The Checkerboard Pattern Is Here to Stay - Architectural Digest

From floors and walls to bedding and bath towels, it seems like the check pattern has touched every surface of our interiors and beyond. SkiptomaincontentDecorationRenovationConversationShoppingArchitecturalDigestCleverAllproductsfeaturedonArchitecturalDigestareindependentlyselectedbyoureditors.However,whenyoubuysomethingthroughourretaillinks,wemayearnanaffiliatecommission.Whenthepandemiciseventuallybehindussomeday,manypeoplewillfondlyrememberaparticularpatternthatreemergedduringalltheuncertainty—checkerboard.Fromfloorsandwallstobeddingandbathtowels,itseemslikethecheckpatternhastouchedeverysurfaceofourinteriorsandbeyond.(RoseLosAngelesevenincorporatedthecheckintothedesignoftheirMilkyFruityedibleswithNünchi.)Whatstartsasonesinglethingsuddenlymorphsintoeverythingaroundyou.ButthispatternismorethananotherpassingtrendintheInstagramalgorithm.Longbeforeanyofthishadeveroccurred,Iwasintroducedtothecheckeredwayoflifeinmychildhoodhome.MymotherisahugefanofMacKenzie-ChildsandwillgladlytellyouallabouthowtheCourtlyCheckisthebaseforthebrand.MacKenzie-Childshasbeenassociatedwiththepatterneversincethebrandwasestablishedbackin1983.Fordecades,thecompanyhasbeeninthebusinessofpromotingjoyandfunbyfillinghomeswithbeautifulobjectsdesignedwithaplayfulsensibilityatthecore.AccordingtoRebeccaProctor,thecreativedirectorandchiefbrandofficerforMackenzie-Childs,checkshavealwaysbeenutilizedas“adesigndevicetoseparateotherpatterns.”Sheadds,“WecallitUnderpinningsbecauseforus,it’sourneutral.It’sourfoundation.”AsetofCesca-stylechairswithcheckerboardseatsatatablewithacheckerprintframedonthewallinthehomeofthedesignerCarlaLores. Photo:CarlaLoresThoughanuntrainedeyemaynotnoticetheuniquenessatfirstglance,theMacKenzie-Childscheckisverydistinct.Becausetheprintishand-painted,subtleshadesofblue,green,andpurplearedraggedthrougheverybrushstrokeofblackandivory.Thechecksreallytookoffforthebrandwiththeintroductionofenameldinnerwareinthe1993CampMacKenzie-Childscollection.Rebeccarecallshowthepatternwasoriginallynamed“RoastedMarshmallow,”buttheyofficiallychangeditto“CourtlyCheck”in1995afterthebrandwasreferredtoas“thecourtjesteroftabletop”inanarticle.ThismomentwouldmarkamajorturningpointforMacKenzie-Childs.Thencamethesignatureteakettlein2003,whichhaspoppedupeverywherefromthesetsofmoviestothehomesofmoviestars.Withoutadoubt,theCourtlyCheckhasbecomethemostrecognizablepatternfromMacKenzie-ChildswithitsadditiontoprintedtextilesmadeoutofItalyandupholsteredfurniture.(KeepingUpWiththeKardashiansfansmightrememberthatKrisJennerisalongtimefan.)ThebrandalsooffersmorevariationswithParchmentCheck,RoyalCheck,andthenowretiredHoneymoonCheck,WittikaPickles,andWittikaPeanutscollections.“Introducing[checks]intokitchensspecificallymadethemcometolifeinanewway,”Rebeccasays.