Choosing a fabric that will be enjoyed today…and tomorrow!

When it comes to selecting fabrics for either a home project or a client, I must confess to being a little conservative when it comes to larger upholstered items…This still leaves plenty of scope, but more importantly it means two years down the path, I am still enjoying the piece!

Where the fun happens is on the smaller upholstered items and of course all the cushions! Bolder, wilder fabrics work well on these smaller investment pieces, as they can be relocated from room-to-room, making them more seasonal items.

A little while ago, (ok maybe a year ago, good finds can sometimes take time!!) I posted a pic of a wing back chair I was taking off to the upholsterer for a makeover. I searched for months trying to find the right fabric, for this much loved family chair. I wanted something that would have a little bit of each of our personalities, the colours were to complement the various artworks, we have scattered throughout the home (this would allow me to relocate the chair to each of the rooms) and the pattern was to be, well, maybe geometric.

I went through all my usual fabric houses, as well as my collection of fabrics I have purchased from around the world…but there was nothing that captured all the above requirements. Than one cold winters morning (I know it is sounding like a children’s Disney story!) the boys and I were up early and off to the markets, and there in amongst all the remnants from a house lot we stumbled across a roll of fabric. It was rolled, with the back of the fabric showing, however my eye caught the signature down the side ‘Liberty’…my heart missed a beat (and I may have tripped over a couple of people) as I, eyes fixed, made my way to the roll.

And there it was. A 1960’s ‘Liberty’ print in perfect condition and it covered everything on our wish list!…and Yes, we lived happily every after.

The End…(which of course was just the beginning for this newly upholstered gem!)