Traditional and timeless, toile (which is the French word for cloth and often depicts animals, pastoral scenes, and the like) is a Southern designer favorite.

Toile lampshades, table runners or even toile-inspired artwork can act as subtle nods to the traditional while maintaining a fresh and updated look.

So it's instructive to view some top-of-the-line toile in traditional patterns. Scalamandré has many -- hand-printed in cottons, linens and silks and retailing for a heady $100 to $200 a yard.

Traditional toile de Jouy (the term translates to “cloth from Jouy,” a suburb outside Paris where it was originally produced) has been popular since the 1700s.

Traditional toile de Jouy (the term translates to “cloth from Jouy,” a suburb outside Paris where it was originally produced) has been popular since the 1700s.

1 of 4 | A classic blue and white traditional toile is the focal fabric for this bedding look that combines creams, whites, and multiple shades of blue for a refined yet... (Nell Hill’s/TNS) More ...