CloseThe Oriental Club: A Legacy in Wallpaper
Our relationship with Russell Sage began in the earliest days of Fromental. Russell, fresh from a celebrated career in luxury fashion and already making waves in interiors, was drawn to the luxurious materials and ornate details applied in our work. At once a creative friendship was born and, since then, we’ve had the pleasure of collaborating on many remarkable projects, like The Goring.
Russell, who came to interiors after a celebrated career in fashion, brings an irreverent brilliance to his work, combining historical references with a bold sense of modernity. At Fromental, we share that spirit, weaving artistry and innovation into everything we make. Over the years, we’ve collaborated on numerous projects, each one a joyful fusion of our visions. So, when the opportunity arose to reunite for the Oriental Club, it felt like a natural continuation of that journey.
The Oriental Club, a private members’ club steeped in history, provided a perfect canvas for this collaboration. Founded nearly 200 years ago for members of the East India Company and others with ties to the East, the club carries an aura of opulence and nostalgia. It was clear from the outset that this project demanded something extraordinary—something that honoured its rich legacy while reinvigorating its interiors for today's audience.
For this, we adapted our Florent Chinoiserie wallpaper, infusing it with bespoke elements to capture the club’s unique identity. Drawing inspiration from the work of 18th-century artists Thomas and William Daniell, who painted evocative scenes of India during the British Raj, we incorporated architectural details, elephants, peacocks, and lush landscapes into the design. These motifs, blended seamlessly with traditional Chinoiserie elements, create a tapestry that tells the club’s story: its ties to the East, its colonial past, and its enduring elegance.
The choice of material and palette was equally deliberate. Printed on rayon with a slub texture to evoke the richness of textiles, the wallpaper feels both luxurious and practical—a man-made silk suited to the club’s needs. The colourway, a deep crimson and olive green inspired by our Blood Olive, amplifies the sense of exoticism and fantasy central to the design.
For us, this project was about more than creating something beautiful. It was about embedding the club’s history into its very walls. The result is a space where tradition and imagination coexist, where each detail invites reflection and admiration.Working with Russell again was a joy. His understanding of history, his love for eccentricity, and his bold vision align so closely with our own. Together, we’ve transformed the Oriental Club into a space that not only honours its storied past but reimagines its future. For those who step inside, the wallpaper is more than decoration; it is a raconteur, inviting inhabitants to lose themselves in its narratives of trade, travel, and timeless beauty.
At Fromental, we believe that design should do more than please the eye. It should resonate, inspire, and connect. This collaboration with Russell Sage Studio at the Oriental Club reminds us why we do what we do: to turn walls into art, and spaces into stories.
