We've decided on a slipcover sofa. Now, we need to choose a fabric and need help. We don't care for the over-wrinkly look. We don't have small children but do have a dog who sometimes digs/likes to rub his face in the sofa. We are retired, not overly messy people, but don't want to baby our furniture either. What kind of fabric might be best for us? We're considering mfgr's PB, Ethan A, Four Seasons, Kinkaid and Lexington. Thanks for any help.
Mona Ives The manufacturer is more to do with the durability of the piece - you get what you pay for. Ethan Allen or Lexington are better brands in my opinion. Fabric wise you should go for a cotton or cotton blend fabric. Linen will always look wrinkled no matter what. ook at the fabric content and ask to take a sample of the fabric home and sit on it a few times to see how it holds up...
Decor Innovation Designs The best pet and child friendly fabrics for furniture are very tight-weaved microfiber fabric or microsuede. The weave is too tight for the cats and dogs to get their claws into, and the fabric is very easy to clean, you can wipe spots with just warm water.They come in a variety of colors and prints that don’t show pet hair as easily as solid colors dose.
ltlieb I have always used white cotton or cotton blend fabrics for my slipcovers. They look great and can be machine washed and bleached. Ethan Allen has some great fabrics as well as Lee Industries who has many customizable pieces. Price point for Lee may be a little higher than Ethan Allen. Crate and Barrel even has a great line of slipcovered sofas made by Modern Concepts. I think their white slipcover fabric is called deso snow. I have it and it has held up great with kids and animals - over 5 years.
Lynne Barton Bier - Home on the Range Interiors A company we love for slipcovered sofas Is Rags Home Furnishings. The pictured sofa can be made in a 3 cushion as well and they have great fabrics to choose from.
I would check the durability of the fabric by looking at their double rub count. Here is a link you might want to check out that has some information from Kravet fabrics about fabric durability http://www.ibbdesign.com/blog/?p=2617 This is the link to the furniture company I mentioned
http://www.usarags.com/Sofas/pages/5919%20Lindsay%20Sofa.htm
Eklektik Interiors You should really look into using a Sunbrella fabric. They were originally designed for outdoor furniture but they have come a long way and the ones put out by Joe Ruggerio for Miles Talbot have a beautiful hand...you would never know it was Sunbrella. But the best part is they are completely washable and you can even put bleach on it and it won't change the color. I use it a lot especially when children and pets are involved. Check into it, you will be amazed and you'll love it.
cunningcathy Lee Industries offers a wide variety of slipcovered furniture. I own a sofa and have ordered their fabric for slipcovers. The fabric cleans well and the furniture is comfy and well made.
trishu the picture is strait out of a Pottery Barn catalog. It is actually advertizing the sofa cover. It cost $199. It is on a PB couch.Saw it in the last catalog that I recieved, so its pretty current.
Judy Yep. I added the picture because it was the subject of my question. By the way, I decided on the Four Seasons Alexandria sofa and love seat in the cotton fabric Tempo White. Should be ready in early April, can't wait!
seashell14 Do not get microfiber.Not pleasant to live with long.A good quality white denim wears well and can be bleached.I have raised 3 boys and dogs and sofa still looks great after 10 years and many washes..
CMR Interiors & Design Consultations Inc. I have a dog that does this: LINEN ROCKS with dogs. I'm talking the heavy duty belgium linen. We have a slipcovered camel back mitchell gold sofa with linen. When we first got her she would pee out of excitement-she was only 8 months and her bladder wasn't matured entirely. We trained her to not do that but we washed the linen alot and steamed it once back on the sofa . We also have 4 cats. Linen can really take a beating. And it doesn't get holes in it as easily as some cottons and even some cheap denims.
judyg Just a suggestion…Rue La La, My Habit, and One King's Lane have the most incredible buys. You just have to sign up and be patient.
Last week, Rue La La had Mitchell Gold furniture and the white slipcovered sofa, which retails for $3800.00 was selling for $1200.00. $9.95 delivery charge !!!!!
Otherwise, my recommendation for the toughest, cleanable fabric ever which is so rich looking is Ultra Suede or Sensuede.
CMR Interiors & Design Consultations Inc. Thanks! She is part pit and schnauzer terrier . A mutt! -we are crazy about her. Thankfully she is a quick learner and grew out of the peeing indoors.
CMR Interiors & Design Consultations Inc. You gotta use heavy weight fabric for pets. There are ratings when you shop for fabrics-you want to look at how many double rubs the fabric takes until it gets a hole into it. Don't do anything less than 100,000 -150,000 double rubs in my opinion. You also need to check on if the fabric will pill. I've used sunbrella on one slipcover for a sunny room and it did pill on me and I was disappointed.
Judy To Ikeltz... We're very happy with our Alexandria sofa. We tend to sit in the same place all the time so once in a while I rotate the cushions - the 3 from the sofa and the 2 from the love seat. I've had to wash the slipcovers a couple of times and they come out fine. We bought 2 chairs too - they are also super comfy and they swivel and rock. This pic shows our furniture a little, I shot it mostly to show someone the TV...
wmpj I recommend a leather sofa since you have pets. It's easy to clean and the fur comes right off. I have a leather sofa and loveseat and two dogs. I did't allow the dogs on the furniture for the first few years after we bought them but now I do. Any dirt or fur that gets on them wipes right off.
cwalbrun19 Surefit makes slipcovers in 2 and 3 piece sets (seat cushion, frame and back cushions for detachable). Supposidly it basicly eliminates the need for adjustment you have with the typical slipcover. I can't say I know anything about ethan allen slipcovers and if they offer this feature, but of course there decor is lovely and high quality. I think if I was paying the money for an ethan allen slipcover however, I would probably just invest in a new sofa as I'm sure they are costly.
ikeltz Judy, thanks so much for answering my question regarding the Alexandria sofa. We are definitely going to go with a sofa and loveseat in the Alexandria line, except we are going to get the Alexandria Grand, which is just a little deeper and longer. I love your chairs! The colors you chose are lovely. Now I have to decide what fabric. I love the oatmeal colored linen, so we'll see.
Judy ikeltz, I'm sure you'll be happy with your decision - post some pics when you are all set up! I'd love to see it.
and squishy, that picture I originally posted IS from Pottery Barn (used as an example). Maybe they're still selling those pillows.
einportlandor Just don't make the mistake I did . . . two beautiful EA chairs with fab heavy cotton burnt orange upholstery (what can I tell you, I love orange). They faded terribly because I had them in a west-facing window. They are still in excellent condition but they look way more shabby than chic because of the uneven color. Wish the sales guy had given me a heads-up. Heads-up!
Judy
I would check the durability of the fabric by looking at their double rub count. Here is a link you might want to check out that has some information from Kravet fabrics about fabric durability http://www.ibbdesign.com/blog/?p=2617
This is the link to the furniture company I mentioned
http://www.usarags.com/Sofas/pages/5919%20Lindsay%20Sofa.htm
Last week, Rue La La had Mitchell Gold furniture and the white slipcovered sofa, which retails for $3800.00 was selling for $1200.00. $9.95 delivery charge !!!!!
Otherwise, my recommendation for the toughest, cleanable fabric ever which is so rich looking is Ultra Suede or Sensuede.
and squishy, that picture I originally posted IS from Pottery Barn (used as an example). Maybe they're still selling those pillows.