Knowing your fabrics can be very helpful when shopping for your interior decorating project. If you’re familiar with styles and qualities of fabrics, you’ll know what to ask for or how to describe what you’re looking for at the fabric showroom. Here’s a helpful list of the most common types of decorating fabrics:
When you shop for upholstered furniture, what are you really getting? If we listen to manufacturers and sales clerks, all of the sofas are wonderful and they’ll last forever. So many of us have had the experience of buying a new sofa only to be disappointed a few years later by flattened cushions, sagging springs and a torn cover. It’s difficult to tell how well a piece of furniture is made by inspecting it from the outside. To find a good sofa or chair, you need an interior designer, and [...]
Most Americans refer to any wool area rug with geometric designs and flowers, as an “Oriental Rug” or “Persian Rug”. At one time the ancient Persian Empire extended from North Africa to India, and included Turkey and Armenia. The world of rugs and carpets includes over 10,000 different types, identified by the patterns of the villages in which they were woven. There are thousands of unique peoples and languages in this part of the world, with a history of weaving dating back at least 7,000 years. Most of the rugs [...]
We ladies have all had that dreaded conversation at one time or another. We try to avoid it, but it keeps rearing its ugly, overstuffed head. The Recliner. Imagine an English style club chair with mahogany feet and casters, or an Art Deco recliner in bomber-brown leather - in other words, a recliner that will be a decorative feature in the room, instead of an eyesore.
Curtains came about because houses way back when were cold, drafty and stark. Even though our modern homes are insulated and newer windows keep out drafts, our trends towards larger windows make true climate control impossible. Custom window treatments are expensive, but they are a labor-intensive process that requires education, experience and good customer service. Purchasing fabric yourself and looking for a seamstress can have mixed results, as it may not save money and can create a host of problems. Be sure to get some good advice and think about privacy and light control before you choose a style.