See How This Fabric Designer Dressed a Blank Slate

fabric covered bench
The bench above is covered in Cotton & Quill velvet and topped with pillows from the company. To make the task of doing laundry more enjoyable, Mary Catherine decided she would give the space an upgrade. She added travertine tile and a wallpaper from Cotton & Quill. Now every time she opens the door she smiles. / Photography by Marcy Black Simpson

Within two years of moving into the house, Mary Catherine embarked on a new business venture. She says, “I love interiors, I love fashion, and I love graphics.” That combination of interests and her college studies in industrial design inspired her to start Cotton & Quill, a fabric and wallpaper company. Her designs have a modern, but classic look, and some are more playful than others. The fabric used at the kitchen windows is an example. Titled Grande French 75, the pattern was inspired by classic champagne coupe glasses. Stacked end to end they make a strong graphic design. Mary Catherine first used the fabric for kitchen drapes, but living with two dogs she soon discovered drapes weren’t very practical, so she cut them to make roman shades.