A Tale of Toile de Jouy
Toile is one of those patterns that has been around forever. This omnipresent organic pattern routinely pops up in the fabric and wallpaper collections that are introduced each season, usually with a new twist to keep it fresh and interesting. While this classic has always caught our eye, it wasn’t until we found this gorgeous Thibaut wallpaper for the powder room of our #IHGraniteRidgeReno project that we decided to give this enduring pattern a closer look!
The history
Toile de Jouy, which literally means "cloth from Jouy-en-Josas,“ became popularized after textile entrepreneur Christophe-Philippe Oberkampf opened the first toile factory in the town of Jouy-en-Josas in 1760. The word “toile” comes from the French word for “linen cloth” or “canvas” and Toile de Jouy was a specific type of linen or canvas often depicting a highly detailed and repeated nature-related subject matter in a single colour.
The evolution
The word “toile” itself is now more often used to describe the design aesthetic rather than just the fabric alone. Now, toile patterns are printed onto wallpaper, dinnerware, and other decorative objects as well. Traditionally recognized as soft pastoral prints on light backgrounds, it has since evolved to include edgier and more modern designs and colour ways — becoming a staple in both interiors and fashion!
This blog series is called History 101, where we'll be answering some of our team's most frequently asked questions! In the meantime, you can stay up to date with the In House Design team on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest.
