Trim Trends
Embellishments for Upholstery, Window Treatments and More
August 31, 2016 – by Noelle Milam
Charlottesville Home Magazine
http://charlottesvillehomemagazine.com/2016/trim-trends-embellishments-for-upholstery-window-treatments-and-more/


When you see a beautifully decorated room, whether in person, on television, or in glossy photos, it is the small but exquisite details that really seem to transform a design from functional to fabulous. Using decorators’ trim—tassels on a valance, cording on a pillow, even a simple gimp covering upholstery tacks—is a designer’s go-to method of fully customizing a design project. These are the final touches that elevate a project to the truly personal and one of a kind. Trims are used to draw the eye to certain elements of design, such as pleating along the skirt of a club chair, or to accentuate a structural feature, such as high ceilings or an oversized window.

The knowledgeable staff at Fabrics Unlimited, a locally owned business which offers fabrics, trims and full custom design services to clients in the Charlottesville area, recommends trim embellishments to clients as a way to further define their decorating style. Adding trim, tassels or fringe to projects ranging from cording on pillows, decorative tape on draperies or upholstered pieces or tassel fringe on swags lends any project a professional touch while at the same time personalizing it. At Fabrics Unlimited, these types of fabric embellishments are used as a way to reinforce a featured color and add another layer of interest or texture to a room, and of course, to fully customize orders based on a client’s individual tastes.

Trim Types
Today’s homeowners are blessed with almost endless choices of trims. There are gimp trims—a woven trim of various widths (regular gimp, scallop gimp, braided gimp, up to the very wide galloon gimp). These are used to cover seams or tacks in upholstery or to make transitions between the fabric and other types of trims. Cording, also known as piping, is commonly used at seams of cushions and pillows, adding decorative interest as well as additional reinforcement for the seams. Various fringes, such as bullion fringe, brush fringe or tassel fringe, are also popular statements on window treatments, throw pillows, and along skirting at the bottom  of chairs, sofas and table covers. Trim tapes, available in a variety of widths, colors and patterns, are perhaps the most popular trend in fabric embellishment at the moment due to their versatility and affordability. Whether you are looking to add a touch of whimsy to a formal room or lend a feel of understated elegance to a more casual room, there is a trim to fit that goal.

Uses and Trends
Like all elements of design, there are certain things that are currently on trend and others that are more timeless. Often this has less to do with the trim and more to do with where and how you use it. While we are familiar with trim edging a pillow or a drapery panel, it might be a little more adventurous to think about adding trim to a lampshade or an upholstered headboard.

At Fabrics Unlimited, they’ve noted an increase in the popularity of decorative tapes, which can be used in a variety of projects and are especially eye-catching when paired with the neutral colored fabrics that are currently on-trend.

Trims can also be layered—though experts often caution that layering should be done with care to prevent a dated look. This is where professional guidance can really come in handy. Fabrics Unlimited suggests knowing your personal limit for embellishment and sticking to it. They suggest that you should “use trim only to enhance the authenticity of your own style.” They believe in the motto, “Less is more.”

Care and Upkeep
One thing many homeowners are concerned about when thinking of fabric embellishments is ease of upkeep. Will those darling tassels along the bottom of the sofa’s skirting get caught in the vacuum cleaner? Is it safe to wash or dry clean the drapery panels with the Greek key decorative tape, or will the tape run or pucker? Will the contrasting cording on the throw pillows bleed if thrown in the washer? First of all, choose carefully. If the trim will be attached to something like a couch throw pillow, that in the course of family life will likely need to be removed and washed on occasion, then plan accordingly and choose trim (and removable pillow covers!) that can be either machine washed or dry cleaned safely.

The key to keeping your fabric trim and embellishments looking their best is to keep them clean and dust free. Prevention is key. Shake, fluff, or carefully vacuum to remove dust, spot clean as recommended by the manufacturer, and as a last resort, wash by hand, in the washing machine or dry clean. Be sure that your trim is firmly attached before vacuuming or washing—most trim is either sewn on or glued, depending on the project. Make repairs, and trim any snags or loose strings as necessary before cleaning.

Whether you are contemplating a new design project or looking for ways to update and add a “pop” to your existing decor, today’s beautiful trims, tapes and embellishments are sure to provide you with inspiration to bring out your home’s unique appeal.

The chilly weather is here and thoughts of Thanksgiving and this wonderful holiday season are upon us.  But our house, well, it needs something!  Family and friends are coming and our dining room chairs still have the stains left from last year.  SO…let’s reupholster them! This is a quick and easy way to spruce up without spending too much of the little free time we have.  At Fabrics Unlimited we've found most dining room chair bottoms only use ¾ of a yard to reupholster...TWO chairs!  So your cost can be low. Even new pillows for the sofa can make things look refreshed.

If you are looking for something “different” for the dining table, a runner can be a simple decorative touch.  For a rustic harvest look, burlap accented with gold or silver flecks is a hot new trend. Autumn rusts, navy or fashion forward gray are just part of the spectrum of new fabrics arriving daily at Fabrics Unlimited.

Let us show you...Just In Time!

Purple Lovers Love 2014

Purple seems to be one of those colors that people either love or hate. With Radiant Orchid being the 2014 Pantone Color of the Year, purple rooms are showing up in design magazines everywhere this year, including House Beautiful Magazine which has a slideshow of their "favorite purple-hued spaces for more decorating ideas" to inspire their readers.

Aubergine, orchid, lavender,violet, eggplant, grape, lilac, amethyst, mulberry, and plum are just some of the many purple hues to choose from. According to Karen Carpino, a style blogger with Today's Chicago Woman, deeply saturated colors like plum are an interior design trend for 2014. She suggests choosing rich fabrics such as velvet and suede, "fabrics that are sophisticated yet durable and can hold up to the darker color schemes."

Purple can be an easy color to use for interior design because it has so many other colors like blue, red, green and even yellow embedded in it. If you can't handle that much purple, try it first as a throw pillow, ottoman or table runner.

As one of the colors so frequently associated with royalty, the color purple can add richness and sophistication to your home decor. If you are searching for fabric with the purple hue that works best for your home, come to Fabrics Unlimited in Charlottesville, Virginia for the area's largest in-stock selection of 1st quality decorative fabrics.

Many people today do not know what the term "chintz" means with regards to fabric, but chintz fabric was once one of the most popular textiles on earth. Derived from the Hindu word "chint" meaning "spotted", this fabric was originally produced in China and India for bedding and draperies. This cotton fabric is characterized by its resin glazing and can be solid or printed, but today is frequently seen as a highly glazed floral print.

European explorers brought chintz fabric back to France and England from Asia in the 1600s, and this import became so popular that it threatened local textile productions. By the end of the 1600s, the French and British governments had enacted laws banning the import and use of chintz fabric for furnishings and apparel.

These laws compelled European textile manufacturers to replicate chintz fabric in their own mills, and the ban on importing chintz was eventually repealed. According to Michaela Murphy of Threads Magazine, with this new widespread production, chintz fabric became so common "that the term "chintzy" became synonymous with anything common or overly abundant."

Today, chintz is enjoying a revival with modern interior designers who are using this textile in new and exciting ways. According to Southern Living Magazine, "chintz is now being partnered with contemporary furniture, geometric prints and vivid colors," giving this traditional fabric a bold new look.

If you would like to explore how chintz fabric can complement you interior design plans, stop by Fabrics Unlimited in Charlottesville, Virginia to see our collection of in-stock 1st quality chintz fabrics today.