» winter fabrics
Winter
Warmth
WITH
Fabrics are a wonderful little secret in the decorating and design world. It’s both inspirational and
a great place to start when designing any room in 2017. Beautiful lush velvets, richly woven silks,
the bold yet unassuming texture of linens not only can inspire but when combined with the abundance
of wonderful patterns and colours, they will create a tailor-made living space for you.
» FaBRics have the extraordinary capability of
adding perso nality to your space and transforming
it through the use of colour and patterns. They
add warmth and softness to your designs, they
can highlight architectural features and create
interest. A bold statement can be made with the
introduction of striking patterns, rich colours, or
a subtle relaxed aesthetic can be created in that
same space with soft calming neutrals. When
working with clients I try to educate them in all
aspects associated with the fabrics we are suggesting for their home such as durability, care, pattern
intricacy, and how a fabric will hang.
The durability of a particular fabric is determined
by the “double-rub count.” Fabrics are tested for
the number of times a machine can pass back and
forth over the fabric before it wears down. I tend to
stay away from the lower rub counts for residential
use and will not to do any upholstery in a fabric
less than 12,000 double-rubs to be safe; or I would
suggest using these fabrics on a low-usage piece of
furniture like an occasional chair. There are many
fabrics available today that are high performing
with anti-microbial, stain and moisture resistant
features. These are beyond “forgiving” and are
fantastic for high-traffic areas especially those with
kids and pets. One of my go-to fabric suppliers
that never disappoints is Alendel Fabrics. They are
always introducing new designs this time of year
saturated with colour with inspiring yet classic patterns that can blend beautifully into any space.
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• fredi winter 2016
As important as durability is in your fabric selection, equally important is pattern intricacy and
colour. As a designer I love playing with colours
and patterns, however, when attempting to blend
several different patterns attention must be paid
to the scale of the patterns selected. Generally,
start by blending together a minimum of three
fabric patterns. Combine large, medium and
small-scale patterns together varying between
floral, stripes, geometrics, and solids.
With so many options available, be bold in what
you choose for your home. Furniture and custom
drapery for your home can be a sizable purchase
so when scanning over the endless fabric possibilities be sure to select wisely. I like to recommend
patterns that are timeless to enhance the longevity
of your investment and that are easily punched
up with trending colours or other patterns for
a bit of fun.
Since the winter season has begun, it’s a great time
to warm up and refresh your space by introducing
more colour and texture. Use fabric, with all its
great attributes; add in toss cushions, or maybe
layer your light airy sheers with some gorgeous
fabric side panels in textured velvet or linen to
add some warmth to your home. Take advantage of the new season ahead and let your “innerdesigner” shine through. Whether you love stripes
or florals, there are hundreds of possibilities to
make your home come alive this year.
THE DESIGNER
Linda Mazur is a
nationally publicized
designer and Principal
of Linda Mazur Design
Group. With almost
two decades of experience, this in demand
multi-disciplinary design firm is known for
creating relaxed stylish
spaces and full-scale
design builds within
Toronto, the GTA and
throughout Canada.
LindaMazurDesign.com
@LindaMazurGroup
HOUSE&HOME //