Upholstery 101: Selecting the Right Fabric
Wednesday, September 1st, 2010
If you’ve purchased a sofa recently, you are well aware of the overwhelming fabric options that are available. Here is a run down of the most common fabrics and the best ways to use them.
Niche Interiors custom sofa in a cotton blend fabric
Cotton. I’m a sucker for natural fibers. Cotton is a good choice for upholstery fabric – it’s breathable and comfortable to sit on. If you have a very active household, it would be advisable to opt for a cotton and synthetic blend for durability, such as 50% cotton and 50% polyester (or rayon) blend. Look for heavier weight cottons, such as canvas and denim for longer life spans.
Linen. Effortlessly chic, linen has the most appeal for casual, classic homes. The downside to linen sofas are the wrinkles, which are inevitable. If you like things to look uniform and perfect this is not the upholstery fabric for you.
Microfiber or Ultrasuede. These fabrics are everywhere! That’s a great thing if you have a house full of young kids and dogs. While they are durable, relatively stain resistant and easy to clean, they can be a bit drab. A great alternative to microfiber is to treat your sofa with a stain guard service such as Fiber Care, which is an eco-friendly application. For a few hundred dollars they will come to your home and treat the sofa to repel stains.
Synthetic Fibers. There are a wide range of synthetic fabrics used in upholstery, the most common being polyester, rayon, and nylon. Synthetic fabrics were created to mimic natural fabrics, but with increased stain resistance and durability (and often with a less expensive price tag). Generally, synthetic fibers are rather durable and are a good option when blended with a natural fabric. The downside is that they are mostly derived from coal and oil sources, so they are not environmentally friendly.
Leather. Easy to clean and long lasting, leather has been a popular upholstery choice for ages. With the increased awareness of environmental and animal impact, this choice might be waning in popularity. Personally, I think leather is best used on chairs rather than sofas. If you opt for leather, make sure to look for full or top grain leathers that have been aniline dyed.
* Need professional help? Niche Interiors provides furniture selection and buying services. Contact us for more information. *
Tags: custom furniture design bay area, custom sofa san francisco, custom upholstery san francisco, how to select fabric upholstery, interior designe 101 upholstery, upholstery basics
Posted in Custom Furniture, Decorating Do's & Don'ts, Furniture | No Comments »
Quick Fix Decorating: 5 Easy Things to do in a Day
Sunday, August 1st, 2010
It’s summer and the guests are starting to roll in! Whether it’s your in-laws from out of town, or just friends coming over for a barbeque – this is the time of year when you want to relax and have fun. Read on for 5 easy (and affordable) home makeover tips that you can do in a day.
Accent pillows and flowers add jolts of color to this room designed by Niche Interiors
1. Spruce it up with color. Toss out those faded accent pillows on your sofa and infuse the room with colorful replacements. Create simple flower arrangements in small vases in various rooms in the home. The bathroom is always a nice place for a jolt of color.
Jonathan Adler double concentric pillow. 16” square, $98 ea
2. Create order. Do you have clutter spilling everywhere throughout your home? Group items into like-minded piles and contain items in attractive baskets or bins. Group small knick-knacks into pleasing, thoughtful arrangements and edit out items that don’t work.
3. Dress your windows. Bare windows or unsightly mini-blinds are a perfect opportunity to add softness, pattern and color to your room. Add drapery panels and new hardware for a more pulled-together look. Try mounting the rod a few inches above the window to elongate the height of your ceiling.
Jute cubes from West Elm. $89 each
4. Provide flexible seating for guests. Chances are you don’t have enough chairs for 10-15 people. Invest in stylish folding chairs, floor pillows, small ottomans or poufs. Pull them out when guests arrive so no one has to sit on the floor.
5. Flattering lighting plan. Evaluate the lighting in your home. Are there dark corners that nobody ever sits in? Place lighting evenly throughout a room, combining floor lamps, table lamps, and task lamps as needed. Install dimmers on your lamps or use low wattage bulbs for relaxing ambient light. Bring out the candles for even softer party lighting.
