Fabric Series - Stripes for Every Occasion

Source - My Pinterest Board

Stripes seem never to go out of fashion in home decorating.   I have quite a few in my "fabric room" waiting to be artfully used.  Today, I kept seeing these great small and large vignettes/settings using stripes as anchors, such as the lovely photo above, in magazines and on-line features. I noted that many of my pinterest boards have striped themes as a main feature of a setting.  And, I just dropped off three striped fabrics with my upholsterers (the fabulous Lees of Norcross, GA) to be used on current projects.  Clearly, it was time to dive into the topic of stripes once more!

I found this interesting article on the Real Simple website called Stripes 101 with advice from one of my favorite designers, Elaine Griffin:

Whether traditional or unconventional, stripes—especially on walls and floors—promote order. They have an almost architectural power to redirect the eye and reshape a space. In smaller doses, like on furniture or accessories, they’re “the neutral of the pattern world,” says New York City interior designer Elaine Griffin, as they are low-risk and easy to incorporate into any type of room.


Three Expert Decorating Tricks 

Four Fab Stripes - source

1. Use high-contrast stripes in unexpected spots. For powder rooms and foyers (spaces where people don’t linger), strong stripes can be charming. “I love a brilliant stripe in a closet,” says Darryl Carter, a designer in Washington, D.C. “It’s like the lining on a fine coat.”


 2. Match the size of the stripes to the size of the room. In general, the larger the space, the wider wall stripes should be, because thin stripes in a big expanse can look like mere texture from far away. And in a small room broad, bold stripes can feel jarring.


 3. Blend striped, floral, and solid accessories. A foolproof recipe for throw pillows: Put together three or four designs that are clearly distinct but share a palette. Try a wide stripe, a narrow stripe, a dainty paisley, and a solid. The effect is cohesive, with just enough randomness to feel homey.

Love this striped settee and striped wallpaper - nice complement -  source

Bold use of stripes on walls - works well with this great little chair - source

Here are some of my 2010 and 2011 striped pieces - reds and blues!

Here are some of the more unusual, bright stripes in my fabric inventory.  These are all nice pieces but I'm a little nervous about using them - will they sell??

I am not as nervous about using these more subdued stripes.  The top one is a red and cream ticking (cotton) that is being used on a set of  Country French style chair with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint finish in old white.

 I do like the stripes!  What do you think of them and what, specifically, do you think of the "striped fabrics in my inventory" group - should I bite the bullet and just use them or toss (donate)??

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