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The Red Thread: How to Create Continuity


Originating from East Asian mythology, the Red Thread (or Red String of Fate) refers to an invisible thread that’s believed to connect people who are destined to meet or be together. In interior design, the red thread is used as a metaphor to describe an underlying theme that ties together different elements within a space to create coherence and continuity.

We’re firm believers in the importance of rhythm within a room and you’ll find threads and motifs throughout the spaces that we design. Here are a few of our favourites…

The Crosby Suite at Crosby Street Hotel

A joyful palette of orange and green has been woven through the rooms that make up The Crosby Suite.

Key fabrics feature in both the bedroom and the drawing room, but are used in different ways to ensure that the two spaces each have their own narrative. In the bedroom our Friendly Folk fabric features on the walls, but in the Drawing Room we’ve incorporated it using the curtains and sofa cushions. Similarly, the green fabric that features on the sofas here can be found in the bedroom as curtains, creating continuity and flow within the two rooms.

Room 502, Knightsbridge Hotel

In small spaces creating a red thread is very important as with fewer pieces the room can easily feel disconnected. In Room 502 at Knightsbridge Hotel, the repetition of fabric across the headboard, mannequin and sofa cushions creates an invisible path that guides the eye throughout the room.

We’ve also echoed the bed cushion fabric using our tub chairs, creating a link between the two sides of the room.

Reston Place

In this energising living room pops of yellow unite the space through accessories and accents, stimulating the eye and elevating a base palette of whites and greens.

The Lobby at The Whitby Hotel

Although fabrics are one of the easiest ways to create a narrative, the red thread can also be achieved through artwork. At The Whitby Hotel, a leaf like wallpaper dresses the staircases along with a piece by Joe Tilson.

To the right of this, you’ll find a bespoke wing chair with an applique design that replicates motifs from the wallpaper. Above it hangs a smaller piece by Joe Tilson. Although distinct pieces in their own right, they speak to each other in a fun and effective way that helps to unite the space.

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