Sneak peek: Sarah Richardson's fabric collection

 

 

Now I'm anxious: when will Sarah Richardson's fabric collection for Kravet be launched? It's been announced for some time now, but we have yet to see the big release.

Curious as I am, I Googled the two names and, lo and behold, up came the site Housefabric, already selling Sarah Richardson's fabrics, especially designed for the textile brand Kravet.

Needless to say, the fabrics are gorgeous and combine perfectly. They are all natural material - heavy cotton or linen, or a mix - and can be used for upholstery, drapery panels or pillow covers. Have a look at these stylish combos:

Positively pattern

Cobistyle has a nice selection of 

vibrant and playful fabrics. They  

can make the dullest of corners 

pop.

For some of us, pattered fabric is a source of inspiration and pure joy. Others just can't stand it. Whatever your preference, patterned fabric can give any design project a direction, especially when it comes to colour. Look at any patterned fabric that pleases your eye and see what colours have been used. You can safely copy the same colour combinations in your own space without actually using the fabric. Let it be your design guide.

At a recent client visit, a patterned fabric caused both my client and me to smile. It had such a friendly, cheery disposition that was contagious. Covering two gorgeous Steven and Chris chairs, it will greet the homeowners every time they enter the room. It will spread happiness, and that is what I love about carefully designed and decorated spaces; they positively affect how we feel.

And here's the good old advice for anybody who is afraid of the commitment of pattern, and who thinks they will easily get tired: try it on some toss pillows! They will make your room rock and can easily be changed.

Toss cushions in Cobistyle fabrics. Stay tuned for a

future blog on how to mix different patterns.

Fabulous fall fabrics

Dwell Studio fabrics for the modern home. 

Be inspired by fabrics this fall! They are ideal as jumping-off points for a complete colour scheme. Or they can serve as a bold statement in an otherwise neutral environment. My hunt for inspiring fall fabrics took me to Stewart's Decorating Centre in North Bay. When browsing through their recently arrived product line from Dwell Studio, I knew I had to look no further. These fabrics make me happy! Dwell Studio has teamed up with Robert Allen on a line of modern and elegant fabrics that will breathe new life into any space. Just have a look at the beauties below. You can buy them by the yard (minimum half a yard) at Stewart's. And yes, there’s a lot of mustard this season.

This graphic print almost looks three
dimensional.. Check out the pillow below.
The print comes in a range of colours.

Botanical print in muted colours.

Another fantastic print from Dwell,
available at Stewart's.

Why not frame a piece of this big

print and use it as artwork?

Depending on what you combine this

print with, it can read as either traditional

or modern.

Black and white prints make a strong, modern statement. How do you like these?

Dwell Studio for Robert Allen. Also

available in grey.

Robert Allen Home.

Dwell Studio for Robert Allen.

A rich violet velvet gives a cozy, warm

feeling. Perfect for the fall! Robert Allen

Home.

Lush velvet in grey from Dwell Studio's 

collection. 

Striped fabrics works for every season. 

They lend a slightly casual feel and are 

clean and elegant at the same time. Nautica 

collection from Robert Allen Home.

Trellis prints are another beautiful classic. This

one comes in a range of colour options. Robert

Allen Home.

Great summer fabrics

Why not take on an indoor project while you're waiting for sunnier skies? I found some great outdoor fabrics from Fabricland that could be used to make pillow cases and table cloths for you patio furniture. An easy way to inject colour and raise the summer spirit! And the price tag is right: just $8 per meter. 

Beautiful ikat print in blue, beige and white, the

ultimate summer colour combination.

A big print with a botanical motif that would work

well as a table cloth or a big cushion. Big prints

are best suited for bigger surfaces, where the

pattern can be fully appreciated.

This colour combination is also a summer classic.

I love this kind of graphic, two-colour print. 

Colourful patterns on a white background

always feel crisp and clean. This fabric 

can be combined with a range of solids. 

Just look at the colours represented in the

print and pick your favourite. 

You can never go wrong with stripes! 

And here is the ultimate vinyl summer cloth!

Classic and contemporary at Home Furniture

Versatile, clean lined and classic. That's my impression of North Bay Home Furniture's products. I was delighted to see a number of couches with the lighter, "condominium-size" appearance. This was also true for some of the dining sets on display. My favourite, though, was a classic wing chair. With an array of inspiring fabric options, you can turn this piece into a show-stopping statement chair. Crisp accessories, a custom order program and many Canada-made pieces, add to the reasons why this showroom on Highway 17 is worth a visit.

Canadian-made Brentwood wing chair. It's yours for $699 in your choice of fabric. Can you imagine this chair in my fabric picks below?

Neutral upholstery is preferable for couches, but when it comes to accent chairs, I'm all for being bold. These two fabrics would turn the wing chair into an exclamation mark in the room, calling out: "Hi, here I am!" The Asian-inspired fabric is also available in a beautiful, bright blue. Some of my other fabric favourites for the wing chair are shown below. 

Sectional with a wide corduroy upholstery, $2,999. The ottoman and accent chair (below) combine nicely with the couch.

Round tables are conducive to conversations and social interaction. More so than their rectangular and square counterparts. This dining set at Home Furniture has a nice pedestal table. Tables with a pedestal base are convenient since there are no legs to bump into. $599 for the 5-piece set.

This cozy-looking sheet set is 100% cotton and costs $399.

Funky, white vases. $47.99 for the bigger vase.

Sculptural glass vases, from $39.99.

Green leaf on crisp white, $12.99 and $19.99 respectively.

Turquoise table lamp. $219.