GP & J Baker | Summit

Summit opens the Essential Colours group in this selection, GP & J Baker's house range of plains and fine textures developed to work alongside the wider print and embroidery collections. It carries a modest 34 by 17.5 centimetre self-texture rather than a flat, repeat-free face, giving it a little more surface interest than a true plain. These are the workhorse cloths of the House, the plains a designer specifies again and again because the colour range is wide and the hand is consistent.

The composition is 42 per cent cotton, 36 per cent viscose and 22 per cent polyester. It is 137 centimetres wide, with a 34 centimetre vertical and 17.5 centimetre horizontal repeat, and GP & J Baker tested it to 40,000 Martindale rubs, which is rated for upholstery. Four colourways: Parchment, Mole, Spice and Woodsmoke, moving from a pale neutral through taupe to a warm terracotta and a smoky grey.

We use it for a sofa or curtains in a scheme built around warm neutrals, where the four colourways let you layer tone without pattern. Pair Parchment or Mole with an archive floral, and let Spice or Woodsmoke anchor a room on their own, particularly in a scheme that wants warmth without reaching for a full print. Sold by the half metre; order a sample to see it in your own light.

Match the texture across widths on a large piece, since the repeat is stated in both directions. Line curtains for a good fall; for upholstery, standard construction applies, and at 40,000 rubs it is rated for genuinely heavy daily use, including a family sofa. Check the dye lot across a large order, as is good practice with any of the Essential Colours plains.

• Composition: 42% cotton, 22% polyester, 36% viscose
• Width: 137 cm (54 in)
• Pattern repeat: 34 cm vertical, 17.5 cm horizontal
• Abrasion resistance: 40,000 rubs (Martindale)
• Suitable for: Upholstery, Curtains
• Care: Dry clean professionally; do not wash, bleach or iron.
• Collection: Essential Colour I, GP & J Baker
• Colourways: 4 (Parchment, Mole, Spice, Woodsmoke)