Mulberry Home | Duck Pond Velvet

Duck Pond Velvet takes a scattering of wildfowl and reeds and works them into a cotton velvet, the motif pressed into the pile rather than printed on top of it, so the pattern shows mainly as a change in the way light falls across the surface. It is a countryside design with real charm, the kind of velvet we use where a room wants texture and a story at the same time rather than a flat plain. The embossing is worked finely enough that the birds read as texture from across a room and resolve into wildfowl only close up, which keeps the design from feeling too literal.

The composition is 88 per cent cotton and 12 per cent polyester. It is 132 centimetres wide with a 38 centimetre vertical repeat and a 66 centimetre horizontal one, and it is recommended for curtains, loose and fixed upholstery and bedspreads. Two colourways: Indigo, a deep, watery blue that suits the pond theme, and Emerald, a rich green closer to reeds and rushes.

We would put this on an armchair or a footstool in a country hall or a snug, or hang it as curtains in a bedroom for real depth and warmth. A headboard in Emerald with plain linen sheets is a good, quiet use of it. Pair it with a plain wool or one of the Country Walk prints. Sold by the half metre; order a sample to see it in your own light.

A making-up note: velvet has a nap, so cut every panel the same way and check this with your maker before stitching, since the embossed motif will catch the light differently depending on the direction. Allow one repeat per drop. Dry clean only, and avoid crushing the pile in storage or transit.

• Composition: 88% cotton, 12% polyester
• Width: 132 cm (52 in)
• Pattern repeat: 38 cm vertical, 66 cm horizontal
• Suitable for: Curtains, loose upholstery, fixed upholstery, bedspreads
• Care: Dry clean only; do not wash, bleach or iron
• Collection: Country Walk, Mulberry Home
• Colourways: 2 (Indigo, Emerald)