Drapery Row: Drapery Row Reviews the Thomas Paul II Print Collection from Duralee

Having been able to spend lots of time with new Duralee Thomas Paul II prints collection, I can safely say that this is currently my favorite collection of indoor prints. Thomas Paul has chosen an eclectic mix of motifs but stays true to his vintage aesthetic. The collection boasts Asian, aviary, botanical and spyrographical designs.

The design that most people will remember from this collection is Perch. Perch features the beautiful colorful birds and insects against the sketch outline of tree branches and birds nests. Perch is printed on a mostly cotton cloth (there is a negligible hint of linen- probably for texture). Like all of the designs in the collection- the coloration hits just right and makes the pattern look like it came straight out of the arts and crafts movement.

Other Highlights:

Skimmer is another excellent design, featuring a top down view of an endless formation of dragonflies. There is some very subtle detail in this design- especially in the aqua and lavender colorways. The cotton and linen cloth makes a return appearance here giving Skimmer that great organic and vintage look.

Neptune, the first of two coastal designs, features the iconic Tonna Cepa shell printed on a nicely weighted cotton duck. The monotone print just keeps pace with the fidelity of the design making it appear like vintage newscopy. Neptune comes in five colors, pictured below is Neptune in Persimmon.

The large scale of Oceania makes me long for an outdoor version of this design. It would be a showstopping pattern- not at all dissimilar to Scalamandre's great outdoor turtle pattern from a few years ago. Where this pattern has that beat, however, is in the fantastic level of detail in each of the sea creatures. I'm not sure if the folks at Duralee realize this, but this isn't just a good design- this is a timeless design that should do well for them for years and years.

The Asian inspired pagoda design, Folly, looks like a Post World War II era cloth brought back to America from overseas. It features a colorful fretwork design with medallion overlays with pagodas in cameo. Also of note, is the interesting large scale print, Plume, which is a monochromatic peacock feather print.

Summary:

The great price point and uniqueness of these patterns make it a Collection that I'd definitely recommend. It seems that Duralee is really hitting their stride when it comes to bringing in talented designers to create exclusive lines for them. Everything from the packaging to the marketing roll out on Thomas Paul II shows Duralee's confidence in the product. They should be confident- these are the nicest prints you will find anywhere for under $50 a yard.

This is a new collection and all new collections tend to evolve into something else over time. I hope Duralee and Thomas Paul continue down this path and I wish them nothing but success with it. Some of these patterns would make stellar outdoor designs.

Thomas Paul II highlights: