Brunschwig & Fils | Aralam Print

Aralam is a printed linen from the Cape Comorin collection, and the first thing to know is its scale. The pattern repeats at 122.18 cm, which is the full height of a doorway and more, so the design is a large, open composition rather than a small repeating motif. Printed on linen, it takes on the slightly irregular, dry hand of the cloth, which softens the graphic line and gives the colour a lived-in depth. It suits rooms with height and plain surroundings.

The cloth is 100% linen, 137.45 cm (54") wide. The vertical repeat is 122.18 cm (48") and the horizontal repeat is 137.45 cm (54"), so the horizontal repeat equals the full width of the cloth. It is offered in two colourways: Flint/Rye, a restrained, mineral pairing, and Flame/Cadet, which is warmer and more graphic. No Martindale figure or place of making has been given to us, so we would treat it as a decorative linen and choose its use accordingly.

We tend to use it where the pattern can be seen in one piece: a pair of tall curtains in a sitting room, a single large Roman blind, or a headboard panel in a bedroom. It is also good on a generous cushion, centred so the main motif is not cut. Flint/Rye works with bare boards, stone and pale plaster, while Flame/Cadet is better against deep, plain walls with some natural wood. Pair either with an undyed linen on the opposite side of the room so the print is not repeated everywhere.

With a repeat this long, allow plenty of extra cloth, since each drop will waste a good part of the repeat. Plan where the motif falls on the finished piece before cutting, and match the pattern across widths and between pairs of curtains. Line the curtains, as linen can hang unevenly, and ask your workroom to allow for natural shrinkage. Order everything from a single batch and keep a little spare.