Go Green with Fabrics!

Source: Google Image Search

Are you “going green”? Many of you will be happy to know that more and more of our fabric vendors are offering fabrics following the environmentally friendly trend. Eco-friendly options include fabrics that are made of sustainable materials, finished without chemicals and most coming to us from fair trade countries.
Helping out the environment is a new way people are helping out the world, one throw pillow at a time. Just as recycling our trash, and turning off the water and lights when not using them recycling materials can pay off in the long run; being kinder to our environment and prolonging the life or our planet! It may not be for everyone but it sure will feel good to help out our mother earth!
Many of our high end fabric makers, — Kravet, Robert Allen, Duralee and Schumacher – continue to expand on their eco-friendly offerings. At this time,
prices for eco friendly products continue to be higher than the other fabrics, however, as this market grows we can expect that in the future these prices will become more reasonable - providing the opportunity to reach out to an even wider market.

Kravet

• The Kravet Green Collection is made of 100% recycled polyester.
  
• The recycled polyester is a unique blend of post-industrial and post-consumer fibers.


• The fabrics are woven and treated with no additional chemicals.


• During the finishing process, water based products and environmentally approved dyes are used.


• After years of enjoyable use, these fabrics are recyclable.
  

SAMPLES:

Duralee- Eco-Fabrics by DuraleeContract®

Eco-Fabrics by DuraleeContract features the unique styling expected of all DuraleeContract fabrics with content that passes MBDC (McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry)'s Gold standard for environmentally friendly products. To achieve the Gold level, MBDC needed to go through the certification which required the evaluation of the mills' facilities within the five categories which included, Materials, Nutrient (Re) utilization, Energy, Water and Social Responsibility.

• Most polyester is manufactured using a catalyst called antimony trioxide, which is a possible human carcinogen. Eco Intelligent Polyester, however, is made from a fully optimized fiber using a new, environmentally safe catalyst.


• Designed with optimized dyestuffs and chemicals, which replace harmful chemicals and hazardous heavy metals.


• Designed to be safely recycled into new fabric at the end of its commercial life, with no hazardous by-products.


• Made with sustainable manufacturing processes, allowing limitless design and color.


• Eco Intelligent® Polyester is a synthetic textile designed for sustainability from start to finish.

SAMPLES:

R0bert Allen
The Robert Allen Group recognizes the importance of protecting the environment and providing sustainable products that range from waste reduction to energy efficiency.
The fabric that they designate as “eco-friendly” has met a criteria they've made based on strict environmental standards for fabric content, dye or pigment composition and also the finishing processes and treatments.

FABRIC CONTENT:

• At least fifty percent of the fibers in their eco-friendly fabrics are sustainable, organic and/or recycled.
  
• Sustainable fibers come from rapidly renewable resources with growth and harvest cycles of five years or less. Fibers that fall into this category include alpaca, bamboo, mohair, hemp, wool, and cork.
  
• Organic fibers are grown without the use of pesticides, fungicides, herbicides and chemical fertilizers. Fibers that fall into this category include organic cotton, organic hemp and organic linen.
  
• All of their organic fabrics are made from certified organic fibers.


• Recycled fibers come from post-consumer waste such as soda bottles.


• They also come from post-industrial waste: byproducts from the manufacturing process. Their post-industrial recycled fibers come from petroleum byproducts, recycled cotton, corn derivatives (PLA), recycled silk, and soybean husks.

COLOR:

• The eco-friendly fabrics may derive color from metal-free or reduced metal dyestuffs and pigments.
  
• If the fabrics contain dyes or pigments, they meet the metal content standards set by the Ecological and Toxicological Association of Dyes and Organic Pigments Manufacturers (ETAD).

FINISHING:

• Their eco-friendly fabrics may be loom state, meaning that they come straight from the loom with no additional performance preparations.


• Eco-friendly fabrics with finishing treatments may include washing (with water alone or with a mild soap), aero-ing (tumbling), steaming and/or pressing with hot rollers.


• It is their preference not to use a stain repellent or a water repellent except in cases where they are a practical necessity and in these cases, they will offer the most environmentally-friendly option available


• Backings applied for Contract applications are polyester and in combination with a 100% recycled polyester fabric, the end product is completely recyclable.

SAMPLES:

For more "going green" ideas try these sites: Inhabitat and Treehugger or GreenDesignGirl

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Slipping into Slipcovers

Need a change but not sure you're ready for the commitment of upholstery? Or maybe you want the flexibility & option to change the look of your room.

