Striped in Horsehair: Oakley Moore x John Boyd Textiles

When John Boyd Textiles approached Kate Aslangul of Oakley Moore to collaborate on their first new horsehair fabric in over twenty years, the brief was deceptively simple: to create a striped horsehair collection with a crisp, contemporary sensibility.

Stripes are something Kate returns to again and again in her interiors. They are endlessly adaptable, capable of feeling coastal, classical, Scandinavian or contemporary depending on their scale and context. In almost every room she designs, there is a stripe somewhere. Sometimes they take centre stage; sometimes they sit quietly within the layering of a room, providing rhythm and cohesion.

The designing of the collection coincided with the renovation of Kate's house on the Île de Ré, a place where she has spent many happy summers bicycling to the market or to the beach across the salt marshes. The island's chalky light, muted timber tones and weathered shutters subtly informed the palette. Horsehair as a material carries inherent structure and formality, so the challenge was to introduce freshness and lively movement through colour without losing its integrity.

One palette in particular grew from a series of visual references that had been quietly sitting in her archive for years; a Biba dress, a fragment of antique silk and the paintings of Van Gogh, where colour is never static but seems to vibrate with life. Translating that feeling into woven stripes became an exercise in balance. Numerous colour combinations were explored, refining stripe widths by millimetres, and what appears effortless on the surface is the result of meticulous adjustments to scale, proportion and tone.

John Boyd Textiles has been weaving horsehair in Castle Cary since 1837, using original looms and traditional techniques dating back to 1870. Each fabric is crafted from the finest horse tail hair combined with cotton or silk warps, delivering exceptional durability, natural fire resistance and acoustic properties. With its deep heritage, it feels surprisingly fresh for today.

The collaboration has since inspired two new signature Oakley Moore pieces. The Flynn Drum Stool, with its clean cylindrical form, provides a perfect canvas for the movement of the stripe, whilst the Burton Lampshade introduces structure and character to a room without overwhelming it. Both are handmade in the UK. Kate's intention with both pieces was to create designs that sit effortlessly within all styles of interior, from coastal to contemporary and traditional to Scandinavian. The result is a versatile collection that feels both timeless and confidently modern.

The Flynn Drum Stool and Burton Lampshade are available to purchase online via Oakley Moore’s shop. Please note there is limited availability.

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This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a characterful and bold home design by 2023 SBID Awards Finalist, Oakley Moore Interior Design.

Oakley Moore Interior Design was commissioned to carry out a full refurbishment and redecoration of this Victorian terraced house in the heart of Fulham in London. The brief was to bring the property to life with a focus on the client’s art collection, using creative layering of textiles, materials and bold colours to deliver an expertly layered and characterful home. Kate Aslangul of Oakley Moore lead the design for the interior architecture, soft furnishings, bespoke furniture pieces and the hanging of all artwork.

What was the client's brief? 

Mandated to oversee a full refurbishment and redecoration of this Victorian terraced house in the heart of Fulham, our brief was to improve the flow of the property and breath new life into it with a focus on the client's art collection, using creative layering of textiles, materials, and bold colours.

What inspired the design of the project?

Inspiration for the design of the project came from the client, his love of art and his collection; he has many interests and has not only lived in the UK but also in the USA and France, so it was important to find creative ways to reference this and weave the threads to tell a story. He’s collected throughout his travels, so we had some strong pieces and colour references to use as starting points for the design.

To infuse sunshine and Provencal colour all year round I decided to make a feature of the kitchen/dining room wall which is a key siteline throughout the ground floor by designing a mural inspired by the work of Etel Adnan, a Lebanese/American artist who lived in Paris whose work I admire. The spare bedroom has a distinctly traditional French feel and using bright, modern colour and unusual fabrics makes it feel more contemporary.

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

The toughest hurdle was getting supplies and artisans as we started work during the Covid pandemic, so logistics and planning were incredibly important for the smooth running of the project to ensure that we delivered on time and on budget.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

This was such a special project for me as the client wanted something very layered and beautiful and allowed me the freedom to play with colour and fabric. His trust in me was a real highlight.

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

I’m honoured to be an accredited SBID designer and it’s always wonderful to be recognised within one’s industry.

What has being an Award Finalist meant to you and your business?

It is thrilling and a huge honour to be singled out within one’s industry. These prestigious awards are internationally recognised and provide a rare platform to gain recognition in a competitive industry for all the work involved in interior design projects. The awards not only put designers in the spotlight, but they give value to the craft and the industry.

Questions answered by Kate Aslangul, Founder and Creative Director at Oakley Moore Interior Design.