Decorating & Design
April 30, 2020
Shops We Love: Hand-Painted Designs From Mezari Atelier & Boutique
For wallpaper and textile designer Stephanie E.M. Coleman, whimsical prints and textile history go hand in hand. As the founder of Mezari Atelier & Boutique in Montreal, her unique designs reinterpret traditional motifs in a contemporary way, juxtaposing old and new for an alluring alternative to mass-produced designs. “Mezari Atelier is playful and unapologetically maximalist,” she says.
Her storefront boutique and atelier (which is temporarily closed due to COVID-19) carries her collection of wall coverings, botanical throw pillows, cityscape tea towels and cotton napkins, as well as jewelry, ceramics and accessories made by local artisans. But luckily, you can still place orders online.
Scroll down to read our chat with Stephanie!
Each of Stephanie’s patterns starts as an original drawing, often inspired by her affection for William Morris. She insists on using India ink with a quill pen — despite the constant stained hands and aprons — to dream up every design.
While she silk-screens all the textiles by hand in her studio, her wallpaper is silk-screened by artisans in Chicago who have been perfecting their craft since the 1960s. “I do everything the long, hard way, but it’s worth it,” she says. “The layering and richness of silk-screened ink on paper and fabric can’t be reproduced digitally.”
Rather than trapping florals in a stagnant state, Stephanie’s Snip Floral print is animated by mischievous hands busily snipping golden lilies with scissors. “My work may appear prim and proper at first glance, but it’s full of surprises,” she says.
Made of free trade organic cotton from India, these dainty napkins will turn your brunch table into an al fresco feast — the hand-drawn blooms are just begging for some sun.
“If you’ve ever encountered a Saskatoon bush with that weird growth that gets all over the berries, just picture that kind of scene,” says Stephanie of this napkin’s whimsical, quirky design, which highlights the beauty of “less dignified foliage.”
House & Home April 2020