Mark Alexander | Synamay

Synamay is a fine open weave of natural fibre mounted on a paper backing, and it is one of the lightest things in the Collage II collection. The strands are thin and closely set, so the surface reads almost as a cloth rather than a paper, with a faint grid visible where the warp crosses the weft. There is very little relief to it. What it gives a wall is a soft dry finish and a slight movement in raking light, rather than any real depth.

Rolls are 91 centimetres wide and 10.97 metres long, with a 40 centimetre repeat to match. Two colourways: Chalk, an off-white that stays warm rather than going grey, and Mist, a pale cool neutral a shade or two down from it. The fibre is natural, so panels vary a little in tone and the weave density shifts across a roll. We would treat that variation as part of the finish and choose the colourway accordingly.

We tend to use Synamay in rooms that want lifting rather than filling, so a bedroom, a dressing room, or a landing with little natural light. It takes a picture rail and hung art well, because the surface is quiet enough to sit behind them. Chalk is the safer choice against white-painted joinery; Mist suits a scheme built on greys and pale stone. Order a sample to see it in your own light.

Paste the wall and hang the length dry. Keep paste off the face and wipe any that strays immediately with a clean dry cloth, as the fibre will not take a wet clean. Match the 40 centimetre repeat at every seam and butt the joins rather than overlapping them. Order all rolls together, check the batch numbers agree, and add one spare roll for later repairs.

• Roll width: 91 cm
• Roll length: 10.97 m
• Pattern repeat: 40 cm vertical
• Application: Paste-the-wall
• Care: Wipe gently with a soft, dry cloth
• Collection: Collage II, Mark Alexander
• Colourways: 2 (Chalk, Mist)