The Captivating Florence Broadhurst

The mitchell library, State Library of New South Wales

Florence Maud Broadhurst (28 July 1899 – 15 October 1977) was an Australian designer and businesswoman whose 1977 murder remains a mystery.  So says Wikipedia, doesn't that just suck you in?  Ms. Broadhurst's murder was the culmination of a lifetime of secrets and questionable ongoings.  I was initially interested in Florence Broadhurst because of her extraordinary wallpaper designers and bought the book Florence Broadhurst - Her Secret and Extraordinary Lives by Helen O'Neill.  But the book, besides the beautiful color images of the designs, not a typical coffee-table-design-book, it reads like a adventure mystery novel.  With what a Dateline Mystery her life was, there is very little information written on her.  Take a look at dozens of her designs at  Signature Prints. 

Above Images from Signature Prints

Image

Walnut Wallpaper

Ms. Broadhurst's genius is becoming more recognized as wallpaper is experiencing a resurgence.  Her patterns are coming off the walls and into fashion and home accessories. 

Check out the Florence Broadhurst rug collection here and here.

Check out the handbags here.

While swaddling and entire room in one pattern is typically not in my design sense, I would make an exception for several Broadhurst designs.  These are patterns with intrigue and undiscovered history.