Decorator Fabric Series - Toile de Jouy

Blue and White Toile

Brown and Cream Toile

This is the fifth installation in this series about fabric patterns.  It discusses Toile de Jouy fabrics which are usually cottons or cotton blends and are printed rather than woven.  I love this fabric and get very excited if I can find it at a good price - it is that popular and never seems to go out of style.  I have had a set of blue and cream club chairs and ottoman for a long time (and also have a bathroom wallpapered in a green and white toile).   The fabric works well on all size pieces but I do try to use it on pieces that show the patterns - often scenes - the best.  I have passed up really large patterns as well as really small ones - the scale is important.   This is also a pattern that can stand the test of time - a little fading only renders it more authentic.  

I researched for a little history and found the following:

In 1760 Christophe-Philippe Oberkampf established a factory in Jouy-en-Josas printing French toile fabrics of superb quality with dye fast colors. By 1805 it sprawled over 14 hectares with over 1300 workers, becoming the most important factory in Europe.

In the beginning, the factory printed woodblock polychrome cottons mainly in botanical and fruit designs, to be used for clothing and some soft furnishing. These fine examples, called Toile de Jouy, simply meaning 'cloth from Jouy', became the most quintessential of French fabrics.

The famous landscape monochromes were printed with figures in pastoral scenes, hunting scenes, chinoiserie, military triumphs, antique follies, and farm life, depicting vignettes of general life in the 18th and 19th century.

At first these French fabric designs seem rather simple with a limited color palette either in red, blue, violet and brown amongst a few others, printed on a white or cream background. However simple they may look, the art and technique were masterful, almost giving a 3D effect.

Toiles are still produced at present and whether reproduction prints, or modern twists, they are as popular today as they were over 200 years ago. Other countries and factories in France produced similar toiles, but to this day the name that remains is 'Toile de Jouy'.

Blue and White Toile

Brown and Teal Toile

Red and Cream Toile

Decorator Fabrics Series - Damasks

This is my 4th installment in this series.  I thought I knew what damasks were but decided to get some formal definitions such as ...

Damask is a fabric of silk, wool, linen, cotton, or synthetic fibers, with a pattern formed by weaving. The term originally referred to ornamental silk fabrics from Damascus, which were elaborately woven in colours, sometimes with the addition of gold and other metallic threads. Today, it generally denotes a linen texture richly figured in the weaving with flowers, fruit, forms of animal life, and other types of ornament.

A fabric woven to achieve a tone on tone effect. Patterns are often floral. It is lighter weight than brocade. Sometimes referred to as Jacquard.

Century Chair in Green Damask

James River Wingback in Green and Gold Damask (SOLD)

Vintage Ethan Allen in Black and White Damask

Thomasville Berghere Chairs in Forest Green Damask

Then I looked up examples and discovered that some are printed (not woven) and the variety is great.  SO ... I decided for the purpose of this discussion to use the term to identify woven fabrics with repeatable patterns that generally include no more than two colors. Some lighter weight damasks make great tablecloths and draperies (love my damask tablecloths from Provence).  I love the classic patterns of damask fabrics on furniture and have used it extensively!

Decorator Fabrics Series - Stripes

Woodmark Chairs in Courtship

Striped Wingbacks in Cotton Twill Blue and White

Wingback in Robert Allen Stripe

Hickory Chair Armless Chairs in Gold Stripe

This is the 3rd installment in my series about decorator fabrics with an emphasis not on content (e.g., silk, cotton, linen) but pattern - the overall look of the fabric on a piece of upholstered furniture.   Stripes are an option that can be used in formal and informal settings.  I've used silk stripes on elegant wingback chairs and a coarser cotton twill on similar chairs - both look great and work well.  Stripes can be easily coordinated with larger or smaller patterns as long as the colors are complementary.   The fabric can be used horizontally or vertically - the former is a little more unusual but can be eye-catching.  As with any pattern, it is important that it be carefully matched - a mismatch is very obvious.   The size of the stripe is not as important - a really large-scale stripe can look great on a smaller piece as well as a larger one.  Stripes are universal and do not seem to vary with fashion trends - a safe and exciting choice.

Decorator Fabrics Series - Plaids

Vintage French Chair in Silk Plaid

Hickory House Chair in Clayton Ebony

This is the second installation in this series.  I am highlighting and illustrating different types/patterns of fabrics.  Plaids are often viewed as the masculine counterpoint to feminine florals - they often work well together if the colors and values (depth of colors) are complementary.  I love plaids on all size pieces - they even work well on small chairs.  The plaid gives the illusion of another dimension and is very eye-catching.   The strong lines of a plaid can highlight the expansiveness of the wings on broad wingback chairs.

With plaids, it is VERY important to use a good upholsterer (I use and highly recommend Song's Upholstery in Norcross, GA) - mismatched plaids are very visible and jarring!  I am surprised when looking at expensive layouts in decorating magazines that plaids are often mis-aligned.   Plaids are great in all settings and I use them often!

Highland House French Chair in Buttercup (SOLD)

Modified Wingback in Rose and Green Plaid (SOLD)

Ebonized Armchairs in Black Plaid (SOLD)

Goodwill Shopping Update - It's Senior Citizen Tuesday

I am interrupting my fabric pattern blog series to discuss my trips today to four Goodwill Stores in the Atlanta area.  I have previously described how great these stores are for a number of items that I try to check every Tuesday.  Tuesday is senior citizen day and they give a generous 25% off (not only do I shop at Goodwill but want to do it on the cheap)!

My haul today was good but not great - here are the goods!

• Two 20" feather inserts (for accent pillows)
• One lumbar feather insert
• One brown Brighton handbag in pristine condition (best buy of the day - $36.00)
• One oversized square pillow-top ottoman suitable for refurbishing (hard to find size)

I really do love shopping there and am always amazed at how many people are doing the same thing - they have a great business model!

Decorator Fabrics - Florals

Oversized Blue Floral (SOLD)

Pennsylvania House Chair in Tulip

Woodmark Chair in Robert Allen Botanical 

I am starting a new series on fabrics - not on fabric composition (I've already reflected on using linens and silks) but on patterns.  This installation discussed and illustrates floral patterns.  The decorating magazines have for some time been predicting both the end of florals and the return of florals in contemporary decors.  Florals have really never been out of fashion although the style of the patterns does seem to ebb and flow.

Large stylized florals (generally a cotton or cotton-blend) are very fresh and can be incorporated into a contemporary or traditional setting.  I am not crazy about combining very different florals and often find that one or two pieces (or a single large piece) is all that is needed to bring sparkle to a room.   When upholstering a piece of furniture that has a large-scale pattern, it is particularly important to ensure that the patterns are carefully matched - a mismatch is very noticeable.   Good workmanship is crucial!

Furniture Style Series - Basic Love Seats

Robert Allen Love Seat (and Chair)

Kravet Butternut Love Seat (SOLD)

Ralph Lauren Love Seat in RA Champagne (SOLD)

I could go on but am closing this series about love seats and settees  (7th installation) with a discussion and illustration of basic love seats (versus settees or benches).   In my mind, a love seat is like a narrower sofa.  I highly recommend against having the same style sofa and love seat (very common) which is too matchy-matchy and, truthfully, boring.  I do like two matching love seats and have sold several of these.  Here are some examples of great love seats.