How Patterns are Born: A Story of Collaboration with Matějovský

Last year, Matějovský Bedding approached me with a vision for a collection of original patterns—one where each design would be unique, yet all part of a single family. When a commission like this comes in, a wave of joy washes over me, and a billion possibilities flash through my mind. I wait with excitement to find the four clear silhouettes among them. It’s an adventure I share with the client; as we talk more about their ideas, my imagination reacts to every spark—be it a color, a theme, or a feeling. Over hours, days, and weeks, everything around me begins to influence the work.

Nature is my primary source for botanical motifs, but I find inspiration everywhere; it always relates to the project I’m currently living through and the lens through which I’m observing the world. At the same time, I carry certain subjects in my head constantly—those I haven’t yet created but long to. One of these was 'Grasses'—the dry plants that most often line the fields. I love how the sunlight flickers through their fragile lines at the turn of summer and autumn. When the wind blows, the stalks and flowers move, occasionally vanishing entirely in the golden light. This pale beauty—a delicacy resisting the force of the wind—comes alive with the touch of sunbeams against a cold blue sky. It’s a contrast that fills me with a beautiful restlessness.

The pattern 'V polích' (In the Fields) waited in my mind for many seasons before I finally placed its brown-and-blue variation onto white cotton satin. It is subtle enough for minimalist spaces, offering the romance of nature without the need for florals. It feels just as at home in a rustic country setting as it does in a modern city apartment or a masculine bedroom.

Roses have accompanied me throughout my life at home. They lined my grandparents' walkways, the village streets, and front gardens; they surround my own house even now. When orange blooms opened on a tall bush, with deep pink flowers right behind them, I looked through their horizons into my small garden and knew they would become the next bedding pattern. After all, who wouldn’t want to sleep on such beautiful roses?

Instead of a more traditional all-over pattern, I chose large areas of white. In combination with the colors of the roses, they remind me of fine porcelain—its luster, delicacy, and purity. The borders where the roses are arranged on the pillowcases reflect the luxury of the cotton satin they are crafted from. On matte cotton, I might have scattered the roses freely across the pillows, but satin inspires the elegance of the finest hotel suites. These variations offer the chance to create a dreamlike sanctuary at home, perfectly complemented by a beautifully crafted quilted bedspread.

Mr. Matějovský asked me to include a blue-and-white pattern right at the start of our collaboration. My goal was to find a form that would work beautifully beyond just countryside cottages—though it will certainly feel right at home there. The blue-and-white combination is a hallmark of my signature style; it’s the one I use most often, and I adore it on everything from clothing and tableware to architecture, illustration, and traditional blueprint (modrotisk). It is a timelessly beautiful pairing that effortlessly evokes a sense of cherished tradition, gracefully carrying a rural heritage into any environment.

Berinky is the only motif in the collection that does not feature a snow-white background. The warmth of deep forest berries and leaves is complemented by a base shade of beige with subtle green undertones, giving the pattern a contemporary, chic feel. Like the others, this design is printed on luxurious cotton satin with a delicate luster.

The name Berinky itself is a playful take on the English word berries, which I feel perfectly captures the whimsical nature of the colorful fruit. I love how these gemstone colors pair with earthier tones on the bedsheets. At home, I’ve been experimenting with various combinations of natural, darker shades to create a unique atmosphere for sleep—it almost makes me want to curl up in bed and stay there until spring.

I love shaping a home, just as I love dressing or painting, in harmony with the nature outside my window. For me, it is about reflecting the mood and respecting natural cycles—in the kitchen as much as in lifestyle—slowing down in autumn and dancing into spring. The patterns I created for Matějovský are designed to be adaptable all year round, depending on the colors and textures you pair them with.

I’ve always found joy in the art of 'mix and match.' Observing women in traditional folk costumes, for instance, reveals how their taste and intuition have evolved over a lifetime. You realize that 'combining by the thread'—finding that common floral or color link—is the key to a harmonious whole. You can ground your combinations in a single shared tone across multiple patterns, or play with their intensity. Choosing to play, rather than just repeating the expected, makes life so much more beautiful.

I am delighted that my collection for Matějovský is also designed with gifting in mind. Each set arrives in a stunning box. Personally, I’ll be repurposing these boxes to store Christmas ornaments, family photos, greeting cards, and similar cherished keepsakes.