GP & J Baker | Carlyle

Carlyle is a woven geometric on a matt ground, the sort of small-figured design that gives a scheme structure without becoming the subject of it. The figure repeats every 11 centimetres vertically and 9 across, so it reads as a considered texture at a distance and as a clear, slightly angular motif when you are sitting next to it. The viscose and cotton carry the pattern cleanly, and the linen content gives the surface a dry handle that keeps the whole thing from looking slick.

It is 44 per cent viscose, 23 per cent cotton, 18 per cent polyester and 15 per cent linen, woven 137 centimetres wide, with a Martindale figure of 31,000 rubs, which covers curtains, loose and fixed upholstery and bedspreads in a family house. This colourway is Soft Red/Teal, a warm red figure against a cooler teal ground, and the two are close enough in depth that the design stays calm rather than graphic.

We would put Carlyle on a small pair of chairs either side of a fireplace, on a long bench in a hall, or on cushions in a room that is otherwise plain. It also works as a Roman blind where a full curtain would be too much pattern. Keep the company simple: a plain teal or a stone linen for the larger upholstery, unlacquered brass, a dark stained floor. Sold by the half metre; order a sample to see it in your own light.

Allow an extra repeat per drop when you are matching. On an 11 centimetre vertical repeat, a pair of curtains for a standard window takes around half a metre more than the plain calculation suggests. On seat cushions, centre the figure on the front rail rather than the back, and ask your upholsterer to mark the centre line before cutting so that a pair of chairs match one another exactly.

• Composition: 44% viscose, 23% cotton, 18% polyester, 15% linen
• Width: 137 cm (54 in)
• Pattern repeat: 11 cm vertical, 9 cm horizontal
• Abrasion resistance: 31,000 rubs (Martindale)
• Care: Dry clean only; do not wash, bleach or iron
• Collection: Essential Colour III, GP & J Baker
• Colourways: 1 (Soft Red/Teal)