Chinoiserie:  a form of European decoration imitating techniques and motifs of the Orient; especially fashionable in the late 17th century and revived during the Regency, or as many say ~ a French term meaning “Chinese~esque”

While researching for this blog post, I stumbled upon a blog devoted entirely to Chinoiserie called Chinoiserie Chic. It’s full of all sorts of eye candy featuring “Chinese~esque” designs.  You really should check it out!

Below are a few of my favorite examples of Chinoiserie

This chair is absolutely stunning!  Image from Chinoiserie Chic.

Chinoiserie wallpaper adds a playful & colorful touch to a bathroom.  Image via Lonny Magazine.

Another gorgeous Chinoiserie wallpaper.  Image from Domino Magazine.

Chinoiserie fabric from Thibaut.

Fashion designer Tory Burch’s entryway features a hand painted Chinoiserie wallpaper by Gracie.

Even if you’re not a huge fan of the Beatles, you probably instantly recognize the iconic group pictured on this fabric.  It’s the photo from the back cover of their album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. This fabric caught my eye not once, but twice during visits to two different showrooms at the High Point International Home Furnishings Market earlier this week.

Century used it in a contemporary setting.  They used the Beatles print for the back of this bench seat & contrasted it with black leather & a coordinating linen.   The scheme is a blend of contrasting neutrals and textures.  They paired it with a white lacquered end table, a fun black geometric screen & large round end table with a chrome pedestal base.  The round table is arranged in front of the bench to serve as a small dining table.  You could even use two of them in front of the bench to create a lounge feeling in a game room, media room, or hip home office or study.

Over at Vanguard, they took a more traditional approach.  The same fabric in primary colors covers a cocktail ottoman with leather, nail head trim & an exposed wood base.  An ottoman like this could add spunk in front of a gameroom or media room sofa.  Or, if someone in your house is a huge Beatles fan or memorabilia collector, this would be perfect addition to a study with book or display cases housing their collection.

I have a lot more fun finds from market to come, so stay tuned!

Talk about being socially savvy & totally with it!  Furniture manufacturer CR Laine has hit the height of uber (or should I say cyber?) creativity.  As part of their new spring line of fabrics, set to debut at April’s High Point Furniture Market,  they are offering a fun new pattern.  An obvious ode to social media giant, Twitter, the pattern is called Twitter Spring.  It features a fun branchy design with bird silhouettes.

Here’s the patterns they suggest pairing with the fun twitterliscious print.  A soft corduroy called Wuzzy Oatmeal and an awesome geometric called Gather Round the Stone.

Attention powers that be at Twitter headquarters ~ I see a make-over in your future!  And, for all of those hip social media experts, it’s time to integrate some of that social savvyiness into your home.

I’ve been geting lots of e-mails about how to use the 2010 color of the year, turquoise, in your home.  So, I thought I would post ideas as I run across them.  I’ll be doing a segment on the fabulous color on GMT this Friday, so make sure & tune in for that as well.

Fabrics:

From light to bright, these shades of the rich color would add a pop of fabulosity to a neutral decor.  Use them for pillows, re-cover a chair, upholster a wall or use them for draperies.

1)  Gabriella by Vervain
2) Bartizan by Lee Jofa
3) Althea Plain by Lee Jofa
4)  Sanibel by Lee Jofa
5) Comora by Lee Jofa

Shay,
I watched a show on GMT (quite awhile ago now) where you showed a sofa upholstered in a ”new” leather like material.   I think you said that it would be very durable.  Can you tell me what it was called and a little more about it.  Also if you have used it & whether your customers/clients have been satisfied.

Thanks.
Mary – Arlington, TX

Dear Mary,
Thank you so much for your question!  I get questions about how to find durable fabrics all of the time.  It’s an issue on most people’s minds.    The leather like material you are referring to is called Brisa.  It is a unique man made polyurethane fabric with a specially designed ventilation system that allows it to breathe.  The textile manufacturer, Gulf Fabrics,  simulates the look & feel of natural leather by creating a discreet grain pattern.  With over 200,00 double rubs, Brisa is known for it’s high durability.  That’s more than 30% more durable than what is required to be considered a “heavy duty” durable fabric.  It comes in a wide array of wonderful designer colors.  Here are a few of my favs:

Presently, Century Furniture is the only furniture manufacturer who is using Brisa.  We have had several of their pieces in Brisa at IBB. I have heard only great feedback so far from clients.  It’s as soft & supple as a really high grade quality leather.  One of my clients, who bought a sofa with the cushions covered in Brisa, says that their dog gets up on it all of the time & they haven’t had any issues.  They also have 3 kids, so durability was a huge priority for them.

Here’s a few more facts about Brisa:

1. Clinically proven to be more resistant to temperature changes than vinyl & leather.
2. Stays cooler than genuine leather in warm weather situations.
3. Resists cold weather stiffening & cracking.
4. Exceeds 200,000 double rubs
5. Cleans effortlessly with soap & water.
6. Most stains can be lifted with with alcohol-based solutions Fantastik or Formula 409

Kravet, one of my very favorite “go to” fabric lines had a wonderful post today on their blog about selecting the right fabrics for upholstery.  Even as a design professional, I found the knowledge & advice they provided in the blog post to be very valuable.  It’s a worthwhile read for anyone thinking about or in the process of selecting new or re-covering upholstery in their home.  Read their post on upholstery fabric tips here.

