In the second of our series of interviews with local makers, Emily Horton quizzes Juliet Travers on her wallpaper designs inspired by flora and fauna
Juliet Travers pictured in front of her Nutcracker wallpaper
- What inspires you?
A I carried out extensive market research before launching my debut collection, the Safari range. As African animals had not really hit the industry, the theme was the perfect niche for me to start with. Plus, my husband grew up on a farm in Zimbabwe and we’ve travelled across Africa, spending time with the incredibly beautiful and diverse wildlife the continent has to offer.
- Tell us about your current collection?
A The Albion Collection is based much closer to home – and my heart – the British Isles. There is a huge amount of British-themed prints out there and I didn’t want to produce what’s already been done so I focused on wildlife that both tourists and we locals love – it’s the squirrels, swans, songbirds and British flowers that I see catch people’s attention the most. My family home is in Scotland and one of its most iconic animals is the highland cow and naturally that made it on to the drawing board, too!
- How did you get into your craft?
A I have always harboured an interest in pattern and interiors and so it was a natural choice to study printed textiles for interior furnishings in Edinburgh. I learnt the importance of the way designs work together as a collection as well as individually. After graduating, I worked at the Chelsea flagship store of prestigious wallpaper company de Gournay where I learnt about the specific and high-end demands of interior decoration on a global scale.
- How is it working for yourself?
A I set up Juliet Travers Ltd in 2013 and I’ve been very fortunate that work has been non-stop ever since. In the last three years we have launched two wallpaper collections as well as a fabric and cushion range. I’ve always been very creative and I hand-draw all our designs – starting with an original sketch or idea and then develop them into a repeat design. I love seeing how a simple drawing can develop into a design – it never ceases to fascinate me.
- What is your key piece?
A From the latest collection, it’s The Nutcracker. I love the squirrels hiding in the trees and that you don’t spot them straight away. The use of the metallics on the oak leaves picks up the light in a beautiful subtle way, especially on the dark blue colourway.
Nakuru by Juliet Travers
- Where is your wallpaper produced?
A I was determined to create a brand that is designed and printed in England where I could support our own first-rate manufacturers. If we don’t support them, they will disappear. It’s also a huge help to be on hand during production to personally check on quality.
- What is your top styling tip?
A. You don’t necessarily need to be re-doing an entire room to incorporate some new wallpaper, curtains or cushions into a space to liven it up. Customers are often surprised by how little you have to change to make a real impact.
- What is your USP?
A The high level of detail we employ in our manufacturing process is definitely top of the list. By using gravure printing, we achieve the same level of detail as hand drawing – transposing the pencil and brush strokes from my original drawings onto the print. Very few other companies offer this. I also focus on imagery that you won’t find elsewhere. Plus, it’s important to create designs that do not date quickly – they must be liveable. I want people to enjoy seeing our designs in their homes every day.
- What are your best-sellers?
Juliet Travers features on our Richmond Magazine's Homestyle page, April.
A Best-sellers are the Free Fall (feathers), Nakuru (flamingos) and Dazzle (zebras) wallpapers and more recently, the Highland Fling and Nutcracker. These designs are easy for people to work and live with, as well as being very different to anything else on the market. The more subtle colourways of The Waterhole, The Tribe and Camouflage papers also sell well. Customers love the handpainted appearance, use of colour and metallic pigments that, together with the unusual imagery, creates something unique.
- Where can we buy your wares?
A All our products can be bought directly from us. Our wallpaper books are also stocked by Aztec Design (46 Bolingbroke Grove, Wandsworth) or at Taylor Howes in Knightsbridge.
If you'd like to see more of Juliet's work you can go to her website here
You can check out more great home and garden articles, like our interview with Lucy Mortimer 'Retro Queen', here
