Sprucing Up for Spring
Every magazine I have read this past month has had articles
on cleaning the house and redecorating or remodeling. Visit my blog, “Spring
Cleaning”, April 15, 2013 for care of your vintage textiles. One tip, for now, is please check your
collection every couple of months for proper storage. Take your textiles and refold them in a different pattern or,
better yet, roll them. When textiles remain folded the creases become difficult
to remove. If there is pressure on the
folds (by stacking the textiles atop each other) the fibers will weaken and
may, in time, break.
Now for the remodeling.
We recently remodeled our kitchen and are very pleased with the
results. But you don’t have to
completely redesign or remodel to create a new look for your rooms. Of course, the designers would love you to consider new paint, new furniture, maybe
remove a few walls. There are many ways
to freshen your living quarters without going broke or winning the
lottery. Naturally, I’m talking using
textiles to express your design personality.
Tip #1 Start with
what you already have. While you are
refolding your stored fabrics, linens and other textiles, consider using them,
in perhaps a different manner than they were first intended. When you put away your heavy, winter bed
coverings could you exchange them for an embroidered sheet and shams from the
1930’s? Do you have a lace curtain
panel that could be placed at the foot of the guestroom bed? How about a 1940’s cotton tablecloth for
your eat-in kitchen table?
Tip#2 Consider when
to purchase new fabrics or use vintage.
For kitchens, linens from the 1940’s and 50’s are entirely appropriate
and easily found in thrift shops. These
textiles were made from cotton and are actually very durable. They have been washed many, many times
throughout the years and are found in cheery patterns and colors.
However, if you are looking for fabric to upholster a
reading chair for your great room, new fabric is a better choice, as it needs
to be strong, stain resistant and pet friendly. If you like the look of vintage, reproduction fabrics are readily
found,
Tip #3 If you are
planning a new look or are decorating a new home do your homework by visiting
high-end furniture and design stores.
They will display various vignettes
using coordinating styles . You
are no longer required to style your home depending upon your location. Quilts are not only for New England, pastel
palettes not only for Florida. One
suggestion I always offer: go “ethnic”.
This style is definitely in favor right now and very, very easy to
introduce into your room décor. In my
home I have Indian dhurries as floor covers, Indonesian batiks and ikats as
throws and table covers and African Kente cloth for pops of color and
interesting, geometric patterns. These
all cohabitate with southwestern pottery and tribal art. Many ethnic fabrics and textiles can be
found , whether vintage or modern reproductions.
Tip #4 It is your
home or apartment or dorm room. Your
surroundings should reflect your interests.
Some prefer a minimal approach, some like to display collections. To keep from creating sterility or chaos
include meaningful objects. More is not only more!! More is confusing.
Complete absence of texture, color and form is not only boring but does not reflect
your personality. Decorating is a
talent that requires some degree of experimentation. If, at first, you are not entirely pleased with your efforts, try
again and be open to new ideas!!!
This is one of my favorite references.
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| The Textile Art in Interior Design, Melanie Paine, Smon and Schuster, NY 1990 |
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