Our subscriber newsletter this month introduced Gothic as the featured stencil collection. However, a newsletter format offers little room to show the relevance of period style in a contemporary setting or to give examples of how the stencils may be used......So, scroll on for inspiration and information
From simple transformations like decorating a chair cover, clothing, rug or storage chest to embracing the creation of an entire room of gothic gorgeousness there may be the perfect stencils waiting to help you achieve it.
The first and second image show stencil GMT52. The chair covers stencilled with GMT38 are tied on to existing seat pads for ease of cleaning and to avoid reupholstering. Both are in the repeating pattern section of our Gothic Collection.
Previous and next images show GMT53 in rich bold colours and then subtle shades of pearlescent and interference paint. Both rooms were in my home.
Image 6 shows interference paints with the same GMT53 stencil. I think you would agree that the choice of colours makes a big difference to the final result. Contact me for a colour chart and current stock list of these unusual paints I have a few colours left and they are lovely.
You could create the most dramatic wall-scapes with large stencils of knights and heraldry
just like I did in my first dining room! We can make the same knights and heraldry in a smaller scale and there is a simple version called TP52 Gothic in the Budget collection which would be a perfect size to embellish items such as boxes, book covers and cupboard fronts
For full on gothic colour think of richly decorated churches and civic buildings of the 1800s not just in Great Britain but North America and Western Europe. Although the style originated from England it spread rapidly.
Wall-hangings are a great way to add colour and style on a more portable basis. Stencilled hangings and rugs can be rolled and transported with ease between homes. The image above shows GMT51 on the mirror cabinet.
This stencil is GMT58 The addition of gold or other metallic colours add movement to your stencilled pattern because its changes with the reflecting light.
Here is GMT69 Gothic Motif no 6 stencilled in Crown Paint's 'Millionaire' gold paint for one of their brochures, it demonstrates that minimal gothic can be very appealing... and quick to do. The photo credit is Crown Paint U.K.
Stencilled tile patterns are an extremely versatile tool to decorate many surfaces. This one is T2 Tile no 2 from the tile section of our Gothic range. I have used it in various sizes over the years onto walls, floors and furniture. It remains a favourite.
Stencilled sisal matting and canvas floor cloths can offer a dramatic and portable way to inject colour and style into a room. Stencil GMT43 is the design. When I decorating these IKEA was a good source for buying sisal rugs.
SIB19-L Elizabethan is stencilled with both light and deep magenta coloured paint.
A similar design appears in black around the top of the room in the next picture. It is a border stencil; number GMT23 I had it enlarged to fit the space. All the herbs and flower stencils can be found in the Tree and Flower section of the Gothic collection.
My last essential gothic stencil for this post is GMT54 This design crops up on my social media and past blog posts because I use it such a lot; possibly the most unexpected of my projects was these stencilled jeans with velvet inserts.
What do I mean by Gothic style?
The Gothic Revival period is also called Victorian Gothic and Neo Gothic. The decorative style emerged in the 1800s Although described as the quintessentially English style it spread throughout Western Europe and North America. On our blog this month I am featuring classic and contemporary examples of Gothic stencil projects, some are from my own home. Please have a look; I hope they will inspire you and please do not forget that Chips, me and our social media followers really enjoy seeing your projects. If you mention @thestencillibrary or #thestencillibrary on Instagram or Facebook I should find them.
What does Gothic pattern look like? If you think of the painted pattern on church walls and grand civic buildings of the Victorian era you will recognise Gothic Revival. These richly detailed patterns historically were stencilled in deep reds, blues and golds although a modern interpretation might include the use of pearlescent colours, monochrome, pastel and self-tone examples
Who are the famous names in the Gothic Revival era? Well, there are quite a few but I shall mention the ones that had a direct influence on our stencil design and decorating style at The Stencil Library: Herbert Minton, Edward Burne-Jones, George Gilbert Scott and finally A.W.N Pugin & his family.
Not too far from The Stencil Library at Ushaw Historic House and Garden you will find a beautiful example of Gothic Revival in the main chapel, the design and decoration began with AWN Pugin and completed by his descendants. I have featured it some years ago in the 'Reasons to visit Northumberland visiting Ushaw' chapter of this blog.
In the late 18th century Gothick style emerged; it is not the same style as Gothic without the 'K. Gothick was often romantic and frivolously frothy with little historical basis....and along with contemporaries' 'Rococo' and 'Chinoiserie' is worthy of a future post and newsletter.
Helen