About a year and half ago, I saw a film at the Sundance Festival called Unfolding Florence: The Many Lives of Florence Broadhurst, a documentary about Australia’s most famous female designer and the mother of modern wallpaper. I had never heard of Florence — or her mysterious murder in 1977 — but I sure recognized the patterns of her designs. Big metallic repeats of exotic birds, swirling flowers and mod patterns. This year, Florence seems to be more popular than ever, with a new book on her work just released that features copies of her famous prints, including a few owned by fashion designers like Marc Jacobs and Stella McCartney. (You can definitely see her influence in this spring’s clothes.) Surfing around the web the other day, I was delighted to find Signature Prints, the Australian company that carries on Florence’s work. You can buy amazing fabrics and classic wallpaper prints (check out the black and white collection). Not ready for that kind of investment? Then why not order a pillow, a bag or even a doorstop in one of her vibrant patterns? You’ll own a little piece of design history. — Angela M.

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