Stories in Blue: From the Canals of Amsterdam to your Table
The Art of the Unexpected
I’ve always believed that every journey I take is a source of inspiration—even when I’m not actively looking for it. It’s about the dialogue that starts in my head when I discover something new. On my last trip to Amsterdam, that dialogue was dominated by one color: Blue.
Walking through the city, escaping the Dutch chill in a small house-museum, I found myself surrounded by a hue that felt both ancient and incredibly fresh. It wasn't just a color; it was a narrative of order, calm, and history.
Vogelkamer (Bird Room) at Museum Van Loon, a well-preserved 17th-century canal house museum in Amsterdam
Where toile de Jouy Meets Delft Tiles
As an artist, I was fascinated by how two different traditions—French and Dutch—spoke the same visual language.
The Garden on the Wall: I stood before a stunning Toile de Jouy wallpaper [Insert your Photo 1]. There is something so soothing about its single-color rendering. This specific pattern felt like a wild meadow trapped in a rhythmic dance of birds and swirling foliage. It reminded me that a pattern can be protagonist without "shouting".
The Soul of the Kitchen: Moving into the kitchen [Insert your Photo 2], I encountered the famous Delft tiles. In the 17th-century Netherlands, these were used for practical reasons—easy to clean and resistant to heat—but they also turned functional spaces into storytelling canvases. The cobalt blue, inspired by Ming Dynasty porcelain, became a symbol of purity and "silent elegance" in the Dutch home.
Museum Van Loon in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The museum is a preserved 17th-century canal house that offers a glimpse into the life of a prominent Dutch family during the Dutch Golden Age.
Meet the "Francis" Tray
This trip was the final spark for our Francis from Flower Notes Tray. While traditional Toile is often monochromatic, I wanted to take that "Amsterdam Blue"—a color that structures and calms—and let it serve as a canvas for something more vibrant.
In the Francis design, we kept that deep, sophisticated blue background but allowed the botanical elements to bloom in full color. It is our way of honoring the history of "functional art": taking an object meant for daily use and turning it into a piece of conversation for your home.
Bring the Vibe Home
You don't need a canal-side house to embrace this aesthetic. The secret to modern table scaping is balance.
A Designer’s Tip: Pair blue accents with natural textures like wood or raw linen. A single tray on a coffee table or a set of illustrated napkins can instantly cool the "visual heat" of a room, providing that Protestant Dutch sense of order mixed with New York creativity.
Inspired by the blue of the North? [Discover the Francis Tray and our botanical-inspired collections here.]
