Trendlet Alert: Zigzags

By Marni Elyse Katz
May 3, 2010

clockwise from top left: Italian models Alessia Fabiani in Missoni at Milan Fashion Week; designer and blogger Stephanie Sabbe's DIY chevron wall; a dress in the window of Anthropologie in Boston; Italian model Fiammetta Cicogna in Missoni at Milan Fashion Week; sketched Palette Dinnerware by PATCH NYC for Anthropologie ($7.95-$9.95 per piece); designer and Elements of Style blogger Erin Gates used Ann Sacks tile in a chevron pattern as a backsplash; a bedroom loveseat upholstered in Lee Jofa Sundara Velvet in Sea/Sand, designed by Molly Luetkemeyer of M. Design; Luetkemeyer's daybed on her Laurel Canyon deck is painted with blue and white chevrons (photo by Grey Crawford); Missoni Liuwa Rugs from The Morson Collection, Boston ($3,560-$5,505); Chevron artwork by PATCH NYC; room designed by Miles Redd (photo by Simon Upton/The Interior Archive)

The Look: The succession of V-shapes known as the zigzag (a single V is called a chevron) has been around for as long as humans have been carving images onto rocks, but never has the pattern been more popular than it is today. While Missoni caused a sensation with its zigzag and other geometric-patterned knitwear in a kaleidoscope of colors back in the seventies (a signature look which the design house continues to produce today in both fashions and home furnishings), interior designers are fully embracing zigzags of late.

Seen In: With ethnic-style prints all the rage on runways the last few seasons, its not surprising that zigzag patterns are popping up everywhere. Just days ago, we spied a tribal-inspired zigzag print dress in the window of Anthropologie. This month, Stella McCartney opened her first boutique in Milan , which boasts a gorgeous sustainable oak parquet floor in a range of earth-tone chevrons.

Perhaps most conspicuous (and wonderful) were the many zigzag rugs featured on the pages of now-sadly-folded Domino magazine, from the pale blue and white, ultra feminine bathroom with the zigzag floor designed by Mary McDonald to the chinoiserie-papered bedroom with crisp blue and white zigzag rug designed by Miles Redd (pictured above).

We’re guessing a lot of these big-name designers are using rug maven Madeline Weinrib’s zig zag floor coverings though Jonathan Adler’s herringbone rug is a sure bet, too. For those of us on a budget, you can get a similar zigzag rug from West Elm or designer Nate Berkus’s newly launched line of dhurries. eBay is, naturally, a sure bet too, as evidenced by our finds below.

Loved By: Boston-based interior designer Erin Gates adores the zigzag look, even if it’s accidental. When asked about a photo of a zigzag backsplash that we spotted on her blog, Elements of Style, she said, “It's one of my favorite things I've installed in a kitchen—ever—and it was a mistake! It was supposed to be the straight-across version of an Ann Sacks tile pattern, but they shipped the chevron pattern instead. When I opened the box, I immediately loved it, even more than the look I had actually ordered. The tile is a simple, traditional material that’s made modern (but not trendy) by the pattern. In fact, it's timeless!”

Don Carney and John Ross, the duo behind PATCH NYC, count the chevron among their current crazes. They told us, “We've been into chevrons in art for the last few seasons, as well as chevron fabrics of gentleman style; it’s an ongoing inspiration for us.” Anthropologie recently launched a chevron-patterned plate pattern designed by Carney and Ross. Called Sketched Palette Dinnerware, the design was created by transferring a block print they made right to the plate, for an artistic effect. It’s a more masculine look for Anthropologie, which was part of the attraction. The pair said, “We try to keep a masculine edge to what we do, and Anthropologie was excited to have something in their stores that might appeal to a guy.” And by the way, speaking of chevrons in art, remember the March cover of Elle Décor?

Innovative Ideas: Designer and blogger Stephanie Sabbe took the whole zigzag thing into her own hands, literally, by creating a zigzag wall at home using white contact paper. She says, “Chevrons are definitely the in vogue graphic pattern, and I wanted to boldly embrace the trend in my space. I installed this in less than an hour, and it can easily be removed when the fad has faded.” You can read how to get the look here.

Los Angeles-based designer Molly Luetkemeyer of M. Design, who lives in Laurel Canyon, CA “with all the hippies and musicians and artists” says, “I am really nuts for chevrons and love them on all surfaces. I recently had an outdoor daybed painted with blue and white chevron stripes and the result is pretty dynamic. I wanted to add a little ethnic flair to my deck and the stripes really helped take the daybed from average to Moroccan, with just a coat of paint.”