HIGHLIGHTS: Selecting an accent colour connects different elements and adds zing. Images supplied. SETTLING for second best in life may be a sensible compromise but if the heart is unhappy with the final outcome, taking a logical pathway may be in vain. And, selecting soft furnishings to adorn a home is no exception when it comes to keeping people happy, especially when something eternally niggles at the person who gazes at it day after day.
A gold bathtub may break the budget, but when it comes to renovating a treasured armchair or replacing worn-out drapes there is no reason to cut corners. However, fabric options are
vast, and many hours can be wasted staring, touching and deliberating over luxurious chartreuse mohair velvet or hot chilli pepper poly-viscose.
To save time and find the perfect solution enlisting the talent of an expert is a worthy step. Immersed in the world of upholstery and interior design, Julie Stackpole,
of Stackpole Interiors, has a wealth of experience. She says people need to select the right fabric for the right situation and even better if a consultant can do this in situ.
The structure of a piece of furniture plays a big role in fabric selection. If the upholstery needs to cope with the rigours of a reclining chair that is subjected to feet, bottoms and backs regularly wriggling about, there are fabrics designed for motion furniture.
This doesn’t mean style has to be sacrificed for practicality and a good consultant will provide options that build on the overall appeal of the setting. Other considerations such as, rolled arms or contemporary square furniture will influence the choice.
“Certain fabrics tend to sit better, not just make up better, but they sit better on the frame as well,” Julie says.
Stripes can create a striking feature but it is important they are used on appropriate furniture designs. Curvaceous chairs with twists and tapers may result in a disappointing finish with stripey mismatches, however Julie says sometimes people love the fabric and will persist no matter what.
People are often fooled by viscose and rayon, thinking they are synthetic, but they are both cellulose products.
“Having said that, I have had people fall in love with a beautiful linen and sometimes you just have to go with what you want.
“You don’t want to be looking at this thing all the time and thinking you wish you had chosen the other fabric.”
Living with a second choice and recovering a chair a couple of years later can’t be good for the spirit or the bank balance.
When it comes to colour, the possibilities are limitless with upholstery and New Zealanders are reputed to be fast adopters of the latest trends.
“The top interior design comes to us from Europe, and New Zealand is very hot on the heels of what’s happening there,” Julie explains.
“Australia follows us about a year later and the States, a couple of years after that.”
Companies, such as Designers Guild, put together collections of wallpapers and fabrics to create a complete look.
The colours, textures and patterns complement each other and interior design is no longer a random assortment.
Emulating images in glossy magazines may be extravagant but finances shouldn’t be a barrier to running with a few of the concepts to fashion an original look.
“We’re not quite so into mixing and matching but you can take parts of a collection. You may really like a wallpaper — use
it and go cream everywhere else. Or, you might have one or two cushions and decide not to have a particular colour in the drapes.”
Lamenting the Kiwi obsession with playing it safe to protect the resale value of houses, Julie finds homes with personality tend to attract more buyers.
Tone on tone, beige on beige combinations may be safe but they say little about the people living in the home.
“It’s very ‘show home-ish’ but neutrals are good to work with if you want to bring in accent colours and have the ability to change them. A lot of people have a feature chair in a bold fabric and it gives a room a real zing and it says something about the people.
“Wallpaper is big and there are some stunning papers. It’s just got more character and the finishes on them are superb. Also, if you haven’t got perfect walls, wallpaper really is the way to go.”
The designs are bold and a masculine geometric, or romantic floral paper may not work in every room but in a dining or bathroom they make an exciting impact. “It’s all about being clever about how you use things. It doesn’t have to cost a zillion dollars.”
And, if people are looking for interior furnishings that are cat-proof – forget it. Julie says if a cat wants to destroy furniture, wallpaper, carpet or drapes, nothing will resist those sharp little claws or clinging fur. Maybe get a pooch to chase away the feline offender.
