Baker Lifestyle | Ashwell

Ashwell is a plain velvet from Baker Lifestyle's Denbury collection, drawn from the book's Neutral notebook, so the whole range sits in soft, workable neutrals rather than strong colour. It has a dense, even pile with a soft crush and a cotton-rich hand that gives it a slightly drier surface than a fully synthetic velvet. The single colourway is deliberate: Denbury is built as a coordinated collection, and Ashwell is there to anchor the print rather than compete with it.

The composition is 92 per cent cotton and 8 per cent polyester, woven 137 centimetres wide, with no repeat. Baker Lifestyle test it to 45,000 rubs on the Martindale, a strong figure that puts it comfortably in upholstery territory, and it is rated for curtains, loose and fixed upholstery and bedspreads. One colourway, Pewter, a soft mid-grey with a little warmth to it.

At 45,000 rubs we are happy to put Ashwell on a sofa or a pair of armchairs in daily use, and Pewter is one of the most versatile neutrals we carry, sitting equally well against warm and cool schemes. It also works well as a headboard fabric, where the pile takes light softly and hides the odd mark better than a flat weave. Pair it with the Denbury print itself, or with a plain cream linen for a quieter room. Sold by the half metre; order a sample to see it in your own light.

With no repeat there is nothing to match, so order your measured quantity plus a working margin for wastage. Steam rather than iron this weight of velvet, and brush the pile in one direction across an entire piece of furniture so the colour reads evenly from every angle. Keep it away from direct sun for long periods, which can dull a velvet's pile over time. Dry clean only.

• Composition: 92% cotton, 8% polyester
• Width: 137 cm (54 in)
• Abrasion resistance: 45,000 rubs (Martindale)
• Suitable for: Curtains, blinds, loose and fixed upholstery
• Care: Professional dry clean only; do not wash, bleach or iron
• Collection: Denbury, Baker Lifestyle
• Colourways: 1 (Pewter)