

Pia’s Picks: chequered patterns make simple things look pretty
I’ve never been mad about chess. But I love the pattern on a chessboard. It spices up even the most everyday item.
I enjoyed watching the 2020 Netflix series The Queen’s Gambit, but it didn’t motivate me to play chess. Might this change with my new obsession for furniture and home accessories featuring chess board pattern?
Chequer patterns are great to give simple furniture and rectangular home textiles such as bed linen a more exciting look. The pattern often features unusual and striking colour combinations, creating a look that’s dynamic, but not too wild thanks to the organised and symmetrical grids. In addition, the pattern is very versatile, as the blue and beige ceramic coasters by Esmée prove. They go well with blue glasses or candlesticks that have different coloured speckles. In other words, you can combine them with similar colours for a tone-on-tone effect or create a style clash to spice up your decor. Combining several chequered items can also look good. Lorena Canals’ four Tiles rugs in different colours, for example, go together perfectly.

Source: Esmée

Source: Lorena Canals

Source: Paddywax
Last but not least, chequerboard patterns are timeless. Like stripes, squares and dots, they’re a classic. So there’s a good chance you’ll like them for longer than animal or palm tree prints.
In my Pia’s Picks series, I regularly showcase my favourite finds – things I might not need, but definitely want.
Header image: Normann CopenhagenLike a cheerleader, I love celebrating good design and bringing you closer to everything furniture- and interior design- related. I regularly curate simple yet sophisticated interior ideas, report on trends and interview creative minds about their work.