Lizzet Frausto × Anna Blakey
At The Merchant House, Charlbury, Cotswolds
Where strength meets softness.
There are some collaborations that begin with a product, and others that begin with an idea. With Anna Blakey, it began with a desire to bring people together around a table.
We decided to gather a group of talented women in business for a relaxed lunch at The Merchant House in Charlbury, a beautiful Cotswolds village surrounded by countryside. With its old houses, narrow streets and wonderfully traditional character, Charlbury made a fitting setting for an afternoon centred around creativity, conversation and connection.
For the table, we chose Grace as the tablecloth, paired with Oak Leaf napkins — a deliberate combination inspired by the story behind the design.
Grace was inspired by the oak tree and the way something so strong can also have a softer, more delicate side. The graceful movement of oak leaves as they fall in autumn became the starting point for the flowing arrangement of the design. Grace was my first tablecloth, and later became my first fabric.
There is strength in softness.
Anna brought her own eye and sensibility to the table. Seasonal dahlias added colour and movement, while handmade ceramic candleholders and plenty of candles created warmth without competing with the pattern. Each element had its place, building layer upon layer into a setting that felt welcoming, elegant and entirely at ease.
The old beams and stone walls of The Merchant House provided a beautiful backdrop. Around the table, women from different backgrounds came together — some already familiar with one another, others meeting for the first time. Conversations began, new connections formed, and the table became what we had hoped it would be: a place to gather, share ideas and enjoy one another's company.
Grace was made for bringing people together.
Looking back, it feels like the perfect choice for that afternoon. Feminine but strong, delicate yet full of character, Grace carried something of the spirit of everyone around the table.
And perhaps that is what we love most about pattern: its ability to create an atmosphere, to bring different elements together, and to make a space feel personal.
