Living Well

4 Ways To Make Neutral Upholstery Durable (Aka Livable)

Do you ever wonder how we use so many beautiful, neutral fabrics in our projects and question how they look after a busy family lives in the space?  
 
Many times when we are in the furniture and fabric phase of a project, clients immediately want to steer clear of anything that remotely looks too ‘light’ in color because of children, dogs, and just life.
 
They have valid reasoning for being concerned; I’ve raised three daughters and know how that goes. But like everything else, technology with fabrics and their durability have come leaps and bounds from where they used to be.  
 

Here are four ways to make neutral upholstery more durable in your home:

1. Treat the neutral fabric with a stain resistant

In this Living Room, we had all of the upholstery treated with a stain resistant formula before being upholstered. It’s important to look at each fabric’s durability when creating a room so it can work hard for your family if needed.
 
Dana Wolter Interiors, Graham Yelton Photography
 

2. Include commercial grade fabrics in strategic places

Another trick we use is to find contract-grade fabrics that do not look or feel commercial. We have found fabulous looking velvets and linens that go through rigorous testing to guarantee they are stain resistant, durable, and have a high rub count.
 
Dana Wolter Interiors, Graham Yelton Photography
 

3. Add a blanket or quilt as an extra layer of protection

Often times, we have quilted throws made to perfectly fit a piece of upholstery. This allows the throw take the brunt of the activity and it can easily be removed or dry cleaned.
 
This Schumacher velvet and Jerry Pair leather add to the durability in this room. Dana Wolter Interiors, Graham Yelton Photography
 

4.  Incorporate a leather or faux leather into the room

This buttery faux leather that resembles some of the attributes of leather can look stunning and function perfectly in a kitchen or breakfast room.
The technology makes it easy to wipe down without stains or harsh chemicals, so no worries about fingerprints or stains on this custom banquette we designed, either.
 
Dana Wolter Interiors, Graham Yelton Photography
 
Next time you are faced with the fear of choosing new fabrics for your home, don’t immediately shy away from light upholstery. Remember, the key is to look at its makeup so it can stand up to everyday life.
 
Here’s to living well with neutral upholstery,
Dana
 
 

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Living Well

Thanks, Schumacher!

Hi Everyone,

With the Antiques at The Gardens show this week, I want to give a BIG shout out and thank you to my friends at F. Schumacher and Co. for making it possible for us to use several of their exquisite fabrics in our vignette, “Fireside Chat”.

As if their fabrics don’t say enough, it is obvious teamwork and an encouraging environment in the workplace have contributed to the success of this company. I have yet to meet a person associated with Schumacher that I didn’t like, and I have met those working from customer service to the owner of the company. Schumacher is reliable, they stand by their products and they are customer-friendly. Perhaps this is why they have been in business for over 100 years…..

You won’t believe some of the beautiful pieces we created using Schumacher’s textured linens, quilted fabrics and soft velvets. Hopefully you will see them in person at the show, but in case you can’t make it, I will be sure to post a few on my social media as the week goes by.

Have I peaked your interest yet???

If you aren’t familiar with their wall coverings, floor coverings, furnishings, and fabrics, you need to check it out here. If you look closely through their line, you will notice I have used several of their fabrics in many of my interiors. Why? Schumacher has a classic, fresh look, exactly how I want my interiors to read. In my opinion, they have some of the prettiest linens around.

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Mary McDonald’s line for Schumacher
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A Schumacher fabric recently ordered for an upholstered table I am designing for a client.

 

As timing would have it, Schumacher announced Monday that Dara Caponigro, former Editor- In- Chief of Veranda magazine, is the new Creative Director for the company.

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Photo courtesy of F. Schumacher and Co.

Dara has an extensive background in the design world with her experience not only working at Veranda, but also at Domino, Elle Decor, and House Beautiful. There’s lots of talent and experience being added to this incredible company. To read more on this announcement, click on Schumacher’s blog here.

Thanks again Schumacher; We couldn’t have done it without you!

Have a great day, everyone!

Dana