My name is Kelli Wilson, of Kelli Wilson Consulting. I am the resident designer at Designer Effects. We are a to-the-trade fabric showroom located in Little Rock. I have been in the textile industry for over 30 years. I have a degree in art, with a specific emphasis on textiles and design. I actually started my career as a couture buyer in the fashion industry. The luxury and broad spectrum of the fashion world soon lead me to the world of interior design.

I remember my first couture fabric loves were Escada and Hermes; the silk prints were exquisitely intricate. The menswear textiles of Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein always caught my eye because of the detailing. Kate Spade’s whimsy and splashes of color along with the fabulosity of Betsey Johnson’s wild prints are some of my most fabulous treasures to always gaze upon in my closet. In the textile world, I love Fortuni and Scalmandre for the indescribable quality of their beauty and elegance in their silk.

They are simply not-to-be-matched, in my opinion. And, of course there is Schumacher! I have always said that I wish I would have been a fabric designer for Schumacher…

Oh to be young again….And Stroheim & Romann offer the best linen strie velvet out there.

The list is forever long. We will explore as the months go on. I think each particular line has its own special “perfect” fabric that we just can’t design without. (You get the picture. I tend to be dramatic.)

I’ll also be giving you tips on how to mix and match patterns and colors. And how style works with textile; these days, no set style is right?  Gone are the days of cookie cutter interiors designed by a formula. Just as fashion has become intercultural, so has interior design. We shouldn’t simply be eclectic, we should strive for intelligent and artful interiors. Let’s mix periods and styles  a.e. Georgian Lamps with a pair of Lucite stools….Why not????  Let’s layer our spaces and always strive for more alluring and interesting design environments. We all want to come home to something new and refreshing in the way of design!

So that’s my plan: to help educate you on the many different types of fabrics available, as well as the best and most practical application of that particular fabric. We will explore the many different resources available to you and the aspects of each category of each type of textile.  I will explain fabrication processes and ideas and give you behind-the-scenes peeks at projects that I am currently involved in.

I am excited to start this adventure with all of you and to share the beauty of the world of textiles! It is an always changing industry. So tune in each month for what’s new and the latest in the world of design in FABRIC!