Inside the Design: Colorblock Plaid
Some patterns never go out of style (and for good reason). Here at Schoolhouse, we’ve always had a thing for plaid. It’s familiar, cozy, and quietly confident—woven into so many cultures and design traditions that it feels almost universal. So, when we decided to expand our Milo Upholstery Collection with a new fabric, plaid was the natural choice. The real question was: how do we make it feel fresh?
Enter Colorblock Plaid. This vibrant, woven fabric is our love letter to the bold interiors of the ’60s and ’70s. We took cues from the large-scale, colorful plaids of that era (like the kind you’d find on your favorite vintage armchair) and added a palette that’s both playful and surprisingly sophisticated. Think bright red and cobalt balanced by raisin-hued purple and a warm tawny brown. The result is a fabric that feels nostalgic in the best possible way—with a modern edge that makes it feel brand new.
One of the things we love most about plaid is how it reveals the weaving process. You can literally see the pattern forming as the warp and weft cross each other, each intersection creating something new (and that’s exactly where the magic happens). With Colorblock Plaid, the bright individual yarns mix to form softer, more layered hues. It’s almost like paint, you start with primary colors, blend a little, and suddenly you’re somewhere totally unexpected.
Originally, we tested this pattern at the same scale as our classic windowpane plaid, but it felt a little too busy for the number of colors we were working with. So, we zoomed out. Bigger blocks, more breathing room. The larger scale brought a sense of calm and structure to the palette, while letting those saturated tones come through. We also knew early on that we wanted to see it on the Milo Sofa, so we scaled the pattern to complement its clean, tailored shape. Once we saw it on the arms? Done deal.
Of course, the palette took some experimenting. We played with a lot of combinations (some of which we may still release, just wait until fall!) but this mix felt the most exciting. It’s colorful, yes, but also grounded. The raisin adds depth, the tawny brings earthiness, and together they calm the energy of the brighter primary hues.
If we had to sum up the mood we were going for, it would be something like “instant nostalgia.” The kind of fabric that reminds you of a piece your grandparents had, but in a way that feels relevant now. “There’s joy in the pattern and color,” says Katie, our VP of Design, “but also a sense of history. I hope it brings that same layered feeling into people’s homes.”
At the end of the day, Colorblock Plaid is more than just a bold fabric, it’s a fresh take on something timeless (which is what we strive for in all of our designs). It’s confident, colorful, and rooted in tradition, with just the right amount of modern ease, and we can’t wait to see where it ends up.
