i heart florence broadhurst

insideout sept/oct 2005
Floral Oriental is one of my all time favourite designs!

I couldn’t go very far into my blog without mentioning Florence Broadhurst! I have long had a love affair with her designs. Her wallpaper and fabric designs are timeless. I have several of the wallpaper samples on my inspiration board and I never tire of looking at them! And the Cranes in Sunspot cushion looks perfect on my lounge!

Used in the pop up store invite, this photo shows the diversity of Florence Broadhurst’s designs.

Late last year I went to launch of the Signature Prints pop up concept store in Brisbane and was lucky enough to hear Helen O’Neil read from her fascinating biography on Florence Broadhurst. Apart from loving her designs, you have to admire the flamboyant life she lived. She constantly reinvented herself, creating different identities and histories as she travelled around the world. And it all started from a cattle property in north-west Queensland!

A life by design – Florence Broadhurst in a magazine ad from the 60’s
After reading her biographies, I think this picture captures her personality perfectly!

I also find it inspiring that she started the wallpaper business at the start of her 60’s, proving you’re never too old! Our interiors would be so much more dull without her (and her creative team)!

The Cranes in many incarnations!

house and gardens website
Floral Oriental looks striking in this black & white scheme.

signature prints catalogue - http://www.signatureprints.com.au/
A few of my favourites!

An article in Vogue Living (Jan/Feb 2008) mentioned there were 530 designs in the Signature Prints library, with only 50 having been released to the public, can you imagine looking through them all!

emma hack - www.emmahackartist.com/wallpaper.php

And to end this post, an artwork by Emma Hack. I first saw her work on the front cover of the signature prints catalogue, it was so striking! I had to include my favourite from her wallpaper series, featuring The Cranes wallpaper.