Behind the Victorian terrace of interior designer Romanos Brihi in Kensington, a red-and-white striped awning extends four metres into the garden, reflecting a growing trend that blends Mediterranean style with urban living. Brihi, co-founder of London’s Studio Vero, selected the canopy to introduce a sense of holiday nostalgia inspired by his parents' home in the south of France, an influence he describes as both playful and reminiscent of leisurely summer days.
Striped canvas has long been a common feature of shopfronts, seaside cafés, and historic resorts worldwide, symbolizing a relaxed, casual atmosphere. However, designers and homeowners are increasingly adapting this classic motif for residential spaces and more urban environments. Industry data confirms the rise in demand: Hillarys, a window furnishings specialist, reports a 46 percent increase in domestic awning orders in 2025 compared to 2024, followed by a 76 percent rise by March 2026. Striped and patterned designs are among the most popular choices, with products such as Manosque Yellow and Boston Red gaining attention for their balance of expressiveness and subtlety.
Experts highlight the visual benefits of stripes in outdoor fabrics. Greg Voorhis, executive director of global design at Sunbrella, notes that stripes introduce rhythm and movement, affecting how space is perceived by elongating or widening areas based on stripe orientation. This effect was demonstrated in a Dallas home renovation by studio Redd Kaihoi, which revamped retractable awnings using Sunbrella’s black-and-white Cabana Classic fabric. Co-founder David Kaihoi described the awnings as transformative elements that evoke the ambiance of European cafés and grand hotel terraces, adding confidence and drama to the 12-metre terrace. He emphasized the importance of wide stripes—approximately 10 centimeters—to create a defined yet calming visual rhythm, contrasting with narrower stripes that might produce visual noise.
Similarly, Brihi’s garden incorporates claret-striped fabric customized with London’s RJS Interiors, spanning a five-metre gap between garden walls to create both structure and privacy. His approach positions the awning as an extension of indoor living space, furnished with an outdoor Christopher Farr rug alongside integrated lighting and heating.
Reflecting a move away from standard, mass-produced options, bespoke awnings are becoming more popular. RJS Interiors offers customization in size, frame colour, and fabric, with prices starting around £4,695. Holloways, a garden retailer in Worcestershire, markets German-made awnings from Haus starting at £4,000, describing them as premium shading solutions with options like LED lighting and infrared heating. More affordable alternatives include manual striped awnings from Primrose Awnings priced around £260 for a four-metre model.
In Melbourne, design studio Robson Rak applied an architectural lens to outdoor shading, specifying the locally produced Shaderunner—an awning that retracts horizontally like a Roman blind. Featuring bold navy-and-cream stripes, this installation acts as a ceiling structure, providing a strong visual focus while allowing minimalistic surroundings. The substantial scale of the awning, according to designers, better showcases striped patterns than smaller items like umbrellas, lending a sense of permanence and style. Voorhis further notes that advancements in outdoor-performance fabrics help maintain the integrity and appeal of these installations despite exposure to weather.
Overall, these examples illustrate a broader design trend that embraces striped awnings as multifunctional elements capable of enhancing outdoor spaces with nostalgia, style, and architectural presence.