....Or perhaps your style is loose; comfort is the name of the game & traditional uhpholstery just feels too rigid, confined! Just as we love to slip into something cozy and comfy at the end of a long day.... slipping into a slipcover might just as well be the cozy your couch or chair needs!

We all know the wear-n-tear the furniture can take from our pampered pets and children-will-be-children bouncing, throwing, eating, sleeping, crying and .....well, we really don't need to continue. The point is: slipcovers can be taken off, washed and dried (although we do recommend professional dry-cleaning for most covers) - a great melt-down saver when that fruit-punch or red-wine spill happens.

And lets just talk about fit. How's that waistband feeling? Don't you think your sofa wants to let go and let it all hang out sometimes too? One of the greatest attractions to slipcovers is the ability to play with fit and tailoring. We can create covers that are shabby, loose-fitting (and even wrinkled) or we can tailor it to look just like upholstery.

Which Slipcover are you? A tailored fit, collage/mix&match style or shabby chic?

Tailored Slipcover:


Photos above: Stunning slipcover design & fabrication by Leslie Fehling




Collage/Mix&Match:
Photos above: slipcover design & fabrication by Leslie Fehling


Shabby Chic:

So what do you think? Ready to try on a slipcover for size? Take a look at some of our favorite looks and I bet it just might tempt you to redesign a few pieces.

You can add details that most upholstery does not offer, such as bows, buttons, fringes or other embellishments. These are the types of details we infuse into our own designs too, take a peek here: Storibook Designs Gallery.


The length of a skirt and the width of the pleats can make all the difference around the hips, don't you think? Its no different with slipcovers. The styling of the skirt can completely change the look of a piece!

Do you know any slipcover diva's? I do! And I would be remiss if I even thought about writing a blogpost without highlighting the talent and amazing work of Leslie Fehling, of Prosperity Pennsylvania. I consider Leslie the Queen of Slipcovers (and custom couture details). I feel blessed to have been a student of Leslie's at one of her Summerhill Weekend events and I am continuously inspired by her creativity and excellence.

Just take a look through Leslie's albums and you will have to agree with me that the level of detail she puts into her work is awe-inspiring, as showcased below.

Photos above: slipcover design & fabrication by Leslie Fehling

Check out more designs at Leslie's artistry in her Picture Gallery.

For information on her Summerhill Weekends:

And we are quite proud of our own work as well, so don't forget to take a peek in our Gallery too!Here are a few pics from those albums:

And what about you? If you have some inspiration slipcover photos - your own work or "loves" that you've seen elsewhere and bookmarked, share the links. We'd love to be inspired by you too!

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Refresh, Revitalize, Renew: Upholstery

Do you have an old piece of worn-out furniture that your on the fence about? Not sure if upholstery is the right option?
Sometimes envisioning an old piece as a restored beauty is the roadblock that could be holding you back. Sometimes not being certain if it is "worth" it from a cost perspective could be holding you back.

A good guideline: does the piece hold sentimental value? Is the piece of solid construction and weight? Is the piece of a silhouette, size and style that you love and have not been able to find in the current market?

If your answer to any of the above is yes, then we say "go for it"!

Many of the furniture styles that are popular today are recalling the nostalgia of days gone by. This is great because you may now see pieces that remind you of the antiques you've been holding on to and it can inspire you for rehabbing your piece. A great example is the photo above from the French designer Pascale and her blog, L'atelier du Cap Gris-Nez who re-upholstered this chair. It has a beautiful antique wooden frame and the new upholstery is modern yet very elegant. I especially love the use of the solid on the outside and the pattern of the fabric to match it on the inside. It's easy to find a chair and use your own style to inspire a new piece from it. We encourage you to check out more from Pascale's blog, her pictures and her work are amazing!

A room can easily be transformed with new pieces of furniture. So why not fix it up now? Take that old worn out couch that you or a family member might consider throwing out and transform it to fit your space. A piece of furniture can be upholstered to your own personal style and be made to fit in the room by using color, texture or mixing of colors & patterns.

And with today's importance on being friendly to our environment, upholstery is a wonderful green alternative. Look around your house: is there some hidden potential in an old antique couch or a chair you once loved.

Upholstery has another great benefit too; just as with window treatments, you can create something amazing that you can't find in a store. One of a kind, custom made for your space and custom made for your style!