“Thekitchenhastobeaspacethatfunctionswell;thingshavetoreallywork.WhatMacKenzie-Childshasbroughttothekitchenisthingsthatfunction,butarebeautifultoo.”YuliaYushchik'sperfectlymismatchedkitchenwithMosatiledfloorsinherBerlinhome. Photo:ThomasWiufSchwartzDesignerSusanAlexandra’sfirst-everflagshipstorefeaturesamixofchecker,argyle,andgridpatterns.WhenthearchitecturaldesignerLulaGaleanowashelpingtoconceptualizethespace,sheinitiallyenvisionedaspiralpattern​​withthetileslikesomethingyoumightseeinakitchen.But,afterexperiencingsomeproductdelays,theydecidedtoflipthetilesintoadiamondpatterninstead.Anothertwistwasusinguniquecolorsratherthanthetraditionalblackandwhite.Lulapointsoutthat,whiletherearesomanydifferentstylestodoacheckerboardpattern,itallgoesbacktothegrid.She’sinspiredbytheinnovativeworkofOttoPrutscher,AndréePutman,andSuperstudiobecauseoftheirstrongdriveforgeometry,andsymmetryineverythingthattheydid.Lulaalsoadmiresthewaysinwhichthesedesign-forwardmindsplayedwiththecheckerprint,suchasintheiconicinteriorsoftheMorgansHotelinNewYorkCitydevelopedbyAndréein1984.Thecheckerboardrevivalcomesatatimewherewehavecollectivelyexperiencedagreattranscendenceinthefaceoflife-alteringchanges.LisaBuhler,thefounderoffashionlineLisaSaysGah,suspectsthatsomanyofusarecurrentlydrawntoitbecausethere’ssomuchjoytobefoundintheprint—shedescribesitasa“feel-goodprint”thatissymmetricalbutfun.Stemmingfromthespikeofginghamandanewfoundobsessionwithpicnictableaesthetics,thecheckerpatternrevvedupasittookascenicdeparturefromracecarcultureandclassicchessboards.(Perhapssomeofusareguiltyofbinge-watchingTheQueen’sGambitalittletoohard.)“WhatIthinkissointerestingisthatitreallytookoffduringthepandemic,”Lisaexplains.“Seeingpeoplebuycheckeredpantswhenthey’renotgoinganywhere...They’rebuyingitforthemselvesintheirhouse.”MostPopularshopping16DoormatsThat’llWowYourVisitorsBySydneyWassermanrenovationThis350-Square-FootSilverLakeShedBecameanExpressiveADUByKathrynRomeyncleverTheWeirdGirlAestheticIsDominatingFashion,ButHowDoesSheLive?ByKelseyLawrenceThefullviewfromthebackofSusanAlexandra’sflagshipstoreinNewYorkCity. Photo:EricPetschekAsmorepeopleditchedtheirstaleworkuniforms,therewasanoticeableshiftinthecollectiveconsciousnessaround“wearingalittlebitmoreofyourpersonality,”Lisasays.Thesameattitudecanbeappliedtothehome,whichmanyofusbecamefixatedonredecoratingduringquarantine.Lastyear,LisaSaysGahcollaboratedwiththeSwedishtextiledesignerKatherinePlumbonaspecialholidaycollectionthatfeaturedhersignaturedaisycheckprintsalongsidenewgraphiciterations.(Asexpected,Katherine’shomeiscoveredincheckers.)WhilesomefashiondesignerslikePalomaWoolhavetakenthepatterninamorepsychedelicdirection,othersareconsideringasubtlerapproach.HomeUnionfoundersMeghanLavery-KingandDanielKingstartedincorporatingcheckerboardintotheirbrandaround2019.Theirwindowintothisworldinitiallyopenedthroughbathroomtiles,butMeghaninsiststhatitreallycamefromadeeperappreciationforthegrid.GrowingupinMaine,shewasexposedtovariationsofthepatternthroughfarmhouses.Whenreflectingoncheckerboard,Meghanthinksofitas“countrychic,”whileDanielisremindedoftheharlequinprintthathasbeenaroundsincetheMiddleAges—hementionshowthepatternshowsupeverywherefromarmortoflags.Priortothebigcheckerboardboom,thecoupledesignedtheirowncheckerboardwoolrugswithmismatchedcolorstosellattheshop.Now,thepatterncanbeseenalloverthewallsoftheirBrooklynstorefront.Meghanobserveshowinterestingit’sbeentoseetrendsinfurnitureandfashionoverlappinginrecentyears,notingthatthedesignmediumsare“waymorerelatedthantheyusedtobe.”Sheattributestherecastofbeingboldthrougheye-catchingpatternsasoneofthemainreasonswhycheckerboardbecamepopularagain.MostPopularshopping16DoormatsThat’llWowYourVisitorsBySydneyWassermanrenovationThis350-Square-FootSilverLakeShedBecameanExpressiveADUByKathrynRomeyncleverTheWeirdGirlAestheticIsDominatingFashion,ButHowDoesSheLive?ByKelseyLawrenceColoredtilesinthebathroomofarenovatedrowhouseinBrooklyn,NewYork. Photo:EvanJorgensenDanielandMeghantendtogravitatetowardcheckeredpatternswithsimilarcolorsthatareslightlyoffashade,citingBainaasabrandthatiscurrentlydoingthiswell.“Theplayfulstuffisreallycool,butwhatwe’reinterestedinrightnowisalittlebitmoreontheelegantside,”Danieladds.ThepairingsfortheircollectionwithPiecesserveasanexample,whiledemonstratingthetechniqueofanoversizedcheckerboard.AccordingtoBainacofounderanddirectorAnnaFahey,themotivebehindaddingcheckedpiecestotheirrosterofbathtowelswas“toavoidtheclassicstripedpooltowel.”Shepointsouthow,dependingonthecolors,thepatterncantakeondifferentaesthetics.Forexample,AnnadescribesPalomaSunandEcruasacolorwaythatis“bright,fun,andcreatesastatement”whereasTabacandNoir“connectstothosewholiketolayertheirspaceinwarmthanddepth.”Sheadds,“Thecheckerboardisnostalgic,classic,anddisruptive.”TheHomeUnionfoundersprefersubduedversionswithearthytonesthataremoremuted.Lisaalsosupportstheminimalcheckerslook,emphasizinghow“there’safinelinewhereitcangotoomuch.”Lisathinksthatthe’80sversionofcheckerboardwithchunky,oversizedsquaresandcolorblockingwilllikelygainmoretractionsoonbecauseit’stoneddownbutstillelevated.(Itwasonlyrecentlythatshebroughtacheckerboardtiletableintoherhome.)AgreencheckeredMoroccanknottedrugfromBerberStuffinthecozyapartmentofvintagedealerAaricaNichole. Photo:AaricaNicholeMostPopularshopping16DoormatsThat’llWowYourVisitorsBySydneyWassermanrenovationThis350-Square-FootSilverLakeShedBecameanExpressiveADUByKathrynRomeyncleverTheWeirdGirlAestheticIsDominatingFashion,ButHowDoesSheLive?ByKelseyLawrenceForthisgeneration,thecheckerboardisauniversalmotifforfunthatoffersatouchofsoftnessinanotherwisedullandrigidworld.LulaproposesthatthenexttakeonitwillbeintheformofaLabyrinthshapethatoverlaysdifferentgeometries.It’salsoasuperaccessiblepatternthatanyonecaneasilyreplicateathome,whetherinHollywoodbathroomsorFrenchkitchens.RebeccaofMacKenzie-Childshighlyencouragesthemixingofpatterns(squiggles,polkadots,harlequindiamonds,flowers,etc.)foraplayfultabletopsetting,explaininghowtheoriginalideafortheCourtlyCheckwastojuxtaposeitwithsomethingreallyfeminine.