Kravet has an extensive library of fabrics to choose from.  They really do have something for everyone at just about every price point.  You may remember me telling you about their new KravetSmart program featuring a more cost conscious approach.

They are also very well known for their ingenious collaborations with interior designers such as Candice Olson, Barclay Butera, Alexa Hampton, Barbara Barry, Calvin Klein & many more.

However, the pièce de résistance for me is their Guaranteed in Stock books.  These books are a lifeline for me when I’m trying to meet a quick deadline for clients.  Case in point ~ I had a rather distressing moment at my own home last week.  Upon “fluffing” my formal living room in preparation for dinner party guests, I discovered that my sweet sweet dog had decided to make my living room chairs her daily place of resting, licking paws & other doggy propensities.  The cushions were in shambles   With our holiday party less than 2 weeks away, I had to think fast!  I went straight to one of Kravet’s guaranteed in stock books that contained my home’s color palette & selected the perfect material to begin the resurrection of my beautiful chairs.  I had the farbic in hand 3 days later.  My amazing upholsterer will have them back to me on Thursday, leaving me 2 days to spare until our party.  Whew!  Looks like Sassy (my sweet sweet dog) is giving me living room chairs for Christmas

Finding the perfect fabrics can take time.  Follow the advice of professionals in the design industry or work with a professional designer to help you find fantastic fabrics for your home.

Want to know what’s hot in fabrics for your home? Today on GMT I sat with fabric expert Margie Gomez from Fabricut to get the scoop.  Watch the segment here.

Fabricut has been in business for over 50 years.  Their line includes more than 58,000 exquisite fabrics and trimmings. They pride themselves in their daily commitment to develop exclusive products for customers with an array of traditional, transitional and contemporary styles, patterns and palettes available.  Based in Tulsa Oklahoma, they are able to offer an extensive line of in-stock fabrics which can be shipped out immediately to satisfy your quick turn around deadlines.

Fabricut has teamed up with well known furniture & textile designer Lilian August to create a stunning new fabric line.  The line, exclusive to Fabricut, takes an updated approach to traditional designs that were dreamed up by influences from August’s life and her wealth of design knowledge.  (see some of the fabrics from Lilian August here & here.

A few of my favs from Fabricut

Fabricut Fabric Kolman Color Jade

Fabricut Fabric Karloff Color Lagoon

Fabricut Fabric Perry Skin Color Nile

Fabricut Fabric Shocker Color Amber Sky

Fabricut Fabric Fairstein Color Brass

Fabricut sells to the trade only.  For pricing & ordering information contact an IBB designer.

So, I happened upon this stunning new fabric by Lee Jofa the other day while pulling fabrics for a client…

I instantly fell in love with all of the rich jewel tones and the gorgeous pattern.  My mind was racing with ideas of where & how I could use this insanely fabulous fabric.  Master bedroom drapery panels or bedding?  OMG, this would be awesome in a family room because of it’s bright happy color palette & eye catching pattern.  So many options!!!  SO, in true Designer Detective form, I whisked out my trusty iphone to snap a photo because I just HAD to share this with all of you.  It’s funny how something so fresh, new & lovely can get a designer’s heart racing!

I quickly uploaded the photo to twitter to share with the world!  This morning @LeeJofa sent me this in a mention via twitter…

LOVE IT!  They’re running this as one of their new ad campaigns.  Watch out people!  We have a hit on our hands!  This fabric single handedly contains all of the “It” colors that the design world is raving about right now ~ Apple green, tangerine & jewel amethyst purple!  Beautifully done!

Do you think you’re smart?  Kravet fabrics wants to know!  On Wednesday, September 23rd, Kravet employees across the country wore red in true fashion to celebrate the launch of Kravet Smart (read more about the celebration & excitement here).  This is a new brand under the Kravet Fabrics umbrella featuring fabrics, trimmings & more with a cost conscious approach.  Their focus is to give designers & consumers the unrivaled Kravet style at affordable prices.  That IS smart, especially in this economy.

Here’s how Kravet defines “Smart”:
1) Great Value
2) bright & fresh in appearance
3) sophisticated or fashionable
4) stylish
5) clever
6) essential

Kravet New York City window display

Who doesn’t want their home looking fabulous without spending a fortune?  Bravo Kravet.  SMART thinking!  So excited to try out this new line & can’t wait to see all of those fabulous fabrics!

Follow the Designer Detective on twitter here.

The temperature is dropping & the kiddos are back in school.  Before you know it, you’ll be sitting in front of your fireplace with a nice cup of hot cocoa.  Fall is here!  I love fall and everything that represents it.  This time of year, I use a home fragrance around my house called Harvest Spice.  It’s a plug in that I fell in love with the year my daughter was born & I’ve used it ever fall ever since.

Fall colors are warm, inviting & cozy.  Schumacher’s line of fall fabrics for 2009 vividly represent the best of fall.  From intricate paisleys to lush palampores (a tree of life design) the collection offers something for everyone.  Here’s a sneak peek at some of my favs.

Love this bright bold paisley.  I’m also a fan of red & gold together.  Reds & golds seem to offer a timeless tradition for color palettes.  The design of this paisley is based off of an antique pattern.  Bravo Schumacher!  Love it!

I love the muted colors used in this version of the Paisley pattern.  Very soft & subtle.  It doesn’t scream paisley at you.  This fabric would make fabulous draperies or bedding!

I could see this on a pair of carved wood chairs with a rich brown finish or on pillows for a sofa for an added pop of color.