Date:  September 24, 2015  |   Photography: Matthew Martin and Courtesy of Vendors  |   Producer: Ashley Gill  |  

 

Three Arkansas-based designers share their favorite fabrics and offer expert advice on layering pattern, color, and texture for maximum style impact in every room of your home

What’s your signature design style?

Unstuffy sophistication. Our clients want a fresh, new look: bright, not dark, and beautiful but still livable.

Describe your approach to creating a fabric scheme.

I go to the client’s home and see how they live—whether they are single, have young children or pets, et cetera—and that gives me a starting point. Bottom line: Make sure the fabrics in your home work with your lifestyle. After we know a client’s needs, I tend to create monochromatic schemes with different patterns and textures, which really gives a room character.

What are your all-time favorite fabrics?

I love fabric. My favorites change each season, depending on what is happening in design. Color and texture are both a draw, and I especially favor Old World fabrics that have been modernized and reinvented. A silk damask is always a timeless choice, and it can go on furniture, drapes, or walls.

How do you select drapery fabric?

For drapes, I love lush and beautiful—never heavy. I do not like fussy drapes. Simple and classy silks and linens are always a good choice.

What eccentric or unusual uses of fabric do you like?

I like to do something unexpected, mixing old and new, like using cut velvet or damask on a contemporary chair. Another example: I recently bought a pair of beautiful, whitewashed antique settees and had them upholstered in a transitional fabric. The result was edgy, yet beautiful.

Fabrics pictured above (left to right): Odalisque by Lelievre, Songbirds by Anna French for Thibaut, Concetti by Osborne & Little

Debi Davis, Debi Davis Interior Design, Little Rock, (501) 221-2032, danddinteriordesign.com

What’s your signature design style?

I design rooms that are tailored, but with an edge. For instance, the furniture pieces I purchase typically have clean lines, but for fun I like to throw in a few unexpected items with a story.

Describe your approach to creating a fabric scheme.

An interesting room should draw you in with the softness of the fabric, but it should always be balanced with layers of other materials such as woods, metals, and textured elements. I never start in the same place when it comes to layering. While I’m making selections, I try to stay open minded to using fabric in unexpected ways. If I overthink it too much, or if I get too attached to a “perfect” fabric I’ve imagined, the space can become too staged.

Are there any fabrics you just cannot wait to use?

I’m really into fabrics with plush, nontraditional textures right now that have depth, dimension, and a subtle sheen. And I find I’m using more graphics and mottled fabrics. I love the idea of pairing these with my staple velvets and nubby viscose blends.

How do you select upholstery fabric?

I love using a mix of velvets, mohairs, and textured wovens on upholstered pieces within the same space. I stay close to solids that are in the same color family, or even neutrals, and play with patterns and accent colors in throws, pillows, and floor coverings. It’s easy to fall into color trends, but I am always cautious of using them on large investment pieces. Also, think practically: Furnishings that are used most frequently, such as a sofa, are best outfitted in a fabric that doesn’t crush—no textures that will show wear spots. However, that type of fabric would be perfect for an accent chair or bench at the foot of your bed.

Fabrics pictured above (left to right): Corallo by Osborne & Little, Channels by Kelly Wearstler for Lee Jofa Groundworks, Kirkham Sesame by Lee Jofa

Laura Bullock, Laura Bullock Interiors, Fayetteville, (479) 387-1800, laurabullockinteriors.com

 

What’s your signature design style?

A peaceful, organized mix of old and new— yet always with an element of surprise.

Describe your approach to creating a fabric scheme.

It really depends on the project, but I typically like to have a large-scale pattern, a medium-print fabric, and a textured, solid fabric all in the same room. I pull the room together by repeating the large-scale pattern at least twice in different applications. I also tend to focus more on selecting fabrics that work harmoniously together, rather than choosing any one fabric that might overpower the rest.

Are there any fabrics you just cannot wait to use?

When the right project presents itself, I hope to use a unique, faux-leather pattern for a banquette in a kitchen or bar area. I like that they are so durable and easy to clean as well as good-looking! I envision the banquette having a tall back and really being a statement piece.

What eccentric or unusual uses of fabric do you like?

In children’s rooms, any way of hanging fabric on the ceiling or creating a canopy over the bed is really fun and whimsical. Or, for a more formal look in a dining room, I really love an upholstered accent wall.

Fabrics pictured above (left to right): Olsen by Tilton Fenwick for Duralee, Marrakech by Highland Court, Seismic Amalfi by Kravet Contract

Courtney Stone, Sydney Murphy Design, (870) 863-6625, sydneymurphydesign.com