Claire Gaudion captures new cushion collection at The Grain Store Studio
We were delighted to recently welcome Claire Gaudion to the Grain Store Studio as part of the launch of a new collection of luxury woven cushions.
Claire Gaudion is an artisan textile design company creating rugs, fabrics and soft furnishing inspired by nature. Founder Claire and her team selected The Studio as the backdrop for a special launch photoshoot for the new ‘Flux’ collection of cushions, which focuses on biophilic colours.
The concept of biophilia is defined as ‘the innate human instinct to connect with nature and other living beings’. Biophilic design aims to increase connectivity to the natural environment. We talk to Claire about the collection and how nature has inspired and shaped the designs.
Claire also reveals this season’s on-trend colours and how to furnish a small space like The Studio.
Claire Gaudion Flux launch at The Grain Store Studio
Tell me about the new collection and what has inspired the design.
The new collection is called ‘Flux’ and it’s a collection of cushions with a biophilic colour focus. The collection celebrates the naturalistic colours of our ever-changing natural landscapes and seascapes.
I’m fascinated by how things in nature are in continual flux, how the richly textured and multi-tonal landscapes are ever changing… and this is the inspiration behind our new cushion collection.
The patterns also take inspiration from the natural world. The designs are my translation of things in flux: colours, forms and patterns to-ing and fro-ing in the natural world around us.
How does this concept come to life in the designs?
My take on biomimicry (mimicking nature’s patterns) is quite abstract and focuses on how we experience nature. I notice the way the weather, daylight and the ebb and flow of the tides engage with our surroundings and create transitioning colour palettes and patterns. There is such an ever-changing textural richness seen in nature.
The ‘Dunes’ design references nature’s mark-making, such as we see in coastal sand dunes. The ‘Breeze’ design is inspired by grasses gently swaying and dancing in the breeze.
Has nature always been your biggest source of inspiration?
Many things inspire me as a designer. I think it’s a creative mindset to find inspiration in almost everything around you. But my biggest inspiration has always been nature, yes.
Aside from nature itself, I have always appreciated the work of Anni and Josef Albers. Anni Albers for the textual qualities and materiality of her work, and Josef Albers for his exploration of colour. Albers recognised how colour itself is living and breathing and always interacting with its surroundings.
I also love the work of Paul Klee, in particular, his colour studies which have a weaving-like quality to them the way tones are layered and blended together.
How does East Sussex in particular inspire your designs?
I think I’m captivated by all natural landscapes. I do have a particular affinity for the sea and coastal landscapes having grown up in Guernsey and spent many years enjoying this island landscape.
The East Sussex Downs are a wonder of their own. I love the free feeling of the rolling hills, it’s a magnificent undulating landscape that flows out in front of you.
Why did you choose The Grain Store Studio for your shoot?
I was looking for a photoshoot location for the new collection and needed somewhere with plenty of natural light. An interior designer I met through the Decorcafe, Ohana Banerjee, kindly introduced me to Anni as she felt the space was a perfect fit for my nature-inspired collections. And she was right.
The Grain Store Studio has beautiful large windows overlooking the Sussex Downs, and the interior is full of character with polished concrete floors and some lovely furniture in situ that I thought would feature well in the shoot.
You also brought some of your beautiful rugs with you to the shoot, what are your top tips for choosing a rug for a small space like The Studio?
The first thing I would recommend is to find the right tonal colour palette for you. Consider different tonal groups of colours and how you respond to them emotionally. It’s a bit like with music that some keys might resonate more with you than others. With colours, people tend to respond to colour based on the chromatic intensity of a colour - how bright and saturated it is or isn’t. To find the right tonal pitch for you, and the way you want to feel in a space, be that relaxed or energised.
Then decide on the size of the rug. As a general recommendation, it’s better to choose bigger, rather than smaller. The rug should welcome the furniture into the space rather than feel like an island floating in the middle of the room. But you also want to allow some breathing space in the room and allow room for other features such as a contrast hard flooring to complement the softness of the rug. Find a balance so that everything works in harmony.
What colours are most popular currently?
The most popular colours for us are blues and blue-greens and warm earthy neutrals. Our Rhythmic Tides Indigo Rug, as seen in our photoshoot images is one of the best-selling rugs. Colours are such emotional triggers, and I think that blues and greens have a lot of positive associations for people.
Warm earthy neutrals have a really welcoming and cosy appeal and that is what many of us want our homes to feel like - warm, cosy and welcoming.
You have a collection made with recycled plastic bottles, have you seen a demand for eco-design?
Yes, we are really pleased to see this growing demand for sustainable design and responsibly made products. This is something that has always been important to me. We work predominantly with natural fibres and non-toxic dyes and through our partnership with Momo Rugs, all our rugs are endorsed by Care & Fair which is an organisation based in India whose goal is to eliminate illegal Child Labour in the carpet producing areas of India, Nepal and Pakistan, and ensure good social welfare.
Our recycled plastic bottle rug collection was developed in collaboration with Momo Rugs. It’s a beautiful product. It looks and feels just like wool and it feels really good to be making something new out of waste materials and repurposing plastic bottles for a new future.
Discover the full Claire Gaudion collection
You can browse the full Flux collection on clairegaudion.com where you will also find other rugs, fabrics and soft furnishing inspired by nature.
For the latest designs and styling inspiration, follow Claire on Instagram @clairegaudion
Bring your creative vision to life at The Grain Store
If you’re looking for a location for your next shoot, The Grain Store could be the ideal place. From cosy interiors and bright airy spaces, to the South Downs as your backdrop. Find out more by visiting the Creative Shoot Location page or contacting the team.