In focus

Q&A with Genevieve Bennett, Head of Design at Liberty Interiors

Liberty is a world-renowned design house dating back to the 1870s, steeped in rich history and celebrated for its global influence. Founded by Arthur Lasenby Liberty, it opened its flagship Regent Street store in 1875 as a hub for arts, culture and design. A key player in the Arts and Crafts and Art Nouveau movements, Liberty has since pioneered iconic floral prints, collaborated with leading designers, and remained a defining force in British design.

Beyond fashion, its influence extends deeply into interiors, where its distinctive prints and luxurious fabrics have adorned homes for generations. From statement upholstery fabrics to home accessories, Liberty’s designs bring a sense of artistry and heritage to interiors, blending timeless elegance with a contemporary edge.

We were honoured to sit down with Liberty Interiors' Head of Design, Genevieve Bennett, to learn a bit more about what it's like working for such a prestigious name in design, and to get her take on using pattern and colour in the home.

Mount Stitch in Burleigh fabric, Genevieve Bennett, Head of Design at Liberty Interiors & Feather Petals, Mitsi Blossom & Art Stripe

How long have you worked at Liberty and can you tell us a bit more about your day-to-day role?

This year marks my sixth year with Liberty, and fifth year as the Head of Design for Interiors. Each day at Liberty is invariably different - we’re constantly discovering fresh moments of inspiration in our archive, and experimenting with new techniques, materials, colours, and patterns.

One of the aspects I love most about my work is the cross-pollination between tradition and technology, which innately speaks to so many of Liberty’s core pillars and rich history. We’re currently working on a really exciting project so I’m splitting my time between the studio and the wallpaper factory as we begin sampling which is one of the most exciting parts of a project for me.

What’s it like to work for such a renowned British brand with a huge global reputation?

There are few fabric archives that compare to Liberty’s storied 60,000-strong inventory. As a lover of tradition, history and archival storytelling it is an honour to work in proximity to this endless bank of inspiration. Liberty holds an iconic legacy of artistry and craftsmanship, originally founded in 1875, and has acted in conversation with so many icons of key artistic movements, designers and artists throughout the years; it's so special to be a part of this established lineage.

Liberty prints are so instantly recognisable, are there any classic Liberty prints that remain timeless favourites in interiors?

So many! A few that spring to mind would be Persian Voyage or Cypress Stitch (it has many names) which is a botanical paisley that has gone through various iterations across furnishing fabrics, wallpaper, cushions, fashion fabrics and even packaging. It is inspired by a detailed 19th century shawl pattern from our archive and speaks to so many of Liberty’s core themes - being part botanical, part paisley.

Another would be Ianthe, which was originally designed as a wallpaper border in 1908. It was reinvented in acid bright colours in the 1960’s Art Nouveau revival to become the foundation of Iphis - our iconic brand pattern since 2012. One of my favourite iterations of the design is our new Royal Ianthe which we developed for our anniversary collection this year. It is a large-scale, overprinted jacquard design in gold, which feels both contemporary and antiquated.

Genevieve's favourite design Orbella in Blythe, Persian Voyage in Amersham Linen & Royal Ianthe in Helsham

What is your favourite Liberty design and why?

Too many! I think my current favourite is Orbella, a geometric weave we developed for our House of Liberty Collection. It takes inspiration from a 1970s geometric print found in the archive and looks wonderful upholstered on furniture or offset against bold prints such as Palm Parade.

What does the creative process look like, taking a design from the archive and bringing it into modern day? How does Liberty balance heritage with contemporary interior trends?

We are always turning to the archive for sources of inspiration for our new collections. These reinterpretations manifest in different ways: from recreations of archival fabrics using varied colourways and scales, to more abstract takes on historical paintings or sketches. Our designers are immensely talented at viewing archival collections with a contemporary lens, playing with scale, proportions and colour, and technique to reimagine archival inspiration for modern interiors.

This can take many forms, from abstracting a detail from a larger design and using this as inspiration for something new, or even finding a fragment of something wonderful and using our imagination to fill in the gaps. Other times, we might re-invent an archival motif completely and rework it in a whole new style or scale. I think it is within this constant willingness to reinvent and rework, that we ensure our designs hold enduring appeal across both modern and heritage interiors.

What role do colour and pattern play in shaping a home, and how does Liberty approach this?

Colour and pattern are such integral elements to the overall atmosphere and feel of a space; they can influence our mood and completely re-energise a room.

We often begin by grounding the space in one of the six signature Liberty colour palettes which take inspiration from key materials, objects and designs throughout our 150-year history. We find these tonal palettes useful in making eclectic patterns liveable, mixing different scales and styles within the same family.

Contrast is also key - we love mixing our vibrant prints and embroideries with bold geometric patterns. Outside elements such as paint, tiles, rugs and flooring are equally as important and ensure the longevity of fabrics within a space.

Palm Parade in Dundee, Fantasia Jungle in Easton, Persian Voyage in Majorelle & Arbor in Penhurst, & Shadow Stripe Weave, Trepak Weave, Futur Embroidery & Trepak Embroidery

Do you see a shift in how people use wallpaper and fabric in their homes today?

People are embracing colour and pattern more than ever… especially warmer, cosier, and richer tones. I love the warm terracotta reds and corals, taupes and olives coming through at the moment which feel grounding and inspiring.

From the Liberty point of view, I have always loved pairing these types of colours with more vibrant hues to create a space that feels exciting yet liveable. I think customers have become braver - we see far more fully wallpapered rooms, even ceilings, which is fantastic.

Additionally, I feel interior enthusiasts are increasingly interested in the unique stories behind a fabric or a brand. Liberty has many wonderful stories to tell so this is good news for us.

Liberty is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year and has a rich archive to draw inspiration from. What does 150 years of Liberty mean for the brand?

As Liberty enters its 150th year, we both celebrate and reinvent the legacy of craftsmanship and artistry at the heart of our established design house, paying homage to our legacy as innovators and leaders in the world of interiors, while looking ahead to future generations. Our milestone anniversary brings with it such an exciting calendar of initiatives throughout the year - from product launches and in-store activations, to a cultural programme working in tandem with iconic institutions.

Where do you see Liberty in the next 10 to 20 years?

I see Liberty continuing to serve as innovators and leaders in the world of interiors and design, broadening our ever-expanding creative network as we look ahead to a new era of Liberty design and continue to cement our legacy in craftsmanship and artistry.