Carte Blanche. It’s a liberated expression, a French turn-of-phrase that literally translates to “blank paper”. It’s also Christopher John Rogers’ first foray into the home.
Set to arrive in September, the Louisiana-born designer has teamed up with supreme paint and wallpaper maker Farrow & Ball for a poppy capsule collection of handcrafted paint and paper. On the catwalk, his clothing designs are uniquely himself, walking the line between pragmatism and glamour with an air of child-like play; take it from his Resort 2024 show which paired rainbow stripes and grids of multi-hued polkadots with huge three-dimensional flower appliques and shimmering patchworked sequins. These domestic decor concoctions are hardly different; they boast the same vivacious spirit and play of patterns – they’re simply streamlined for the world of interiors.
“Graphic print, and declarative, nuanced, sophisticated colour with a joyful, childlike spin; I love crafting clothes that can act as tools for our customer’s self expression – something that’s declarative and directional but never prescriptive,” the LVMH Prize finalist explains. “I think that same end-use mentality was injected into this Carte Blanche collection.” Taking a page out of his own archive and library of swatches, Rogers’ distinctive flair and unapologetically cheerful disposition comes to life through carte blanche and the endless possibilities that it, like an empty white wall, presents.
Enamoured by art from a young age – everything from Ellsworth Kelly and the costumes of comic book characters to airport decor – Rogers was inspired by cherished memories of food and family for the link-up, experiences that lend themselves to the idea of the home as a sanctuary.
The result is a foundation of four neutrals, eight statement shades and three zesty wallpaper prints. Those 12 new paint shades range from Lobster and Pea Flower Tea blues to Raw Tomatillo green, Hog Plum yellow to Romesco crimson, Shallot pink and more, to structural neutrals like roasted macadamia Cardamom, Au lait and black Liquorice. “Colours, and the feelings that I get from them, are always my starting point when working,” he explains. The wallpaper? That’s where the pattern play comes in. A first time endeavour for Farrow & Ball’s collaborative projects, the decorative overlays each play with a different, geometric shape. Dots add tantalising depth to interiors. Wide statement stripes lengthen a room and bold, Bauhaus-inspired checks pay homage to the innovative work of Anni Albers. Each of them bears a tactile finish achieved by hand-painting paint on paper at Farrow & Ball ’s Dorset Factory. With these artisanal paints and papers “the customer can craft a room that’s entirely neutral with a bit of our paper, something incredibly kaleidoscopic, or a room that sits neatly in-between these two spaces” according to Rogers.
From ultra-matt, durable Dead Flat® to mould-protected Modern Emulsion best for kitchens and bathrooms, each high-performance finish is crafted with a precise balance of pigments and a low-odour, low-VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) water base that doesn’t compromise on durability. (VOCs are the culprits behind the polluting and pungent smell of many paints). There are even masonry options if you’re planning to spruce up your home’s exterior.
The collaboration is itself a conversation between heritage and modernity, merging classic art inspirations and Farrow & Ball’s traditional techniques, perfected over 75 years, with an unexpected pop-art-style twist. For Rogers, home decor “just felt like the right next step”. He explains, “I’m very into expanding the CJR world beyond clothes, and home felt like an exciting (but timely) deviation… This is definitely just the beginning.”
When Farrow & Ball reached out the year prior, the idea of a link-up simply made sense to Rogers considering both brands’ “affinities for colour, quality, and lasting design”. “Working with people who understand where you’re coming from is always easy and fun,” says Rogers. Charlotte Cosby, creative director for Farrow & Ball, adds, “It’s been incredible to work with Christopher because craft and attention to detail are intrinsic to both of our processes, so I always knew this collaboration was going to be something special. Carte Blanche is all about helping people find the freedom to create their own look and enjoying the process while they do it.”
With the pure playfulness of Carte Blanche you might actually be in the mood to watch paint dry, (who’da thunk it?) so kick back, relax, pour a cuppa’ and get to personalising your space.
Carte Blanche launches September 7. Discover the collection here. Photography by James Merrell courtesy of Farrow & Ball x Christopher John Rodgers.
