The LEEP Pattern House Reading List​

Our approach to pattern making is rooted in architecture, historic preservation, and the history of decorative arts. This reading list brings together books that have informed our research into British decorative art and pattern design, particularly the relationship between nature, stylization, ornament, and illustration from 1860 to 1940. These books offer a starting point for anyone interested in the history behind the patterns, materials, and decorative traditions that continue to inspire our work.

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Pattern & Ornament

• Repeat Printed Pattern for Interiors — Kate Farley

• Pattern Design — Lewis F. Day

• The Language of Ornament — James Trilling

• The Grammar of Ornament — Owen Jones

• Printed Textile Design — Amanda Briggs-Goode

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Walter Crane, William Morris & Arts and Crafts

• The Bases of Design — Walter Crane

• The Claims of Decorative Art — Walter Crane

• William Morris — Linda Parry

• The Arts and Crafts Movement in Britain — Alan Crawford

• The Arts and Crafts Movement — Elizabeth Cumming and Wendy Kaplan

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Architecture, Artists & Decorative Movements

• The Art and Architecture of C.F.A. Voysey — D. A. Cole

• Mackintosh — Alan Crawford

• Art Nouveau — Paul Greenhalgh

• Vanessa Bell: A World of Form and Colour — Rebecca Birrell, Fay Blanchard, and Anthony Spira

• The Art of Bloomsbury — Christopher Reed

• The Omega Workshops — Judith Collins

 

This list will grow as we continue researching the history of wallpaper, architectural ornament, and historic interiors. We hope it inspires you to look more closely at the stories behind the patterns around you.