How To Get the Look of Fortuny Affordably

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Love Fortuny but can't afford it?  This homeowner used cost-effective paint to achieve the look by creating a stencil based on a Fortuny drawing.  I think the look is right on target with the whole maximalist design trend.  To me, this room feels much like the spreads in the uber chic print magazine, Cabana.

Using the fabled fabric on the walls has wonderful precedence.

Columns in the Venetian church Sant' Eufemia on the island of Guidecca are covered in Fortuny fabric from Christmas to Easter

Columns in the Venetian church Sant' Eufemia on the island of Guidecca are covered in Fortuny fabric from Christmas to Easter

Here, Fortuny fabric wraps the columns in the Church of Sant' Eufemia on the Venetian island of Guidecca from Christmas to Easter. I just missed this sight the last time I visited Venice!  

While I would adore a room wrapped this way , it must cost a fortune.

Walls upholstered in Fortuny fabric

Walls upholstered in Fortuny fabric

Beautiful turquoise room upholstered with blue damask Fortuny fabrics and furnished with Queen Anne style chairs

Beautiful turquoise room upholstered with blue damask Fortuny fabrics and furnished with Queen Anne style chairs

Using Paint to Achieve the Look

Few of us could afford the yardage cost to upholster our walls in Fortuny. That's why I love the stencil idea.  With a little digging, I found a company  that offers a ready-made stencil that mimics their damask.

Walls painted with stencil to mimic Fortuny damask fabric

Walls painted with stencil to mimic Fortuny damask fabric

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Inspiration From the Fortuny Showroom

Want something a bit more custom, like the walls in the first photo?

Why not create  your own stencil?     For inspiration, study some actual Fortuny fabrics.

Have a look at the sumptuous textiles  I shot when I visited their showroom in Venice last spring with the Designhounds.  (I also had  a peek at their secret garden.)  Our young Italian tour guide was so cute!

Mannequin and drapery fabrics in the Fortuny showroom in Venice

Mannequin and drapery fabrics in the Fortuny showroom in Venice

The "wings" of fabric at the Fortuny Showroom in Venice

The "wings" of fabric at the Fortuny Showroom in Venice

Chair and pillow in Fortuny fabric from the Fortuny Showroom in Venice

Chair and pillow in Fortuny fabric from the Fortuny Showroom in Venice

Fortuny lighting and fabrics from the Fortuny showroom in Venice

Fortuny lighting and fabrics from the Fortuny showroom in Venice

Fortuny fabrics from the Fortuny showroom in Venice

Fortuny fabrics from the Fortuny showroom in Venice

A cupboard full of Fortuny fabrics from the Fortuny showroom in Venice

A cupboard full of Fortuny fabrics from the Fortuny showroom in Venice

Inspiration From Valentino

Need more inspiration?  How about this glorious match-up with  Valentino gowns.  I simply can't resist the intersection of couture and interior design.

Valentino in Fortuny fabric, S/S 2016

Valentino in Fortuny fabric, S/S 2016

Valentino gown in the Fortuny fabric for the Spring/Summer 2016 season

Valentino gown in the Fortuny fabric for the Spring/Summer 2016 season

Ready to try it?  For more ideas, search the hashtag #cabanamood  and @homes_antiques on Instagram.

Fortuny Interiors by Brian Coleman

Fortuny Interiors by Brian Coleman

Photo credits: First image from Homes and Antiques magazine by Stefano Scata. Ready-made stencil photos from Royal Design Studio   Fashion from the Fortuny website.  Showroom photos by Lynn Byrne.  Photographs of the rooms with upholstered walls from Brian Coleman's  must have book: