Welted Arm, Built to the floor, swivel, tight back, Palmcroft Arm, Transitional, contemporary
One of several custom upholstered furniture pieces we designed for a Desert Mountain client looking for some color in her interior environment. Thanks Pacific Manufacturing for making it so easy !
S Interior Design loves to create what we call ‘fabric stories’ for rooms we are designing.
Referencing our prior post on Design Inspiration Boards for two guest rooms we are re-designing, here are some of the wonderful fabric stories we are working with.
Okay, I have a confession—I have a bit of an accent pillow obsession (along with shoes of course!). Accent pillows are a great way to update your existing seating and bedding without starting from scratch.
You can change pillows out seasonally to evoke the feeling of summer or fall or winter or even at holiday times. You can splurge on a pricey fabric when having pillows fabricated because you don’t need a lot of yardage. Styles range from simple box pillows to highly adorned and trimmed pillows; the options are endless.
So, when asked to post this guest blog about decorative pillows, we of course said YES!!
Decorate with Pillows
Pillows are like the icing on the cake. They bring life to sofas and beds. Pillows are important design elements in the house, and they are some of the best items to express the owner’s individuality. Beautiful pillows have great fabrics that match the theme of the room.
There are some rules that homeowners can follow in order to come up with a beautifully decorated sofa and bed.
Factors to Consider when Decorating with Pillows
• Size
Homeowners should consider the pillows’ size so that they will match the size of the sofa and the bed. Standard pillows usually measure about 18 inches. They are great for typical-sized sofas. Large pillows are also a good choice when owners are trying to create a more lounge-like and casual feel.
• Fill
Pillows with feather-and-down fills are the softest. Unfortunately, this is the most expensive pillow filler. On the other hand, foam and other synthetic fills can hold the pillow’s shape as they are stiffer.
• Quantity
Designers like to include an odd numbers of pillows as it tends to be more artistic. Homeowners may consider having one, three or five pillows depending on the number that can fit into the furniture. Typically, a chair needs only one pillow while a standard 88-inch sofa needs three or five pillows.
• Shape and Color
Opting for a combination of different pillow shapes creates a fun and lively appearance. One common combo is a pair of square solid pillow with a color that contrasts with the sofa, one oblong-shaped pillow at the center and two extras. The two additional pillows can have patterns and may have the same color as either the sofa or the solid pillows.
• Texture
The texture of the pillows should contrast with the sofa’s upholstery. This will ensure that people will not slide off their seats.
• Room’s Theme
All pillows in the living room do not necessarily have to be the same. However, there should be at least a connection between them that will show through their palette or style. A good theme will provide the room with a more polished and unified feel.
Decorating Sofas with Throw Pillows
The Traditional Look
• Even numbers of pillows are great for a traditional sofa look. Four pillows may be arranged on either side of the furniture to present balance and order.
• The pillow size will depend on the size of the sofa. The traditional look is enhanced by pairing 20 to 22 inch square pillows with smaller sized round pillows. Proportion is the key for a pleasing traditional sofa look.
• Silk and velvet pillow fabric can work best with a traditional sofa look. It can have prints and patterns such as flowers. These prints should be simple and may only have two or three colors. One solid and one printed pillow make a great pair.
• A thin braid or cord is a great choice for small pillow trims, and tassel fringes are perfect for bigger ones.
The Modern Look
• An odd number of pillows works best with modern designs. A few large pillows can be mixed with little ones.
• The pillows should be large enough to show off large pattern designs or just a solid color. Oblong-shaped pillows will also boost the modern look.
• Cotton and linen are the best picks for pillow fabrics. Large geometric prints with a few different colors should be considered. However, those who love more colors are not prohibited from going for what they like.
• Trims are usually only for traditional look, but they can also be used. They should maintain the pillow’s solid color and at the same time add interest to it. http://www.2modern.com has a lot of modern pillow collections to choose from.
The Eclectic Look
• An odd or even number of pillows can work well in an eclectic room without making it look cluttered.
• Generally, designers prefer similarly sized large pillows that measure around 18 to 24 inches.
• The pillow fabrics can all be different, but they should have at least one color that connects them. This will ensure that they have unity despite having different fabrics. The eclectic look actually relies more on the fabric than the other elements.
• Trims should be kept simple. They can have braided edges. Inside Avenue offers many choices of decorative pillows that will perfectly complete the living room’s eclectic look.
Decorating Beds with Pillows
• Decorative pillows on beds should blend well with the comforter and coverlet. They are also best paired with foams from Memory Foam Express.
• It is best that pillows are positioned with the biggest part at the back and the smaller part in front. Doing so will ensure that the fabric is given more emphasis.
• Pillow colors can be pulled from all fixtures and furniture inside the room.
• Pillow colors and patterns can bring a more casual look to the bedroom. One great example is white bedding topped with a heavily printed coverlet and white and gray-colored pillows.
• Contemporary looks often involve white pillows and one decorative pillow as an accent.
• Pillow positions on the bed can also add to the overall look of the room. They can be placed diagonally. This may be a simple idea, but this little interesting detail can actually make a lot of difference.
• People who want to have numerous pillows on the bed should opt for a limited palette so as not to overwhelm the room. There are homeowners who really want to have nine pillows around them. There are more pillow ideas available here.
Decorating a home with pillows is fun. Homeowners can actually change the overall feel of their homes by simply adding pillows or changing their fabric, colors and arrangement. However, it is always important that they follow the rules in choosing the pillows for their sofa or bed. Otherwise, their space will look more cluttered rather than pleasing. Different types of pillows for modern, traditional and conventional looks can be found at instyle-decor.
This Guest Post is written by Lisa Jolan: You can connect with her on twitter @lisajolan
Below is a guest post providing some great information about how to care for your leather seating.
S Interior Design likes to mix leather seating with upholstered options when possible. Mixing the upholstery in a room provides opportunities to add varied textures, colors and patterns resulting in a more customized result.
Caring for your sumptuous seating
There is nothing like a designer leather sofa to add an element of luxurious style into your living room. From traditional chesterfields to contemporary minimalist designs, the sumptuous elegance and comfort of leather sofas makes them desired and sought after items for the home.
Leather is not only valued for its aesthetic appeal, its inherent properties make it extremely suitable for living room furniture. Leather is a hard wearing and durable material that will withstand the stresses and wear and tear of family life, including children and pets, far better than fragile fabrics that fray more easily. It is resistant to both tearing and puncture damage.
Leather is also easy to clean, meaning that accidents such as spilled wine, coffee and other substances can be simply wiped clean without leaving a visible permanent stain that may occur on fabric sofas, both light and dark colored. Marks can be simply wiped clean with a damp cloth. Leather will also hold its color better than fabric.
Leather actually becomes soft and supple with use, so well used sofas will not become misshapen but will retain their strength and shape. Leather sofas support the natural contours of the body making them extremely comfortable to sit or lie upon.
All these reasons mean that your leather sofa will last a long time. However there are some simple measures that you can take to ensure your leather sofa remains in top condition for its lifetime.
Find out what type of leather you have – Leather comes in various forms depending on how it is manufactured. The type of leather used may be written on tags on the sofa, or you could contact the manufacturer. However most types of modern leather sofa will be sealed or top coat protected. This is the simplest leather to clean and it is safe to use water. Pure aniline leather may need to be cleaned professionally while waxed leather such as Nubuck will need re-waxing as part of its regular care and to remove scratches and blemishes.
Prevention is better than cure – Use a leather protector to condition your leather against wear and tear and cracking, and keep it soft and supple. Leather protectors also provide protection against everyday dirt as well as oil, water and alcohol stains.
Use leather wipes for simple cleaning – Leather wipes are readily available from shops and are a great way to mop up spills or just to wipe over the sofa to keep it fresh and clean. Different wipes are available depending on the type of leather.
Tackle stains with foam cleaners – Foam cleaners can be sprayed onto stains and gently rubbed, before being dried with a clean cloth. These cleaners are often suitable for different types of leather. Nubuck and suede should be brushed beforehand for best results.
Try homemade remedies – There are several tried and tested kitchen remedies for keeping your leather in good condition and for removing stains. Simple soap and water can be used for general cleaning, while red wine stains can be tackled with salt. A mixture of two parts linseed oil to one part vinegar is recommended for removing surface dirt and leaving a superb, polished appearance.
Remove stains quickly – Always treat stains as soon as they occur for the best chance at complete removal.
Master Bedroom Makeovers by S Interior Design- We all love a movie right? Short and sweet with some nice music to go along 🙂