you later change your scheme, the self-adhesive and removable wallpaper from Tempaper makes that easy too. Available in two colorways.

2. Lighting: The intrigue of our bird is not always about color. This distinctive Peacock Sconce from Decorative Crafts is crafted of antiqued solid brass and solid crystal.

3. Furniture: Time to admit the Peacock Cabinet from the Althorp Living History Collection caught our eye in the Theodore Alexander showroom at High Point. The black-lacquered cabinet on stand is highlighted with gold leaf and a hand-painted decoration of peacocks in a landscape. Even better, the LED lit interior is fitted as a bar with a mirror back and adjustable glass shelf. We raise a glass!

4. Furniture: With its statement-making, peacock-inspired silhouette, the Marimba Fan Chair by Tommy Bahama Outdoor for Lexington Home Brands features intricately woven wicker in a sophisticated obsidian finish with gold accents.

5. Accessories: Glimmersmith’s Dreamy Peacock Feather Throw Pillow is the original creation of Tina Lavoie, an artist with a color fixation who hails from Burlington, Vermont. The teal and purple color combination contrasts beautifully with the gold bokeh and sequins in this fantasy representation of peacock feathers. The vibrant double-sided pillows are available in six sizes.

6. Rugs: Nourison’s debut of their hand-tufted Moda Peacock Rug at High Point Market is proof that this timeless motif is still making an impact. This is art for your floor!

7. Accessories: If you’re a true peacock fan, Howard Elliott’s Fancy Peacock Statues feature the most realistic detail we’ve seen. The silver birds sit atop perches with their elaborate tails draping down. Both left- and right-facing statues available.

8. Tabletop: New from Mottahedeh, these spectacular Peacock Feather dessert plates are detailed with 22k gold. Mugs, dinner plates, and bread plates are also available. We guarantee they’re sure to dazzle.
Design Matters is the monthly trend viewpoint from the tradeshow-traveling, fresh-finding team at The Media Matters. Feel free to use this information in part or total. We're always here to help. Click  here  for images. For your convenience all of these photos can be found in dropbox and you have permission to use them in your stories. Please let us know if you have any questions or if we can help you further.
‌
Questions? Contact
336.956.2488
or
Connect With Us