So here are four options I brought home from Freddy Farkel's, a discount fabric warehouse. They let you take these sample home for a $25 deposit each but it's really nice to live with them for a few days. Behind the sofa, the lower one is kind of a ticking or awning stripe. It's okay. The colors match perfectly and it's classic but I think I should be more excited about it. The upper one is a gray-brown tweed (detail below) which is masculine, and matches the sofa, but--YAWN!--excuse me.
So let's switch them around and put the other two behind the sofa. The lower one is another awning stripe that brings an olivey green in to the mix (impossible to see in the photo) and the other one is is an unbleached muslin with black velvet curves. It's definitely more modern and not as safe. It's my favorite out of these two. So let's take a look at my favorite two a little closer.
Here's a closeup of the sofa and chair with the larger awning stripe behind the -- WAIT, what's that? It looks like the barley twist table from Charles Street. Yes, this is the piece that made its way home with me.
When I went back to the store, I saw a woman standing in front of my table and I overheard the salesperson saying that she could take 20 percent off. But then the woman left. So I said to the salesperson, "I'm interested in this table." Her jaw kind of dropped and she said "Well, that woman just went home to measure and see if it would fit in her den."
Remember I was kind of going for this look and I don't think this room would have this fabric.
And I wanted to do something like this on the other side of the room. The stripe in the material sort of emulates the striped wallpaper but it's a different feel. So I don't think so.
I could see the room above having blinds in this fabric; in fact, the curves kind of remind me of the deer atlers that WON'T be finding a place in my living room so this pattern could create the Bambi-free version of the room.
Here's a same fabric behind the chair with a different "hobnail" table that was originally in the room. The color of this table works better but I still don't know about the fabric. I had friend come over and I asked for an opinion. "ANYTHING BUT THIS ONE!"
Do I really need to copy another room? Can't I come up with one on my own that's just as nice?
So I haven't ruled the velvet curves out but I think I need to go back for another try. I think I'd like to try something with a little color this time.
I love the muslin with the curves. Check and see what the fabric looks like when it's pleated in the "up" position. Stripes will fold up nicely and you'll still see that they're stripes. I'm not sure what this fabric will come across as. Just my 2 cents worth. I keep going over your last post just to see the mirrors. My heart races a little each time. They are so beautiful!
ReplyDeleteOh my, this room is going to be gorgeous Steve! I like the black curvy one the best - by far. That last photo (with your old hobnail table) is jaw dropping beautiful. The chair, the fabric, those table legs...just beautiful. ALSO, love your new hobnail - what a great piece! Trina
ReplyDeleteYou crack me up! I KNEW you brought something home from your shopping trip! LOVE LOVE LOVE the table-once you get everything in the room, you may find the color works better to your liking.
ReplyDeleteThe fabric for the shades - ok, personally, I'm not in love with any of them. I do like both of the striped ones but they seem safe and a little too tailored.
I love the first room - your just using it as inspiration so you're not really copying it. I'm sure your room will be just as stylish. It has such an evolved eclectic look.
Can't wait to see the next set of fabric choices!
Sarah
Fabric is like perfume - there are just way too many choices! I have a similar awning stripe on an ottoman in the living room/kitchen and another stripe on the roman blinds in the kitchen. I've enjoyed the blinds very much but they're starting to fade and I think I will go for something quite different when they're ready to be replaced! Love the table - great find. Leigh
ReplyDeleteHello. Love your blog. I like the muslin with curvy lines. The background color flows more easily from the window trim and wall color and the contemporary lines contrast nicely with traditional furniture.
ReplyDelete"Roman Blind Options...or Not?"
ReplyDeleteMaybe not?
And when you say "or Not?" I'm not sure if you mean that you're committed to roman blinds, but not necessarily to one of those fabrics, or if you mean that you're not necessarily committed to roman blinds at all.
You have exquisite taste, and anything you choose will be great.
But I'm suggesting that you reconsider using shutters. More specifically, one set of shutters for the top half of each window and a second set for the bottom half.
Some arguments against roman blinds and for shutters:
1. If your windows are easily visible from the outside, then the cords on the back of the roman blinds also would be easily visible from the outside.
Frankly, I think that those cords are unattractive, especially with an older house.
Granted, this isn't much of a problem when the blinds are up, but it does become a problem when the blinds are lowered. (Even when lowered only part way.)
Your house has a small setback from the street, so the backs of the blinds (the side of the blinds facing the outside) would be easy to see from the street. (By the way, I think that small setbacks are one of the charms of many older neighborhoods.)
Also, you've talked of adding a porch to the front of your house. (A great idea, especially because your house probably had a front porch originally.) If you do that, you may be sitting on your beautiful porch only inches from the back of the roman blinds inside.
In my mind, interior shutters look good from the outside, especially for an older house.
2. With roman blinds, you can't close the bottom half of the windows and keep the top half open.
When your windows are close to the street, as yours are, there may be times when you want privacy, but you also want to admit light.
With shutters, you can close those on the bottom half for privacy and keep the top half open for at least a partial view and for light.
3. With roman blinds that are made from a patterned fabric, it would be difficult to redecorate later without replacing the blinds.
With shutters, you could redecorate and keep the shutters.
4. Shutters work with almost any decor.
They work in a casual setting. (As seen in many of Kelly McGuill's interiors.) They work in a more formal setting. They work in a contemporary interior. (As seen in many interiors by the contemporary architect Hugh Newell Jacobsen.)
5. They fade into the background to let your furniture, artwork, and mirrors shine.
(And I'm so excited to see the round mirror that you plan to purchase!)
If you did decide to use shutters, they could be the same color of white as the woodwork, or they could be stained to match the wood floor.
A side note. In an earlier post, you mentioned the possibility of making the first floor windows bigger. (Or, more specifically, taller.)
If I remember correctly, I believe that you said that you probably won't do this. But if there's any possibility that you may make the windows larger, then you probably wouldn't want to spend a large amount on getting window coverings now that would have to be replaced when the windows are enlarged.
Again, I'm sure that whatever you decide to do with the windows will look wonderful.
By the way, so happy to see that you got the table!
And sorry for such a long comment!
Oh, I like the bambi antlers! why not?
ReplyDeleteRead my latest post: "in defense of antlers". Inspired by you!
ReplyDelete