If we haven't convinced you yet, here is some inspiration for you:




I love this furniture set and how it's focal point of the room. The pieces have a classic look and the patterns on the furniture is so sophisticated. The upholstered furniture just completes this room entirely and everything ties in together.


This piece of furniture is beautiful! I love the pattern of the fabric and the style, it's a great piece to fit in any room. If you have a piece like this, where it's a perfect piece to fit in your space but the material is shabby or doesn't match, get it upholstered! It's something you won't regret. We actually upholstered a piece similar to this which you can see at our Storibook Designs Gallery.
This piece is gorgeous! You don't see these pieces everyday anymore. If you have or even come across an old style antique piece like this, a simple way to fit it into your home is to restore or redesign it to make it your own. You won't find a contemporary piece like this very often anymore so if you do have one, give it a coat of paint and re-upholster it, it will look good as new, or at least as new as an antique can get!














This wonderfully re-upholstered chair is from the before & after section of Design Sponge!

Look at how easy it is to give an old worn out chair can an upgrade. This pink chair is adorable and perfect to brighten up a room. Who knew before it was a run down red and dark chair that wouldn't be so flattering to the eye. Simple changes to a piece of furniture can make a world of difference! Check out our own before and after chair at The Storibook Design Gallery which we restored and looks beautiful!
Ready for your upholstery project? Call us here at Storibook! Our number is 978-230-2239

Sitting Pretty- Outdoors!

One of our personal favorite parts of summer is sitting out in the sun having a nice cold glass of iced tea. We try to put our outdoor furniture out as soon as possible once the weather warms up. We want our outdoor furniture to be stylish and comfortable and able to endure the rain and thunderstorms summer brings (especially the ones we have seen this summer!) We love the style and color of these Gypsy Basket chairs and the retro construction of the chair. We also love the retro fabric which is available through Schumacher.

Extending your living space to the outdoors continues to be more and more popular. With the broad selection of acrylics, Sunbrella and Outdura fabrics, your porch, patio, sunroom or deck has many options for adding color and pattern.

Don’t settle for old cushions that don’t flatter your outdoor space in the summer. This could add a whole new vibe to your outdoor environment and make it even more comfortable to relax this summer. Try some of these fabrics!

Obviously any of these Duralee Fabrics can be purchased here at Storibook!

Adding color to a room is one of the easiest ways to make a room more appealing and offers more of a personal feel to the room. The fabrics, pillows and accessories on this sectional couch makes the couch even more appealing to the eye than with plain and simple cushions.

A simple wicker chair can stand out just by adding color. A pop of red or a pop of teal can make a piece of furniture like these chairs much more attractive and can make your outdoor area more colorful and friendly.

I love the dark wood used on these pieces of furniture, and the different shades of green just seem to stand out in the room.

I really liked the style of this furniture set as well as the fabric. It mixes a fun print with a plain print in the same color as well as tying it in with the rug. It looks like someplace you could sit and relax during those warm summer days or even nights.

Whether you make your outdoor space as extravagant as the one above or as simple as adding bright fabrics and an accent rug, your outdoor space should feel as comfortable as your indoor space. It's so simple to add and change colors and pieces and create a room outside your home. Being only July it really isn't too late to redecorate. Wouldn't you love to have a home away from home right in your backyard, back deck, porch or right by the pool? Looking just at the picture above, those hot summer nights wouldn't be so bad after all.

Adding Playfulness to Your Room Design

(Source: Jonathan Adler)


We just fell in love with this lamp when we saw it! Simply adding accent pieces is such an easy and trendy way to add your own personal touch and style to a room, like this giraffe lamp we came across. It looked so playful with the giraffe poking its head up over the lamp shade yet still had a sophisticated approach with the black/white and sleek design. We could see this lamp added to a contemporary room with bold colors and modern décor. This lamp could easily replace a different boring lamp you might otherwise have in its place, and in any room boring just isn’t acceptable.

A room demands personal touches. We could see this piece getting a second glance from someone who may ask, is that really a lamp shaped like a giraffe!? We believe that playfulness in a room can be added in the cleverest yet most subtle of ways. Having uncommon pieces in a room just adds personality to it.

At Storibook Designs we’re always trying to find a way to make a room more interesting and appealing, and especially enjoy incorporating your own personal style to a room. This lamp could go with so many different fabrics and different designs yet still is an original piece. We think personal style is what makes a home a home and finding that unique style is what something we aim for.