Quick five questions with Marisa Gutmacher, VP of Design – Samuel & Sons
21st June 2023
Metamorphosis by Samuel and Sons
With such an abundance and history of passementerie in the world how do you select the historic styles to turn into such beautiful pieces?
It is with a deep understanding and appreciation for the classical design language of Passementerie that I explore documentary pieces and consider how to translate them for today interiors. In particular, I’m looking for extraordinary time honoured hand knotting, intricate braiding and beading techniques as well as beautiful embroideries and appliques.
The Gloriette collection by Maddux Creative For Samuel and Sons
Have you noticed a change in the scale of passementerie you are asked for?
The one I used for the WOW!house library is such a strong design at 8cm high. Today, within the world of Passementerie, there is greater demand for a broader selection of proportions, especially when it comes to Borders and Braids. We find that there are regional preferences however, application and a schemes overall aesthetic tend to play a stronger role when determining scale. Within our extensive anthology, we offer borders that vary in width from 2.5cm to more dramatic 10cm statement borders.
The Gloriette Collection by Maddux Creative for Samuel and Sons
I see your product on so many curtains these days. What are the most unusual uses you have seen?
Trimmings have the ability to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. It is through attention to the finest details that trimmings can transport colour across a room, delineate the lines of furniture, introduce a new geometric pattern or change the edge of a curtain. While there are multitudes of innovative applications, some of the more unexpected are brush fringe around the perimeter of an upholstered headboard or layers of chainette fringe on lampshade.
Trianon Double Tassel Tieback Samuel and Sons
The heart of your product was in France. How do you keep up with production demand when this looks handmade?
Where is it made today? Samuel & Sons passementerie offers unparalleled craftsmanship within our vast collection of hand tied Tassel and Beaded Fringes, Tiebacks and hand woven Braids, some of which take hundreds hours to weave. All of the Tassel Fringes and Tiebacks within all of our collections incorporate meticulous handwork. We collaborate with the world’s finest mills around the globe to develop and produce our beautiful trimmings.
Margaux Collection by Samuel and Sons
What is your favourite colour combination in the collection and have you used it in your own home?
I’m drawn to colour combinations that illuminate the complicated details of ornate Borders, Fringes and Tiebacks and have created many favourites over the years.
Among those are the Trianon Collection’s Chocolat which features a slate infused coco ground accented by rose, current, meadow green and sky blue. Another, more subdue favourite is the Margaux Collection’s Wedgewood d’Or which pairs soft grey blue, luminous gold and ivory, a poetic combination I’ve used in my own dining room.