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clotat

Need advice on fabric choice.

10 years ago

After many years I'm redecorating the living room. The drapes and sofa fabric are decided--I already have the drapes and have purchased the sofa fabric. A sample of my wing chair fabric arrived today. I think the colors work as none of the fabric will be right next to each other. I knew the Suzani fabric was large, but on the chair it looks huge. Is it too big? There will be two wing chairs and this fabric is at the top of my of my budget. I can't afford a mistake. Opinions?


Comments (39)

  • 10 years ago

    Omg, that is horrid. Do not reupholster your chairs in that red and green fabric. Consult with someone who has decorating sense before you make a mistake like that. It is clear that you could benefit from some support here and I mean that kindly and genuinely.

  • 10 years ago

    Honestly this fabric, as lovely as it is will end up bossing you about. By this I mean it is quite busy & you will get tired of it very quickly. I am assuming the green fabric on the chair is for your drapes & sofa, If so, you already have enough colour going on. My suggestion would be, and most designers will tell you this, for your large pieces of furniture i.e. sofa, chairs etc. keep them neutral. These will be expensive items to purchase so think it through carefully.

    The fabric may work as one accent pillow but it will have to be a fairly neutral fabric with shades of green picked out from your sofa. Your chairs need to be upholstered in a cream/neutral fabric to give the room some relief from all the green & give your eye somewhere to rest. To help you visualize a room think about getting dressed to go out for an evening, if you are wearing a floral skirt, would you then wear a polka dot blouse and then a striped jacket. Cushions are an easy & inexpensive accessory that it will bring the room together. Hope this helps.

  • 10 years ago

    Who is doing the reupholstering? I don't see the sofa fabric (I'm assuming it is the one on the right) as being sturdy enough for seating. Also I don't think you are going to be happy with 2 stripe fabrics.

  • 10 years ago
    I hope a professional weighs in. I love that fabric for your chairs! obviously you aren't afraid of color. I am so tired of everyone assuming that the only viable option is everything neutral with pillows as the typical pop of color. if you like it, go with it. it makes a statement, its cheerful and bright. just make sure you love it and wont get tired of it
    clotat thanked sharlowm
  • 10 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    Completely agree enthusiastically with sharlowm. Here's a similar-ish for you to see..

    https://www.decorpad.com/photo.htm?photoId=94336

    https://orangemama.wordpress.com/tag/suzani/ (scroll down a bit to see a wing chair)

    I am not a pro, so take my opinion as that of someone who no longer plays it safe and loves her choices so much better than when she did...

    :)

    Plus...I want your lamp.

    clotat thanked User
  • 10 years ago
    Country French Estate · More Info


    I think this picture in your ideabook may be your inspiration for your room. I love the color combination in the inspiration photo, but it really takes an experienced designer to pull this off. Mixing patterns and colors requires balance and a keen eye.

    You are correct doing this in advance of hiring construction of drapes and upholstery costs.
    Also, you are correct the pattern is too large for the chairs. More than the color it is the circular placement that doesn't suit the chairs.
    A medium size Jacobean print would be more suitable.
    clotat thanked Kathy
  • 10 years ago
    FYI
    clotat thanked Kathy
  • 10 years ago
    Personally I like it. I would try to make
    Each chair a little different i.e. The two circles in different positions on both chairs. Anyways, I love the combo of the chair material w the green stripes on the left. Def not a fan of the two striped materials together. Also, it might be a little better to find a material for the chairs w a smaller print, but if you can't find one, I think this works
    I think cpaul doesn't like color as much as we do haha
    clotat thanked J D
  • 10 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    Also I don't think it is horrid at all and you seem like you have a good eye for color :)

    clotat thanked J D
  • 10 years ago

    I think Jordan is on the right track, if you love this print. Can we see a pic of the chair with the circle oriented more to the lower right corner of the chair back?

  • 10 years ago

    I was a professional upholsterer in a former life (now I'm retired), so you can take my advice or not, it's your choice. The design of the Suzani is a little too large for the size of the chair. In fact, it is overpowering. Is the seat of the chair a separate cushion, or is it what we call in the trade a tight seat? If it is a tight seat, it looks like the design placement on the fabric does not allow a waterfall to the bottom of the chair frame. I would not go with this fabric. It does look like it's a tapestry instead of a print, so I know it is very expensive. You would need a lot of yardage to get the pattern placement exactly where it needs to be.

    Will you be keeping the lamp that is next to the chair? If so, the fabric definitely is not a good choice. The lamp has a decided Oriental/Chinese feel, and the Suzani is more of an Oriental/India style.

    I am assuming the smaller green stripe is what you have picked for the sofa, but if it is a linen, make sure it is an upholstery-weight linen, not a drapery-weight, as the lighter weight linen fibers would break down in short order on a sofa. If it is also a tapestry, then no worries.

    After looking at your chairs again, I would recommend slipcovers instead of upholstery. That way, you can change them out seasonally if you have two sets made. What do you have for a rug/carpet?

    clotat thanked Nancy Walton
  • 10 years ago

    This fabric would make up into lovely slipcovers for summer:

    Or this one could be good for all-seasons:
    Or the Jacobean posted above by Katherine Sharp would be good for winter.

    clotat thanked Nancy Walton
  • 10 years ago

    Destination room. Furniture of previous owner. I plan on 2 narrow panels on either side of windows. I'm thinking of bamboo blinds on each window for A.M. sun control. Sofa will go on right wall. I also need to cover an easy chair plus ottoman and two small side chairs. Room measures 16.5x24. There's a gorgeous mountain view which doesn't show in this photo.
    Private Residence - Columbia · More Info

    I love this room and shopped for hours for the pillow fabric but cannot locate. I also love the room that Nancy posted.

