Palm Beach Illustrated

Explore Ikat | Marc Thee

   Even if you’ve never heard the word “ikat,” you’ve surely seen the fabric, as it’s been around for hundreds of years. Marc Thee (right), co-CEO of Marc-Michaels Interior Design in Boca Raton and curator of Altogether Home, says ikat is making a resurgence in home design because of its versatility and timeless elegance. “The pattern itself is classically ethnic with wonderful saturation of color—which brings attitude and opens the door to mix in other culturally driven textures, patterns or metallics,” he says.

   Ikats come in a variety of colors—some vibrant, others muted—and an endless array of graphic patterns. A dash of ikat can add a bold nod to a traditional room or a sense of worldly chic to a contemporary space.

   Below, some ikat picks that will make the Palm Beach home, and some words to live by when getting graphic with pattern.

Ease into it.

If you are intimidated by ikat, start by incorporating one or two ikat items that coordinate with the other colors in the room. Or go for a more subtle variation.

	Colors of the Oasis: Central Asian Ikats by Sumru Belger Krody ($300, amazon.com).
Brown Daphne ikat Arne Jacobson Swan chair, Madeline Weinrib (price upon request, madelineweinrib.com).
	Aloewood cotton ikat pillows (left), John Robshaw Textiles ($115-$175, johnrobshaw.com).

Global appeal.

Ikat, a traditional dyed, woven fabric, is popular in Central and Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Africa and the Americas.

Essex sofa in feather gray ikat, West Elm ($1,444, westelm.com).

Green/taupe ikat table runner, Kim Seybert ($460, kimseybert.com).

Ikat is timeless.

These patterns have been around for centuries and will continue to remain in style. Don’t be afraid to splurge on an ikat piece—it will have lasting power.

Bohème (left) and Japura (right) fabrics, Manuel Canovas (price upon request, manuelcanovas.com).

Jennifer Garrigues covered the chairs in this dining room in an ikat fabric. Photo by Peter Rymwid.