Custom drapery made from the Martyn Lawrence Bullard Collection for The Shade Store, photographed at the famed Abernathy house in California.
Photo: Courtesy of The Shade Store
Martyn Lawrence Bullard Designs Unexpected Collection of Beautiful Window Coverings
The designer's new assortment for The Shade Store features a palette of tranquil neutrals and striking textures
Martyn Lawrence Bullard with window coverings from his new collaboration with The Shade Store. Photo: Courtesy of The Shade Store
While West Coast designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard is heralded for the exuberant interiors he conjures for the Hollywood A-list, it turns out the Star Style (Vendome Press) creative also has a softer side. Available starting November 18, Bullard’s new line for The Shade Store forgoes the rich, jewel tones and dramatic contrasts that often punctuate his glamorous spaces, instead leaning into earthy shades and sumptuous materials.
“I am known for color and always love to use color in my work, but I’m also passionate about texture,” Bullard tells Galerie. “This new collection is based on more natural, neutral tones but it’s made special by the textures and weaves of the fabrics which add so much depth to them. Understanding that the textures seemed to glow from the lighter tones in the color spectrum made me decide to create the collection in mostly these neutral shades which is also a nod to the mid-century movement that I feel the collection pays homage to.”
Flat Roman shades made using Cactus Weave in Indigo from the Martyn Lawrence Bullard Collection for The Shade Store. Photo: Courtesy of The Shade Store
A passionate jetsetter, Bullard’s sophomore collection with The Shade Store draws influence from his global travels to fabulous destinations like Tangier, Paris, and Palm Springs. “The fabrics were custom woven for us to capture the essence of Palm Springs,” he says. “That was my first inspiration for the collection. All the beautiful mid-century interiors that survive in the desert often times have wonderful textured fabrics on the upholstery, these textures were the basis of the collection. That with the feel of the desert terrain, the undulating sand dunes and the clean lines of the case study architecture all provided the outline to these textures that we created.”
Drapery made using Andreas in Parchment from the Martyn Lawrence Bullard Collection for The Shade Store. Photo: Courtesy of The Shade Store
Curtains made using Mirador in Ivory from the Martyn Lawrence Bullard Collection for The Shade Store. Photo: Courtesy of The Shade Store
Photographed in the Abernathy house, a striking midcentury-modern landmark originally conceived by architect William F. Cody in California’s Coachella Valley in 1963, the assortment enlivens the structure’s geometries and walls of glass that emphasize the hip indoor-outdoor flow of the region, letting bright colors of the landscape shine through. And while the collection of fabrics for drapery, shades, cornices, and pillows is decidedly contemporary, they organically meld with the home’s vintage aesthetic.
“Neutrals are always in style,” says Bullard. “We need neutrals to ground all and any interior. They provide the bone structure of a room to add the decorative ‘make up.’ My collection however has so much texture to it they almost become jewel-like. I do believe these type of textural fabrics will be a big trend moving into 2025 and will have great longevity in design throughout the decade.”
Shades made using Mirador in Sage from the Martyn Lawrence Bullard Collection for The Shade Store. Photo: Courtesy of The Shade Store
Curtains made using Mirador in Dune from the Martyn Lawrence Bullard Collection for The Shade Store. Photo: Courtesy of The Shade Store
Available in four styles, the assortment for The Shade Store includes: Desert Tweed, a Chanel-like weave in sandy hues and a refreshing cactus green; Andreas, a Calder-like collage of unique shapes in two colorways; Mirador, a nubby classic offered in ivory, taupe, sage, and deep midnight navy; and Cactus Weave, a painterly striation influenced by the 1960s style of Sunnylands designer William “Billy” Haynes.
“New drapery or shades make a huge difference to a room,” advises Bullard. “A neutral drape will allow the view beyond to be the star, and the art and furniture pieces within to shine. I love a textural window treatment where you color block and just let the natural beauty of the fabric become the couture moment. That allows you to add any color or pattern to your room, or just makes a strong design statement and update to your room without having to change anything else.”
Cover: Custom drapery made from the Martyn Lawrence Bullard Collection for The Shade Store, photographed at the famed Abernathy house in California.
Photo: Courtesy of The Shade Store
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