Textiles Are the Soul of the Room

I really think my role as a designer is to create beautiful, personalized spaces completely tailored to my clients, their lifestyle and their needs. The space should, in the end, tell the story of them. To illustrate this, I’ve created two rooms designed with two very different clients in mind. I’ll show you how the fabrics and other elements make the room work for each client.

One space I’ve called the Park Ave Parlor. It’s moody, sexy, sophisticated and elegant. It features a classic palette of black, gold, cream and silvered gray with wonderful moments throughout.

Tufted upholstery is a detail I often use in my projects. Most clients want a solid colored sofa (a savvy long-term choice by the way) and it is with surface textures like tufting that take solid colored sofa from mild-mannered to boldly beautiful! Selecting the right fabric for tufted details is important and that’s why I chose this one. This creamy pearlized faux leather is durable and cleanable. But this faux leather offers a buttery soft pearlized finish that catches the light and makes traditional tufting look very current and today.

In design, the art of contrast adds drama and excitement to a room and accessories play a huge role in creating it. Look at how the sleek black lacquer desk contrasts an ornate leafy gold mirror. They are all set off against the dark charcoal matte finish of this beautiful botanical wall covering. A great play of contrasts here.

Applied to the barrel back chairs is a super sized chevron pattern paired with a fabric that looks like it’s been dusted with gold. This front/back application of fabrics on accent or dining chairs adds an abundance of personality to a space. Because it’s the chair seat that takes a beating, a more delicate fabric can be applied to the outside of an accent chair. The combination is just delicious.

I love pairing round pedestal tables with low-armed tufted sofas and leggy barrel back chairs. This is a perfect group of furnishings for casual dining, conversation or cocktails. Wouldn’t it also be a lovely home office conference table? It’s a very versatile furniture configuration. This is the area of the room that I guarantee would get the most use.

Now, the fabric of those drapes —can you see the delicate sparkles? That fabric is embellished with light-catching crystals that reflect the light and create a luxurious mood.

The second space is more about a relaxing restful retreat… I call it Nature Nurtured.

Now when it comes to elements like palettes and patterns and textures, there is no one that’s had a bigger impact on my work than arguably the greatest architect, designer, and artist of all time: mother nature. The colors of nature like earth, water and sky translate so effortlessly, and frankly, naturally into the home.

The palette here is soft and muted. Stone, sea and sky tones all partner beautifully with the tonal pearlized onyx wall covering. Combined, these colors and textures create a space that feels very calm and serene.

The contrast of natural and man-made materials is very important in contemporary spaces. It not only builds interest in character but it’s this kind of contrast that makes contemporary rooms more livable and comfortable.

I love contemporary furniture silhouettes because they allow me to put the focus on the fabric and to showcase the beauty of patterns and textures. The abstract landscape fabric on the wooden chair is a favorite of mine in this room and it just seems the two of them were just meant to be together. It’s what I call a perfect marriage!

I’m heavily inspired and influenced by light and its reaction to surfaces and materials. You’ll see that reflected, literally, in my design work. From accessories to wall coverings right through to my fabric collection, you’ll see elements of sheen and shimmer. There are pearlized finishes and light catching details like crystal and glass. I think this brings a modern attitude to classic, timeless design and it’s one of my secrets to creating spaces that are livable yet luxurious.