* Need professional help? Niche Interiors offers interior design services in the San Francisco Bay Area.*
Tags: easy decorating tips for the home, easy makeover tips for the home, quick decorating tips, san francisco decorating tips
Posted in Decorating Do's & Don'ts, Quarterly Newsletter | No Comments »
Home Design for Furry Family Members: As Seen on SFGate
Monday, June 7th, 2010
Check out our article (written for Houzz.com) featured on SFGate this Sunday in the Living section!
Below is an excerpt, click here for the full article titled Home Design for Furry Family Members.
It’s time to say goodbye to the carpeted cat tree and hello to more stylish solutions for living with pets. There is no reason that dog and cat beds should be eyesores in your home. All it takes is a little creative thinking to incorporate the needs of your animals seamlessly with the rest of your family.
Considering the needs of your pets when designing a built-in or remodeling your kitchen is a great way to provide function and style. Think about the practical issues: Always buy cushions with removable covers for easy washing. Don’t forget that dogs can have a difficult time on hardwood floors. Adding runners and area rugs will make it easier for them to get around and will provide soft places for hanging out.
* Need professional help? San Francisco Interior Designer – Niche Interiors *
Tags: home design for pets, interior design for dogs and cats, interior design san francisco, san francisco interior designer, stylish design solutions pets
Posted in Decorating Do's & Don'ts, Press | 1 Comment »
Introducing…Interior Design Reviews from our Bay Area Clients
Wednesday, February 17th, 2010
Check out our new Client Reviews page! A big thank you to all of our clients who took the time to share their interior design experiences.
Tags: apartment interior designer san francisco, bay area interior designer reviews, interior designer san francisco reviews, niche interiors reviews, reviews of san francisco interior designers
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San Francisco Interior Design Newsletter: Looking Ahead
Tuesday, December 1st, 2009
Trends come and go, and my philosophy as an interior designer in San Francisco corresponds with my fashion philosophy: Wear what you love. Interiors follow suit: Invest in high quality basics and opt for low-cost accessories that can be easily changed with passing trends. Read on for tips on dressing a home that will always be in style.
Grey acts as a great neutral for upholstery.
Invest in timeless pieces. While there may be the occasional instance when I would approve a pink sofa, typically investing in high-quality upholstery in neutral fabrics is the way to go. Think of your sofa as a little black dress; you don’t want anything too trendy that would make it feel dated in 2 years. Look for clean-lined pieces from reputable manufacturers such as Lee furniture or Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams. Quality is worth paying for, and that additional $500 may prevent you from having to purchase a new sofa in 3 years.
Accessorize with trends. Accessories such as accent pillows, throw blankets, and vases will add just the right dose of color or pattern and can be easily changed when the mood strikes you. If you aren’t sure you will love fuchsia in 5 years, opt for throw pillows rather than wallpaper.
Current trends: Purple and violet, Moroccan poufs (above is from Tazi Designs in SF), metallics, shag, houndstooth, grasscloth, black and white. For the full scoop on emerging trends, check out my Houzz article on Interior Design Trends 2010!
Stick to your concept. This is one of the hardest things to remember when decorating your home. While there will be many sofas, accessories, rugs, tables, and lamps that you love, not all of them will be right for your space. Consider the concept and look you want to achieve for the room and write it down. Keep this little blurb with you while shopping for furniture and ask yourself if the item in question fits with the scheme. If it doesn’t, then put it down and walk away. Impulse purchases rarely pay off.
Mix it up. Mix up your furniture pieces rather than sticking to one time period or theme, which can feel dated. Consider what feelings and emotions you want to invoke in each room of your home. If you want a soothing, relaxing, and airy master bedroom retreat choose muted cool paint colors, natural materials, and glass. You can easily mix high-end and low-end pieces to achieve the desired effect. Stodgy design rules and period decorating is so 1900’s. Happy New Year everyone!
Tags: decorating in style, how to decorate with trends, interior design tips, interior design trends 2009, interior design trends 2010, interior designers san francisco
Posted in Decorating Do's & Don'ts, Furniture, Quarterly Newsletter | No Comments »