Barnett Home Decor Featured in July Issue of Better Homes & Gardens

Sister Parish & the American country style

Originally a generic covering for mattresses and bed pillows, in the Victorian era ticking stripes were hidden under bed sheets and pillowcases. The classic look came into vogue as a fashion home decor fabric in the 1940's, partly through the influence of interior decorator Sister Parish.

Parish was Jacqueline Kennedy's interior designer and is attributed by the New York Times as being the originator of the American Country Style. The style is famous for blending traditional furniture pieces and handicrafts with light colors, mixed prints, and an unpretentious lived-in feel. Architectural Digest lists painted floors, Anglo-Franco furniture, painted furniture, needlepoint, mattress ticking, rag rugs, botanical prints, white wicker, quilts, and baskets as the hallmarks of Parish and the American Country style.

Ticking in the 21st century

The biggest home fashion trend of the 21st Century has been Transitional Decor, a style that features an eclectic blend of traditional and contemporary furnishings in neutral colors, with a focus on comfort, texture and craftsmanship. The popularity of ticking stripes has surged again thanks to it's ability to play well with others, but ticking stripes are now available in a range of colors our Victorian and Mid-Century predecessors could only dream of.