Inspired by the art of la dolce far niente—the sweetness of doing nothing—this year’s latest décor trend invites us to slow down and savour the moment. Think sun-drenched afternoons in golden stone courtyards, linen tablecloths fluttering in the breeze, lemons in a Maiolica bowl and the clink of glasses under olive trees.
“The Mediterranean Summer” is all about effortless elegance, grounded in sub-tropical warmth and a sense of nostalgic escape. Opt for earthy tones, hand-painted ceramics, woven textures, lemon motifs, and breezy silhouettes that evoke the charm of a Gozitan getaway.
After designing floral patterns for more than a decade, and right on-trend, UK-based interior designer Abigail Borg felt a creative pull to develop a collection inspired by the Maltese summer. Her father is Maltese, and on her most recent trip to these islands visiting family she spent time at the salt pans with her children, finding a new-found admiration for them.
When creating her Salt Pan Azure Ecru linen-cotton fabric, Borg designed a collection of fabrics inspired by the grid-like patterns of salt pans, or ‘Salinas’ that have dotted the coastlines of the Maltese islands for thousands of years. Oozing nostalgia, yet very much in use today, these salt pans sparkle under the summer as salt begins to crystallise when the pooled sea water evaporates. Inspired by the chequerboard patterns created by this centuries old technique, ‘Salt Pan’ is Borg’s interpretation of the organic shapes and shimmering pools often seen when flying over the islands of Malta and Gozo. With its soft geometric design, it embeds the timeless beauty of this timeless landscape into contemporary design for the modern home.
The Azure Ecru colourway (above) is evocative of the many shades of blue which surround the Maltese islands in the heart of the Mediterranean sea. The fabric is also available in Honey Ecru (below) which is printed onto an unbleached natural linen, mottled by golden tones inspired by the limestone rock into which the salt pans are carved.
Borg also has also designed fabric inspired by the caper plant, or ‘kappar’, found climbing rock faces and old buildings – including cushions in grey, navy and ecru with creeping leaves and ruffled edges. It’s a versatile, multi-directional pattern which is characterised by the loose movement of the plants fleshy leaves. Kappar is equally striking when applied with the leaves flourishing upwards or cascading downwards. Colour choices include Seagrass, Sunset and Mist.
Visit www.abigailborg.com to see more.
