The Ambrosa Collection of woven interior textiles and a comprehensive Research Study of the contract-residential market built my Master´s thesis graduation project made in Aalto University (Finland) in collaboration with 

Backhausen weaving mill (Austria).

The research part explored a definition of the contract-residential market and investigated practical and aesthetic qualities of textiles used in hotels and restaurants. It has been an immersive academic research, utilizing practical and theoretical methods of data collection, for example, seven expert interviews with versatile professionals working in the field of textile industry

 and in the contract-residential market.

A warmest Thank You to my university professor Maarit Salolainen and teacher Maija Fagerlund, as well as to the Backhausen Design Team and their leader, Creative Director Dr. Louise Kiesling, for their valuable contributions

along this wonderful design journey.

The Master´s Thesis Book

All above: Fabrics of the Ambrosa Collection.

The collection is intended for hotels and restaurants in a country style, called Landhausstill in German, yet it represents a modern take on it. The collection has traditionally looking designs and conventional motives, such as florals, diamonds and stripes, yet they are developed in a modern manner, combining naturalistic florals with geometrical grids and linear outlines.

The collection is based on watercolor sketches showing roses and bees, telling a romantic countryside story. Developing woven fabrics that are both durable and preserve watercolor shades and effects demands a clever use of 

woven constructions and bindings.

Collection development process and sampling

The Classic Spices colorway combines juicy oranges and herbal greens,

spiced up with some pink color.

The Majestic Earthy is a neutral colorway that shows elegant browns and greys.

The Sky Blue colorway with its soft grays and pastel blues 

represents a tender side of the Ambrosa collection.

The Scandinavian Romance colorway represents marine blues and grassy greens.

This 3D rendering by Marina Gretsova visualizes an application of the Scandinavian Romance colorway in a countryside Finnish hotel Villa Maija in Hanko,

a small city on a seaside. The blue and green colors of the room

echo the hotel´s surrounding nature.

The modern rustic identity of the Ambrosa collection was enhanced in styled photography made by Eeva Suorlahti. Using themed objects such as roses, berries and even chicken eggs helped to create a romantic and countryside feeling in photography. The fabrics feel cozy and homely, meeting the aesthetic needs

of the contract-residential market.

Me, setting up the stage for photography