“It’sacreatureofitsown,”shesays.“It’sgotaverybigmouth,itjustgetsoutthereandshouts‘Lookatme!’butitwasneverreallyintendedtostandalone.”Nomatterwhereyouare,DanielofHomeUnionarguesthatcheckerboardcanworkanywhere.“It’stimelessinthetruesenseoftheword,”hesays.“Youcanputitinafarmhouseorasupermodernhousethathasnocolor,andthenallofasuddenthere’scheckerboardinthere.”Ultimately,it’sallaboutfindingyourownwayofdoingit.“Checkshavebeenreveredassomethinghighandimportantindesignforever,”Rebeccaconcludes.“Ithinkcheckshavehadaplaceinhistorythatgoesfartherbackthanhistoryevenremembers.What’ssofunaboutdesignisrevivingthingsandbringingthembacktogivethemnewviews,newlives,newmeaning,andnewreferences.”Ready,set,go…checkerboard!MacKenzie-ChildsCourtlyCheckEnamelTeaKettle,DecorativeTeapot,2-QuartTeaKettle$135atAmazonMacKenzie-ChildsParchmentCheckEnamelPedestalPlatter-Small$165atAmazonMacKenzie-ChildsCourtlyHarlequinShowerCurtain$218atSaksFifthAvenueBainaBrown&BlackJosephineHandTowel$50$40atSSENSEBainaBrown&BeigeRomanPoolTowel$110atSSENSEBainaGreen&WhiteQuillFaceCloth$25atSSENSEBainaxBinuBinuTowel&BarSoapSet$80$64atSSENSEMoseyMeCheckersBathMat$54atGarmentoryCheckeredBlack&WhiteRacingToiletPaper$8atEtsymomiVintageCheckeredCuttingBoard$155atNordstrom$165atHomecoming$175atmomivintageCheckerboardTaperCandleSet$18atUrbanOutfittersAlinaBuffierePlayfulCheckRemovableWallpaper$79atUrbanOutfittersNordicRoundCheckeredPlacematsBuyItatEtsyCrosbyStudiosBlueCandleWithTag$75atHBXCheckeredMarbleAshtray$70atTetraWalnut&MapleEnd-GrainCuttingBoard$150atEtsyBaggu2-PieceStorageCubeSet$33atNordstromCheckeredCeramicVintageSugarPot$35atEtsyCheckeredHandTowel-Blue$35atBrainDeadVintageSetof10PoppyRetroBrownPatternedStackableMugs$32atEtsyGlassTileCoasters$16atEtsyRohiniCheckerboardDaybedCushion$269atUrbanOutfittersRiojaCheckeredThrowBlanket$189atBienMalGrandPrixBaby$80atJiuJieExtraLargeGreenCheckeredLinenPillow$231atCuttalossaIncenseBowl$80atMellowWildRoseShop&StudioCheckerboardCandle$36atUrbanOutfittersColorfulCheckeredSwirlPatternBythespacehouseForDenyYogaMat$68atUrbanOutfittersRomaRoomDividerScreen$353atUrbanOutfittersDusenDusenCheckDuvetCover&ShamSet$243atNordstromGucciGuccissimoLargeTrinketDish$285atChairishMaharamEditionArtekAaltoStool60$495atDesignWithinReachHomeUnionxPiecesGiglio-InsalataCheckWoolRug$1,080atHomeUnionExploreCleverShoppingcleverAreYouReadyforaPaisleyPrintComeback?ApredictionforthenextwavetohittheworldofinteriorsBySydneyGorerenovationThese7RenovatedKitchensProveMixandMatchCabinetsAddFlairHomecookingisawholelothappierinthesecolorfulspacesByRachelDaviescleverTheWeirdGirlAestheticIsDominatingFashion,ButHowDoesSheLive?Unpackingthemicro-trendthatisallaboutclashingandagainsthyper-categorizationByKelseyLawrencecleverWhytheBarbiecoreTrendWillNeverGoOutofStyleAnewfoundaestheticprovesthattheculturalobsessionwithBarbieisstillstrong🎀ByKelseyLawrence