Put on a big hat, pour yourself a Pimm’s, and crank up the old Victrola.  British Colonial style encompasses a wide range of design elements and furnishings, from the Caribbean to the Far East, India, Africa and even Hong Kong. All share the influence of far-flung places conquered by the British as they marched around the globe – importing their culture and shipping exotic finds home. 

The English also adopted fabrics, such as lighter cottons and linens, in the tropical places they were grown. Linen or mattress ticking slipcovers covered the heavy furnishings and protected them from the dust that filtered in through open windows in the heat. Interiors in the tropics were light and airy, punctuated by the occasional floral chintz or mahogany chest from England; linen and cotton clothing replaced wool.  Local craftsmen printed fabrics with themes designed for the European marketplace - toile scenes, botanicals, and tree of life prints were exported from the colonies back home and became popular reminders of the adventurer's journey.  To read more about the history of British Colonial design, click here to visit our interior design website: British Colonial Style

See our collections of British Colonial pillows here:  Out of Africa Style   Caribbean Style