You Can Expect to See This Cool New 'Marquetry' Style in All the Most Luxe Homes This Year

Stripes and checkerboard patterns have taken on a new life in design in recent years. Where once they were a more classic, stuffy way to introduce surface pattern, they've now taken on a role of the 'joy-maker', bringing a sense of fun and whimsy. This, in the wrong applications, can read child-like, but matched with materiality such as wood marquetry, it's pitch-perfect for our homes right now.

Marquetry is an ancient furniture-making technique that harks back all the way to the Romans, before reaching its peak popularity during 16th century France. It’s most commonly associated with King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. It involves placing pieces of wood veneer to an object’s surface, allowing everyday furniture to play host to intricate designs without compromising their structural integrity.

Today, designers are bringing a modern take on marquetry to create playful patterns which still retain an elegance fit for the French court. In particular, this striped interior design trend has gripped marquetry makers and brings an understated flair to the design, with angular stripes and their contrasting tones making for a bold statement piece.

Here are some of our favorite examples to buy into right now.

It's clear to see that this style of marquetry still only really exists in the realms of luxury furniture and decor — it's not a process that lends itself particularly well to mass-production, and therefore more wallet-friendly prices.

However, there are small artists and craftspeople starting to embrace this craft in modern ways too, and while still likely an investment, can be a great way to buy into this trend on the ground floor.