By Michele Keith
Knowing the rules can make a good design … breaking them can make it great. And “Today,” says Thomas Marshall, national sales manager of renowned fabric house Zimmer + Rohde, “when it comes to upholstery the important thing is you like it. If that means throwing out traditional ideas about proportion and patterns, so be it.”
This calming thought began my conversation with Marshall who had agreed to provide some pointers about fabric selection to Beaux Arts Galleria visitors. “We have an abundance of choices now,” he said, “not only because designers are so creative, but technology has made it easy to replicate the appearance and unique ‘hand’ of delicate constructions while making them stronger, less prone to fading and even machine washable.” These new fabrics also give us more flexibility when it comes to picking furniture styles, as seen by purchases of some of the most unique pieces gathered from around the world by Beaux Arts Galleria.
Marshall says there are three important details to consider before beginning your search:
- Environment: In addition to walls, carpet and draperies, think about the amount of sunlight that comes into the room. A northern versus a southern exposure can make a big difference in which fabric will work best.
- Needs: Will the furniture be in the family room or another high-traffic area? Then durability is key. If instead it will be a decorative element and infrequently used, the range of possibilities is greater.
- Expectations: Do you want the fabric to last a decade? Or is it alright if it must be replaced in two years due to its fragility? Whatever the situation, you can find the right one without giving up comfort or good looks.
To illustrate the wealth of options, Marshall chose a gamut of fabrics for three furniture suites currently at Beaux Arts Galleria. “Imagine the chairs and sofas stripped down to their drawers, so to speak, covered in white muslin, so you can focus on the lines and frames,” he suggested. “These aren’t shy pieces. I think they’d appeal to people with a sense of fun, or a very grand home. There’s no in-between.”
One could take the conventional route and upholster with period reproductions or similar motifs. But how predictable that would be! Instead, Marshall gathered an assortment that is decidedly 21st century, absolutely complementary and appropriate for many decorating styles. A few of the most striking are pictured here.
Italian Carved and Inlaid Dining Room Suite
#0212 Italian Carved and Inlaid Dining Room Suite
Marshall suggests lightening the feel of these chairs to make them more youthful—while still acknowledging their history—with abstracts, the unexpected (in addition to zebra, try an ikat or other ethnic theme), widely-spaced embroideries or unexpected colors.
- Aria (Hodsoll McKenzie, embroidered linen)
- Michelangelo (Ardecora Collection, silk and cotton)
- Linen Cartouche (Hodsoll McKenzie Collection, wool-embroidered linen)
- Grammont Linen (Travers Collection, printed linen)
Giltwood Seven-Piece Living Room Suite
#0473 Giltwood Seven-Piece Living Room Suite
It’s easy to take this group in “another direction,” with the fabric, says Marshall. “You’re not married to the furniture style.” Try a nominally Art Deco design, bold, dressy stripes, big, stylized flowers or something formal yet fun in a zingy color. “These are such imaginative choices,” says a Beaux Arts Galleria executive. “It’s so satisfying to see our furniture in different environments, made possible only with such out-of-the-box thinking.”
- Lux (Zimmer + Rohde Collection, cotton and rayon)
- Parlos (Zimmer + Rohde Collection, cotton/polyester/viscose/acrylic)
- Vertige (Ardecora Collection, viscose and polyester)
- New York (Zimmer + Rohde Collection, cotton and viscose)
Italian Rococo-Style Living Room Suite
#0187 Italian Rococo-Style Living Room Suite
Young couples who like this “very wow” aesthetic could tone it down a little with a textured solid, says Marshall. Any of the following would work and while all are lovely to the touch, they’re strong, durable and require no special care, ergo, are child-friendly.
- Vito (Zimmer + Rohde Collection, soil-repellant velvet)
- Spirit (Zimmer + Rohde Collection, mohair on a cotton ground)
- Matrix (Zimmer + Rohde Collection, faux ostrich leather)
“These are just some ideas,” says Marshall. “Trust your instincts and be open to suggestions. You might be surprised… and very happy.”
