At Home in the Shavin House
Every so often, a design story comes along that bridges decades and continents in the most wonderful way. This week, we are taking you on a journey across the Atlantic to Chattanooga, Tennessee, to visit an architectural masterpiece: The Shavin House.
Built in 1952, the Shavin House is the only residential home in Tennessee designed by the legendary American architect Frank Lloyd Wright. It is a stunning example of his 'Usonian' style, a unique design philosophy that laid the foundation for what we now celebrate as Mid-Century Modern architecture.
Crafted from native Tennessee Crab Orchard sandstone and Louisiana cypress wood, the home features Lloyd Wright's signature low-slung roof, corner windows and a seamless connection to the landscape, making the entire house a beautiful testament to timeless, organic design.
Last year, a member of the Shavin family reached out to us as she knew our textiles shared a kindred spirit with Wright's interiors. She wanted to use our pieces throughout the house to add colour and softness.
Seeing our contemporary British designs nestled alongside Wright’s iconic woodwork and classic 1950s geometry has been an absolute joy. It perfectly captures how naturally our collections complement the mid-century aesthetic. While our fabrics are rooted in traditional UK manufacturing, this pairing proves that thoughtful design is truly universal. Rather than simply acting as surface decoration, our bold, asymmetrical blocks of colour actively converse with the architecture, bringing texture and a harmonious modern spark to a deeply historic space.
Karen Shavin enlisted photographer Bruce McCamish to beautifully capture the
home's interiors, showcasing how naturally our products interact with the building's rich wood tones and abundant natural light. If you would like to see more, you can watch a video shot throughout the incredible house by Michael Wittlock.
We hope these images inspire you to see how a bold pop of geometric design can completely transform a corner of your own space, no matter its style or scale.