  • 10 years ago



    Nancy, you confirm my worries that the scale is too large. I love using color and combining patterns. The chair has a loose cushion. The photo is in our Ohio home. We retire to our house in Tucson within the year. I want to use a known upholsterer here. The lamp will not stay (have a pair from TJ MaXX); they worked with the blue wing chair. I like the idea of slip covers. I haven't decorated this room in decades and want to do something different from my normal traditional rooms. The curtains are really a plaid/check not a stripe. The green wavy sofa fabric is a heavyweight Scalamandre upholstery fabric that I found online for a song. I love it with the drapes; hanging they don’t show as a stripe. We plan to install wood flooring. I have an oriental carpet that will work if I’m not too tired of it. I also have 2 smallish side chairs that I planned to use a floral on, and an easy chair and ottoman for a zebra print.

  • 10 years ago
  • 10 years ago
    Both of your inspiration rooms have a lot of yellow/golden color. If you still need fabric for wing chairs I would choose a solid textures in golden tone to coordinate with your birch print and add a green cording to match the sofa.
    Golden Yellow, Textured Solid Drapery and Upholstery Fabric By The Yard · More Info
    clotat thanked Kathy
  • 10 years ago

    I love the "Look" of your original fabric for your chairs, it was less "expected" and fresher. I get that the scale may be wrong, but I would keep looking for something like that or even an Ikat print in the color scheme you are going for...

    clotat thanked sharlowm
  • 10 years ago

    The pattern is large but if the whole circle will fit on the back and seat of the chair without being partially tucked into the crease of the wing or the arms then it would probably work. Could you fold the fabric so the circle is in the right position but only the circle shows? No extra draped fabric flowing over the arms or wing.

    If you can't use the circle fabric it would look wonderful covering a round ottoman.

  • 10 years ago
    I just posted for someone else doing pictures but I like this anthropologie look
    clotat thanked Danielle Black
  • 10 years ago
    I like your fabric but maybe just do cream seats
    clotat thanked Danielle Black
  • 10 years ago

    The green fabric with the slight swirl is also great. Could you figure out a way to combine those two?



    clotat thanked leelee
  • 10 years ago

    If the pattern turns out to be too large don't be cowed into doing boring. I don't think you'll be happy with a plain tan chair.

    What is the rest of your room like? Sofa and drape fabrics? The two green samples are too close to be used together.

    clotat thanked leelee
  • PRO
    10 years ago
    I like your style and enjoy mixing unexpected patterns and textures. Since you say you will be moving to a hot climate, I fear the colors and weight of these fabrics will not be best choices in that climate. You could use similar colors, but perhaps take colors from desert flowers to bring a lighter, calmer look. The chair fabric is too heavy and while a big flower print would be cool, this one is just too large. I would send that back. Since the darker green fabrics are a done deal, let me look for some possible options to help you visualize a shift to less heavy look, using those colors as base.
    clotat thanked Flo Mangan
  • 10 years ago
    Think the fabric would make great accent pillows but too much for chairs. It looks like a bullseye and hard to look at on a piece of furniture.
    clotat thanked caroberts01
  • 10 years ago

    I love the fabric, but not on those chairs, unless, you would choose to use it on the back where there will be a whole repeat and less of a cut up design like on the front. Then try and find a coordinate to go with it for the front and arms. Oh and I personally would go with a red tone, the green drapes and sofa are enough green.

    clotat thanked babbs50
  • 10 years ago
    I like the fabrics Flo suggested. They are bright and current. It would give the room an updated look. I like the fact you are willing to venture out into color.
    clotat thanked Kathy
  • 10 years ago

    Sorry for the slight threadjack, but you always work hard for people here, Flo.

    I just wanted to say that I notice and appreciate it.

  • PRO
    10 years ago

    I do try. Thanks tjbjw.

  • 10 years ago

    What great ideas you guys have! Some of you really seem to understand me. The chair fabric would be perfect if it were smaller. I hope my greens aren't as dark as some of you think. The destination room has much more light than where it is photographed. Today I ordered another sample for the wing chairs. for wing chairs and for side chairs I will need to rethink my choice for the easy chair and ottoman. I LOVE the shiny spring green and orangish red that I hope these samples have in common. I hope the Granger black is not too somber. Green makes me smile. :)

  • 10 years ago

    To Flo, I have bookmarked your suggestions. I like your fabric selections. Thank you very much!

  • PRO
    10 years ago
    Clotat- you have a good eye and exciting elan so I'm sure you will have a bright and cherry new home that makes you smile everyday!
  • PRO
    10 years ago

    This Suzani fabric is gorgeous and works well with the 2 others. I would go for it....some other flowery fabric suggestions made here are boring...you chose this fabric because you loved it, assume your choice and go all the way. I love it, beautiful and punchy !

  • PRO
    10 years ago

    Nothing boring, just want fabrics to travel well to new location which is hot area! While printed fabric is wonderful, just because you love something, doesn't make it right for a particular setting. People "fall in love" with things all over this website, and then come here to "fix" it because it doesn't work.

  • 10 years ago

    There has been an unexpected death in the family and my focus must be with the family. I'll be traveling. A sincere thanks to you all for your very helpful advice.


  • 10 years ago

    Condolences, clotat.

  • PRO
    10 years ago


    I love the fabric. Come back soon.

    Prayers to you and your family.

  • PRO
    10 years ago
    Clotat. So sorry. Safe travels. Praying for your family and peace in your grief.
  • PRO
    10 years ago
    Wondering how you are doing? Hope ok.