Lulu deKwiatkowski [above] lives her life immersed in creativity. The textile designer, artist, founder & head designer of LULU DK, and Hamptons style icon was born and raised in New York City, spending her childhood “between the electric streets of Manhattan, and the colorful and sun-drenched beaches of the Hamptons and Bahamas.” Now, a Los Angeles resident in the off-season, Lulu returns to the Hamptons for summers with her husband Alfredo Gilardini and their twin boys, Francesco and Matteo, 5, and Pier Giorgio 2.5. Frequent Mediterranean family holidays inspire Lulu’s textile designs, and below she shares her latest inspirations for the new LULU DK for Matouk bedding collection which you will surely see popping up in haute Hamptons homes this summer!

Lulu shares with KDHamptons, “I love the Aurelia collection…it reminds me of spring bursting in the Hamptons, that excited feeling you get when you know summer is around the corner. I think it goes well in any Hamptons house as it is fresh and mimics the outdoors.”

Arco:
The arch motif is a classic, but we bring it to you with Lulu DK’s signature painterly hand. While the pattern is rhythmic, there’s an irregularity to it we love. Arco is offered in a palette encompassing Lulu DK’s usual blues and greens, as well as a new range of neutrals.

Aurelia:
Paint splatter blooms on meandering stems evoke the old-fashioned, playful days of summer spent barefoot in backyards and gardens. Inspired by the seaside Mediterranean town where Lulu DK spends her summers, Aurelia is fresh, airy, and feminine. The pattern mixes beautifully with other Lulu DK prints, especially Arco and Starlight.

Viola:
Lush blooms set against a striking backdrop of dense foliage is an up close interpretation of the wild plants and flowers that cover the cliff of the seaside home where Lulu DK spends summers with her family. Pair it with Starlight to deepen the drama, or soften the effect with Nicola’s watercolor ribbons.

Nicola
The ribbon design that accents these sheets and pillowcases is rendered with a watercolor effect, offering an ethereal effect perfect for a light and airy bedroom. Nicola’s painterly feel goes hand-in-hand with Lulu DK’s bolder patterns, lending an air of femininity to the mix. The simplicity of the design means they look beautiful paired with just a crisp white coverlet too.

Marina:
Marina is inspired by the view from the house Lulu DK rents with her family on the Italian Riviera each summer. The ship, set against a pink backdrop worthy of a fairy tale, is typical of those sailing in and out of the marina each day. One of a trio of canvas twill pillows that perfectly captures the painterly flavor of Lulu DK’s original artwork, it plays as well on the sofa as the bed.

La Spiaggia:
This seaside scene at the hotel La Spiaggia relays the delightful—and distinctly European—atmosphere of the Italian Riviera, where Lulu DK spends her summers. The subtle gradations of color, as well as the animated brushstrokes, remain very much intact on the canvas twill, a fabrication as well suited to the living and family rooms as the bedroom.

Quattro:
Lulu DK likes to paint what’s right in front of her, especially when on holiday. Quattro pictures a ship spotted out the window of the house she rents on the Mediterranean each summer. Her gorgeously colored original paintings, which capture the true essence of seaside life, are boldly reproduced on cotton twill pillows. Use them with Lulu DK bedding, or mix them with other throw pillows on the sofa.

Cestino:
Imagine a matelassé with the feel of a much-loved blanket. Cestino coverlets and shams are made from Italian fabric that is stonewashed to cozy perfection. The pattern is classic, but the organic character of the material is unique. Throw it over Verano or Doppio linens for a casual summertime bed, or layer it with a Lulu DK duvet in wintertime.

Doppio:
Meaning “double” in Italian, Doppio features a double line of embroidery in six classic neutrals on white and ivory linen of the highest quality. The yarn, woven in Italy from flax grown in northern France, is used mainly for very fine shirts, but our technicians have adapted it for the production of a delectable, lightweight bed linen.

Amado:
Amado means “beloved” in Portuguese. It is also the name of an especially beautiful Portuguese beach. The Amado towel and beach blanket, inspired by seaside living, are sublimely lightweight and absorbent. The colored stripes are done in a flat weave, and the white stripe in terry loop, lending a subtle relief that makes them all the more luscious