Meet our design team

New House have always employed the very best of British talent and Melanie Jones and Laura Fletcher are the designers behind our unique look and products.

Melanie Darwin RCA

After a 1st class BA Honours in Textile Design, Melanie studied Printed Textiles at the Royal College of Art in London. Perhaps her 'life changing' moment came on a work-placement at an Indian textile design studio, watching the artisans carving wooden print blocks and applying their designs onto textiles by hand. They encouraged Melanie to experiment and to keep trying new things.

Inspired by this and back in England, Melanie carved leather into simple shapes that she used for block printing. At the same time hand-dying and stitching panels of fabrics together to create bespoke roller blinds with block prints on top. She was showing her blinds at 100% Design London when I was bowled over by the beauty of her work and asked if she could help at New House?

Ever since Melanie has been at the centre of New House's thinking and design. Not only in creating new blinds, braids, pulls or prints, but in editing collections and colouration too. Along with Laura, Melanie has created our unique photography and helped built New House's image into what it is today.

Melanie has great creative energy and a unique way with design.  

 

Laura Fletcher RCA

Laura studied textiles at the Chelsea College of Art and Design before earning a place at The Royal College of Art (RCA) London, Europe's most prestigious design college to study woven textiles.

Before graduation Laura was recruited by the Trend and Colour Forecasting Industry (and still works for the London branch of Peclars Paris today). However it was at the 2005 RCA Summer show that New House were so impressed by Laura's weave and colour work that we asked if she could help redesign our braid and trimmings collection on the spot? Happily she accepted and Laura has worked with us for over 17 years now, having a huge input into the colour, print and weave of New House.

As well as helping out during the photography of our latest collection, Autumn Gold is one of her designs :

   

As well as work for New house, Laura also creates some amazingly luxurious woven cushions, throws and other homeware products in trademark stripes that are available from New House or Laura Fletcher Textiles

Charlotte Farmer

Charlotte is a brilliant illustrator and has created many of our excellent homeware ranges as well as roller blind prints.

   

Charlotte is an active print maker and is often found in Spike Island, Bristol.