Álvaro Picardo creates Summerhouse for Gancedo, a collection of fabrics and papers designed and painted by hand.

Known for his foray into the world of interior design through his custom lampshade designs and his ability to incorporate colour into his pieces, Álvaro Picardo has spent much of his artistic career in London, although his Mediterranean and Spanish origins inspire his colourful creations.

Gancedo ‘s sensitivity towards different artistic, artisanal and original disciplines has found in the person of Álvaro Picardo and his manual pictorial technique, the perfect alter ego. Connecting with Gancedo’s DNA and remaining faithful to the values that make up his sensitive fibre.

In terms of the colour range of the Gancedo painting collection, the artist has chosen strong, contrasting and daring shades, avoiding traditional organic ones in order to achieve original and innovative combinations that find harmony in disparity. His aim is to move away from stereotypes and style guides.

‘I would like this collection to be a celebration of everything handmade, the manual, the imperfections and the imprecision. To flee from everything that matches, to celebrate the mixture and the eclectic’, comments Álvaro Picardo.

Summerhouse textiles

It is a collection of textiles hand-painted with Gancedo paints – Gancedo pinturas. Using a white base like a canvas, Álvaro Picardo has created a series of patterns that emulate woven wicker to give a rattan look, as in the case of Canasta, but he also plays with different geometric motifs in the designs of Barbican or Ticking Cadaqués stripes. They are clean and powerful patterns with intense colours that, on the matt white background, take on volume giving the appearance of relief drawings.

Available in 4 colours from the firm’s selection of shades: Ketchup, Forest, Honey, Navy and Taupe. Colours that respond to the author’s aspiration to use contrast as the focus of his compositions.

These are highly resistant outdoor fabrics, 137 cm wide, printed on a recycled polyester base: 50,000 Martindale cycles. They are lightfast and manufactured in Europe with Oeko-tex certification.

On the other hand, on a natural-coloured linen-like fabric, he has designed a series of motifs by superimposing lines that play with different shades, as in the case of Summerhouse or Azulejo, but he has not renounced the sophistication and versatility of parallel stripes of different thicknesses with the fabrics Ticking Palamós and Líneas. The Gancedo colours selected for this series: Bog, Wine, Powder Blue, Ketchup, Forest, Honey, Navy and Taupe, are perfect for achieving balance in dissonance.

These are natural-looking fabrics, perfect for both indoor and outdoor use. They are printed on an acrylic and linen base fabric, which makes them soft and comfortable. They are 160 cm wide. Lightfast and with a resistance of 70,000 Martindale cycles. Also made in Europe and Oeko-tex certified.

Summerhouse wallpapers

The collection is complemented by a wide selection of wallpapers. In addition to the fabric designs, there are some more. They are also hand-painted by the author. Among the additional designs are Gazebo wall, Belvedere and Bamboo wall. Minimalist, simple and basic compositions created from different shapes and colours.

They are non-woven papers. They measure 52cm wide and 10 metres high. They are washable and fireproof. Papers with excellent properties for use in any room anywhere.

The chromatic range is rich and varied and also corresponds to the shades of Gancedo paints. They are energising, powerful and vibrant colours, with a predominance of Navy blues, Sunshine yellows and Ketchup reds, which take us to the fresh and relaxed atmosphere of summer houses.

Gancedo has also created a series of decorative elements upholstered with Summerhouse fabrics such as the Trenat stools designed by Miguel Milá and the Lobster’s Day parasols.

Project: Colección Summerhouse
Design: Álvaro Picardo.
Publisher: Gancedo.
Photography: María Algara.
Text: Ana García.
Translation: Exágono.

Álvaro Picardo

Constantly inspired by his Catalan and Spanish roots, along with his love of modern art and brutalist architecture, Spanish designer and craftsman Álvaro Picardo began painting lampshades with the aim of breathing new life into otherwise forgotten objects, creating bespoke interior design pieces. Through bold, colourful, hand-painted lampshades he aims to bring a distinctive feel to any space or room, enhancing its atmosphere by adding an individual piece of work. Each lampshade is unique: a tribute to the artisanal spirit behind its particular finish, with traces of the artist’s personal work visible in the finished product.

Álvaro’s work appears in World of Interiors, House&Garden, Elle Decor… as he is constantly working with London’s leading interior design studios such as Sybil Colefax, Jonathan Reed, Buchanan Studio, Max Rollit or Douglas Mackie, to name but a few.

Project by Álvaro Picardo