de Le Cuona | Mokhoro Stripe – Azurite

Mokhoro Stripe in Azurite is a linen stripe in a deep, clear blue, named for the mineral and true to it: saturated without being loud, with a mineral depth that shifts a little with the light. A stripe is a quiet way to bring structure into a room, and this one gives a steady, vertical rhythm that draws the eye up and makes ceilings feel taller. It has the dry, natural character of linen rather than a polished surface, which keeps the blue grounded.

The cloth is 95% linen and 5% polyamide, 135 cm wide, with a vertical repeat of 58 cm. It is rated at 30,000 Martindale rubs, which is a heavy domestic rating and comfortably suitable for upholstery as well as curtains. It is sold by the half metre, which is useful for sampling a piece or making up cushions, though larger projects will want the full quantity bought together. The reference to quote is MKS3, and the design is from de Le Cuona.

We would use Azurite for curtains in a living room or bedroom, hung with the stripe running vertically so the lines fall cleanly from pole to floor. It also suits a pair of armchairs or a slim sofa, where the stripe gives a tailored finish, and it would make a handsome dining chair seat or window seat. For a pairing, we like it with plain oatmeal or chalk linen, warm white walls and natural oak, which let the blue do the work without competing.

A stripe asks for care in the making. With a 58 cm repeat, allow extra cloth for pattern matching, and ask your workroom to confirm the quantity before cutting, particularly across a pair of curtains where the stripes must line up at the leading edges. For upholstery, have your upholsterer centre the stripe on the seat and back and match across the cushions. Linen can relax a little with use, so allow for the cloth to settle, and order everything in one go so the batch matches.