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Wednesday, October 12th, 2016
Living Room Uttermost Scott Wood Frame Armchair 23233
Plaid can be one or many things. It is the symbol of fashion or the epitome of pattern. Fashion designers all over the world adore the crossed patterns of plaid. It is preppy, it can also be punk. One thing is certain about plaid – it is popular and it has a rich history that other design materials would be envious of.
Plaid in the 1500s
You could tell the difference between tartan and plaid, right? The former refers to special cloth patterns often seen in Scottish clans. Different patterns represent different geographical regions or clans. Plaid, on the other hand, was mainly a Celtic kilt or a blanket. Eventually, plaid became popular with the British and Americans. They created a pattern that looked pretty much like tartan but is not quite like it.
Records from 1538 showed royalty showing much appreciation for this pattern. King James V even gave plaid gifts to his wife.
Plaid in the 1700s
Tartan was prohibited in Britain in the 18th century because it was associated with the Scottish Rebellion of 1745. This print did not show up till 1782 where plaid became legal. It soon became a staple pattern on some formal occasions.
Plaid and the Lumberjack Tradition
From Europe, plaid became popular in the U.S. Buffalo plaid started in the 1850s with the distinctive red and black checks becoming a staple among lumberjacks.
Plaid shirt then was mass-produced by Pendleton back in 1924. It soon became a casual wear and in 1936, a winter essential.
1970s Plaid
Decades after, plaid enjoyed enormous popularity. It returned to its rebellious origins, though, during the ‘70s. During this era, plaid was used in suits as well as interior design. Queen Elizabeth II popularized the Royal Stewart Tartan and, pretty soon, the pattern became a prevalent monarchial look.
1980s Plaid
This decade showed the most interesting development in plaid. The preppy look began where movie stars and even Princess Diana took notice. Almost all public figures had their own piece or two of this interesting fabric in their closets.
Hooker Furniture Living Room Melange Mirrored Plaid Chest 638-85054: Who says plaid should only be seen on fabrics?
Plaid Furniture
It was no surprise that plaid became a staple piece in furniture, too. The cozy and crisp look of this pattern provided the perfect covering for love seats, sofas, couches, and other living room and bedroom furniture.
Plaid is a strong pattern so it might also present some decorative restrictions. This should not stop you from design possibilities, though. You could begin with paint chips which match all the colors on your plaid-covered furniture. Lay out these chips together with the fabric sample then carefully examine by taking a step back.
Plaid works best with neutrals such as tan, gray, cream, black, brown or white. You can use this combination if you want to be on the safe side. This means putting plaid-upholstered couch right on top of polished wood flooring.
Plaid isn’t just red and black, though. It could also be that blue and white crispiness which can match well with glass lamps, warm tones of wood, sea grass matting, gold, copper, and just about any warm-colored metals.
Plaid can also provide the necessary basis for your color selection. There are two or three-colored plaids in the market. This means you can choose from two or three colors from which your overall color scheme would come.
Plaid could also spell mixed patterns for the rest of your décor. This is a great way to update the look of your home. Don’t just over mix. Use substantial amounts of block colors then just carefully add the plaid patterns.
Tartan-style plaid can present you with challenges if you over-analyze the colors that it offers – black, yellow, ivory, burgundy and dark royal blue. This complex plaid should be balanced with neutral walls or woodwork.
Enjoy plaid. It offers so many design opportunities which you can use in your home.
Tags: 14th century, 16th century, 1970s, fabric, fabric choices, fabric options, history, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, plaid, plaid fabric, seating fabrics, sofa fabric, tips, upholstery
Posted in Accents, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Themes | No Comments »
Saturday, July 16th, 2016
The Hooker Furniture Living Room Huntington Morrison Stationary Sofa is already awesome on its own.
Good ol’ days those are, when your grandma used to knit covers for your tables and chairs at home. These seem to exude a homey charm that is just difficult to resist. You may deem these accents to be traditional but you would be surprised at how versatile each of them could get.
Getting to Know the Knit Fabric
A knitted fabric is different from woven ones because of their single continuous yarn that comes in loops and beautiful braid formations. These cute loops give the knitted fabrics their characteristic elasticity.
Classic cable-knit blankets are often draped over benches, sofas, beds and chairs for obvious reasons – to create a down-home look. Pretty much everyone also favors the off-white knitted fabric more than any other color. This might be because it offers a universally comforting look with its pure cotton yarn and all.
The Sofa Sweater
If sweaters can cover beds, then what’s stopping you from using them on your sofa, too? A canopy can shield soft fibers from harsh elements. This only proves that a knitted cover can also look and feel great even in warmer weathers.
Other Smart Sofa Covers
The classic sofa often comes with a neutral color. Though it often comes with a durable fabric, nothing should stop you from dressing it up. You have the leeway to use throws, pillows, and textiles. There are many other ways to dress up almost every aesthetic.
Say no to the sofa being a bore by injecting texture, pattern, and interesting colors. Even a single lumbar pillow on a simple linen sofa should be able to provide a bold statement because of its length and color. A simple way to add impact on any neutral furniture piece is to add a patterned pillow. This is great for those who prefer the minimalist appeal.
