SPRING 2013
Bringing the outdoors in
The emphasis on outdoor living has led design mills to
reconsider the possible uses of indoor-outdoor
fabric. As clients began to realize that these stain- and
water-repellant fabrics would wear well in family
rooms, kitchens, and other high traffic areas, the demand
for more options rose sharply. Gone are the limited
selections of fabrics in awning stripes and tropical
florals. Nearly every design house now carries entire
books of "Sunbrella," "UV," or "indoor-outdoor"
fabrics. Silver State Fabric, based in Utah, has pushed
the envelope even further, creating conventional looking
tapestries and prints in Sunbrella fabric. Rather than the stiff Scotchgarded canvas texture of
previous indoor-outdoor fabrics, the new upholstery fabrics are soft, supple, and luxurious.
Colors are cheerful and "spot on" with the current trends. These fabrics are great for western
exposures, where fading can be an issue. Silver State has introduced two new books this season,
Artisan Tribe and Country Living II. Proud to be an American mill, this company is committed
to having fabrics from the Country Living collection in stock and ready to ship at all
times. Click here to check out the beautiful combinations in their wonderful brochure.
Ooh la la . . .French and British country house style is back!
It's hard to say what exactly is driving the current passion for all things European. Perhaps
the blighted economy has depressed our spirits to the point that we hunger for a sense of stability
and comfort, or we may simply long for the affluence of country house life, Certainly the
appreciation of all things "authentic" and "artisanal" is playing a role, as well as a desire for
using natural fabrics like linen and cotton. No matter what the cause, however, design houses
everywhere have invested heavily to develop beautiful and exclusive collections of European
country prints.
French general by Fabricut
Charles Faudree
for Stroheim and Roman
Fabricut has been working with quilter Kaari
Meng to develop a signature series of French
provincial prints in traditional palettes of
Rouge, Bleu, and Bisque. Called the French
General collection, the fabrics are
predominantly soft linen and cotton, in
coordinating colors that allow for pieces to be
used in multiple rooms. For the crafters out
there, check out this link to Kaari's fun and
visually stunning personal website.
Also embracing provincial style is designer
Charles Faudree, a longtime favorite of
Traditional Home readers. Faudree was
commissioned to develop a comprehensive
collection that includes wallpaper, drapery
sheers, and coordinating trims. Faudree has
utilized many of his favorite motifs as well as
traditional designs like the faux bois (fake
wood) shown on the wall covering of the
romantic room below.. He has provided an
entire book of cozy checks to coordinate with
natural elements like acorns, squirrels, and
vines. Colors extend beyond the understated
palette of ivory, red, and blue and embrace
the bright and cheery provencial "Dijon
yellow" as well.
The New European trims
The hot new trend in trims is to use flat tapes
of many widths to border pillows and to
create texture and interest on draperies. JF
has contracted with Wesley Mancini to
coordinate trims with their glamorous silver
fabrics, wallcoverings, and window
hardware. Stroheim and Roman has
contracted with a French boutique mill to
create unusual tapes for their A La Mode
collection. The tapes can be used alone for a
tailored effect or layered with other trims into
elaborate designs like the one shown below.
Glamorous window hardware
JF Fabrics has introduced "Evolutions", a new
line of hardware incorporating Murano glass,
wood inlaid with granite, Swarovski crystals,
and silver plated finials. JF is proud to be the
only purveyor of actual silver plate finials, as
opposed to finials that are just painted silver.
Shown above with a stunning acrylic pole, this
hardware is surprisingly affordable. By
providing this product, JF hopes to fill a gap in
the market for designers trying to match art
deco, craftsman, and "vintage Hollywood/New
York" style decor.
The return of wallpaper
After a brief period of being out of favor, wallpaper has returned with a vengeance. Some
designers are producing coordinating designs for fabrics in traditional styles on one hand, while
others are going for a very graphic look to create one "impact" wall in a room. Patterns and
repeats are typically large and even include wall murals that are hung in 4 panels to cover a space
118" wide. Papers like the one above appear to be hand painted,on craft paper with
"brushstrokes" that show. These papers are exquisite but should probably be professionally hung,
as many no longer boast the sturdy coating that made "old school" papers workable even in
"active" homes with kids and pets. Both papers above are from the "Paradiso" collection by JF
Fabrics.
Emerald chosen as the 2013 Color of the year
The Pantone Color Institute's selection of emerald as the Color of the Year has produced wildly
divided reactions in the design industry. Some designers feel that the luxurious color is a
reflection of consumer's weariness with the "lean years" and a desire to put some "luxe" back in
their lives. According to Leatrice Eiseman, Pantone's executive director, "Green is the most
abundant hue in nature. The human eye sees more green than any other color in the
spectrum." The selection of emerald green is meant to symbolize abundance, good fortune,
renewal, rejuvenation, and clarity. Pantone was drawn to a jewel-tone version of an "earth" color
because it is seen as both natural, yet sophisticated. Other designers argue for restraint in the use
of such a strong color, recommending that it be used for strong accents - like lacquered furniture
or painted on one accent wall - or in accessories like pillows and decorative pieces (vases,
bowls). Emerald will lend itself to dramatic combinations with blue, white, and black. 55
Downing Street, an affiliate of Lamps Plus, has jumped on the bandwagon by introducing an
accessories collection in shades of green. Check it out at
http://www.55downingstreet.com/sales/277_accent-with-emerald.aspx.
Robert Allen has done an outstanding job going through their library and curating a collection of
beautiful fabrics in shades of green that are "on trend" and available now without the
wait. Check them out at Robert Allen Design; if you love green and would like to work the
Color of the Year into your decor, please call me and we can make that happen!
Life is a beach
Nearly every shade of blue is available again, from true deep navy to turquoise to teal to aqua.
Blue can be formal and dramatic when used with bold contrasts like white, black and
red. Below, Jonathan Adler's collection for Kravet.
Fresh and cheery blues
DRAMATIC BLUES
Crisp and clean shades of
blue. Furnishings by Ethan Allen.
Note that the other "hot" colorsraspberry, citrus,
and lime- reappear with the "anchor"
color. Brightly painted classic furniture is being
widely featured in Ethan Allen's collection for
Spring 2013.
Just for fun
Soft but clear hues lend themselves to natural and serene environments. Used in combination
with citrine and lime, the effect is as refreshing as a margarita on a hot day. This fabric, from the
Duralee archives, has been re-colored with sherbert shades that would look fabulous in a young
child's room but then age-up beautifully.
Citrine and
greige
Citrine is still being used
with soft gray, but the
effect is warmer as the gray
edges toward taupe. The
stylized animal print
chenille would make a
wonderful reversible
throw. Heavy and
voluptuous fabrics mitigate
what might otherwise be a
very cool palette.
and wallcoverings too!
The Modern Color palette
elegant and serene
Kravet introduced three distinct color
groupings in fall 2012: quince, saffron,
and mineral. Within each grouping is a
wide range of fabrics including
embroideries, wovens, silks, linens, and
sheers, all designed to coordinate. In
response to the consumer's appreciation of
detail, Kravet also introduced an
accompanying trimmings collection that
includes exquisite bandings, cords, and
tassels embellished with natural and
crystal beading.
The influence of
Mad Men is apparent in the lines of the furnishings and the
menswear finishes on the fabrics. Note how the textures of
the fabrics enliven the monochromatic color palette.
Custom sofa by Kravet.