Sometimes, all it just takes is an exciting textile draped across the seat of a boring sofa. This should inject a huge dose of color and pattern but in a non-committal sort of way. For those who are bold enough to use a patterned sofa can drape a simple solid-colored fabric or blanket over it. This should protect the seating unit from sticky hands and stinky paws.
A bolster that reflects the same bold-colored accessories throughout the room is certainly going to be eye-catching. This piece can tie with the colors of an artwork hanging on one of the living room walls while making a powerful statement of its own.
Decorative pillows on a cream sofa could have the same exciting color or they could contrast the solid or patterned look that the sofa offers. When you see a thing of beauty such as this sofa, wouldn’t you be enthused to cuddle up with your loved on at night?
A natural linen sofa can be everything but boring because it can have an exciting cover that comes in a variety of color, shape or texture. Pillows can either stand out or make the sofa fade in the background or it could blend with the background and make a superstar out of the sofa.
A mixture of pillow patterns and sizes will give the sofa a sophisticated look. Have them mirror-arranged, meaning, each piece should have a spouse.
If you ever want to try any of these in your home, then begin by picking accent pieces like slipseats or stools, natural eye-catchers, all of them. These will surely make the sofa’s dress a lot more interesting. This is also great when you want to achieve a more eclectic glow in the living room.
So, should you dress up your sofa?
Absolutely.
Fine Furniture Design Living Room Sofa With Wood Arm Panel 0810-01 shows how stripes and florals can actually work together.
Tags: couch, dressing up the sofa, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, sofa, sofa design elements, sofa designs, sofa fabric, sofa upholstery, tips
Posted in Furniture, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements | No Comments »
Wednesday, March 30th, 2016
The Living Room Uttermost Chalina High Back Armchair 23611 offers a curvy, exposed wood frame. The white velvet fuses uniquely with the linen box cushion, giving it an exceptional look.
One of the most beautiful textiles that never go out of style is velvet. It has a rich history beginning from the Renaissance period when it was mostly spun from silk. It was the dress for nobles and the cover for the furniture pieces in many palaces ranging from Asia to Europe.
Hundreds of years later, Edmund Cartwright introduced the power loom. It was around 1785 when velvet became abundantly available. There were more fibers used in spinning this lovely textile.
The Silk Velvet
This textile offers that signature sheen and softness. One look at it and you’d know that it is luxurious. This type easily shows pressure marks as well as creases, though. To meet the demand of silk fans, there were mills that produced viscose velvet during turn of the 20th century. These budget velvets feel just like real silk.
The Cotton Velvet
This kind of velvet is more casual and cozy. These vary widely with regard to the length of their piles and naps. They may show creases, wrinkles and wear but these days, more polyester fibers may be blended in to make velvet that shows less wear.
Linen Velvet
When compared to silk velvet, this type of velvet appears more matte though it feels drier to the touch. Linen velvets have a subtle strie which is not a defect, rather it is there because it can be a tad difficult to spin uniform linen yarn.
The Wool Velvet
This kind of velvet is warm and cozy. It is highly durable and is best for seating units used during the wintry months. Use a slipcover during summer then bring out the wool velvet pieces during colder months.
Bedroom Uttermost Chahna King Headboard 23703 has a white and dark chocolate velvet fusion that mixes well with the aqua blue frame.
Bedroom Uttermost Chahna King Headboard 23703 has a white and dark chocolate velvet fusion that mixes well with the aqua blue frame.
Mohair Velvet
This is a soft, woolly fabric spun from the silky hair of Angora goats. Invest in this piece if you are ready to love it for the rest of your life. It is a durable textile that can outlive even its owners. It is spun at $100 a yard though the prices change considerably.
This kind of velvet has high-density warp, a high gauge of yarn, and has a deeper color. When you go shopping for velvet furniture pieces, take the liberty to bend the fabric. If you are not able to see rows in the pile, then you are definitely looking at quality product.
Panne Velvet
This is the result of velvet being crushed to a single direction using heavy pressure. It comes with a brilliant shine, to the point of being glossy. There are even pieces that appear metallic. It can be dyed with a neutral color if you are not a big fan of anything flashy.
Chenille
This may be a fabric with a character of its own but when you look more closely its luster is just like velvet’s. It has a flatter pile and is usually less smooth compared to velvet but it offers unique patterns and textures.
Chenille, just like velvet, is durable but it could show some sagging and stretching over time.
Crushed Velvet
There isn’t a lot of crushed velvet around since they are just used in holiday stockings placed over the mantel. It is a textile that offers a wonderful sheen that can easily overtake any room. To many homeowners, this look-at-me feature is what they are actually looking for.
Crushed velvet can be made from any fiber. What makes it distinguishable is that the velvet goes through a tapered cylinder to tamp down the pile.
Why Velvet?
You may ask yourself why you should choose velvet for furniture upholstery. Velvet is luxurious, it can be durable under proper care, and it will never go out of style. These are reasons good enough for you to bring home the lavish beauty of this fabric.
Tags: fabric, fabric choices, fabric options, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, seating fabrics, sofa fabric, velvet, velvet design, velvet styles
Posted in Furniture, Interior Design Elements | No Comments »
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