When Dorothy said, “There’s no place like home,” I wonder if she wasn’t really thinking about her favorite chair back in Kansas, because for me, one of the best parts of home is sink-into-comfortable furnishings that fill your space with style. So much goes into picking the right pieces of upholstered furniture for your home, like selecting the correct scale and ensuring the piece is well made. But my favorite step is picking the upholstery. I enjoy working with Nell Hill’s customers to find the perfect combination of textiles for their custom furniture so the overall look is singular and sensational. Here are a few of my tips for transporting a room from bland to beautiful with just the right upholstery.
Develop a Design for the Space
Before you ever look at a swatch of fabric, you will need to develop an overall design for the room. Then create a floor plan that meets your design goals. For instance, if you’re working on your family room, will the configuration of furnishings give you conversation groupings? Allow you to see the TV? Ensure there is good traffic flow through the room? Some people frequently move their furnishings to keep their spaces fresh and interesting. But I have found that there is one floor plan that typically works best for a space, so once I find it, I keep my furniture right where it is.
So often at Nell Hill’s, we see customers who have been on the hunt for a new sofa or chair and are completely overwhelmed and discouraged. Usually, it’s because they have not yet come up with a design plan for the space and are trying to find the right furniture without really knowing what they need. That’s why we provide free in-store design services at Nell Hill’s. We work with our customers to develop a fabulous plan for their space, even breaking it down into several steps so they can redo the room in stages, not all at once, if they’d like. We’ve found that when our customers have a destination in mind for a room, finding the furnishings is fun, not frustrating.
Pick the Right Fabric
Once you select the right piece of furniture for your room—one that matches the scale, style and function you’re going for—it’s time to think about upholstery fabrics and custom finishes. If you’re not sure what sort of upholstery fabric you’d like, flip through stacks of decorating books and magazines. What types of upholstered pieces catch your eye? Start an idea file filled with examples of pieces you love.
When Rich, one of our designers at Nell Hill’s Briarcliff, helps customers select upholstery fabric, he starts by asking them three key questions:
*How do you live? The answer to this all-important question will help you pick out fabric that is not only attractive, but also functional. How will you use the piece of furniture? Do you have pets and kids who will be sitting on it? Rich listens carefully as customers describe their lifestyles, then he zeros in on the fabrics that will look lovely for the long haul.
*What else will be in the room with the new piece of furniture? Do you have other upholstered pieces, rugs or window treatments you want to harmonize with your new piece of furniture, or are you starting with a clean slate?
*How do you want to feel when you walk in this room? Textiles evoke emotions, so it’s important that the fabrics you pick create the right mood.
Customize for an Amazing Look
I believe that when you are investing in good quality upholstered furnishings, you should get exactly what you want, without compromising. That’s why at Nell Hill’s, our designers work with each customer to pick out upholstery fabric, welting and pillows that make their finished pieces unique pieces of art, each detail carefully selected to bring out their style, personality and vision for the space. (And now, during our popular semi-annual custom order upholstered furnishings sale, all our custom upholstered chairs, sofas and ottomans are 20% off between Jan. 15 and Feb.15!)
One way Rich loves to customize sofas is by adding a contrasting welting. “Contrasting welting really highlights the architecture of the upholstered piece and refines it,” he explains. “If you pick a neutral, textured upholstery fabric, simply adding a contrasting welting will transform it from ho-hum to impeccable.” Right now, Rich loves pieces upholstered in men’s wear fabrics, then welted in black or chocolate brown.
Keep Things Fresh with Pillows
In my home, I’ve opted to upholster my furnishings in a mix of white and cream fabrics that are rich on texture. Then, I spark them up with a constantly changing medley of pillows. I never cease to be amazed by how the look of a chair or sofa – and the entire room – is changed just by a quick substitution of pillows. Check out how different our popular Telford sofa looks with these three unique pillow combinations:
Gray and gold are huge this year.
Paisley and ticking are big for spring.
Combining feminine fabrics, like this toile, with masculine fabrics, like this hound’s tooth check, makes a sofa appealing to both sexes.
Next Week … A fresh coat of paint is one of the easiest and least expensive ways to change the look of a room. Next week, I’ll share my favorite paint colors and how to use them to make your spaces even more beautiful.
Lisa Fernandez says
January 10, 2011 at 4:43 pmHOw much do I love your blog. I can’t wait to visit your store in November with my girlfriends.
Live in Newtown PA
I adore your Christmas books. You are an inspiration
Mary Carol says
January 12, 2011 at 4:53 pmCan’t wait to meet you–Lisa!
Ellen says
January 12, 2011 at 7:34 pmMary Carol – Your pleasant smile and warm greetings make Nell Hills a delight — and that’s before the shopping begins. You have warmed many hearts and homes with your advice and amazing product in your stores.
Jane May says
January 12, 2011 at 7:41 pmMary Carol: I love your blogs and ideas. Can’t wait to visit your store and see all the new things! I never leave empty handed, as I love the accessories and ideas you provide from your blogs!
Kathy G. says
January 12, 2011 at 9:19 pmYour advice on upholstery is appreciated! I adore looking at fabric books to find the right one to reupholster items….I’ll keep in mind the three questions Rich asks. I also live in PA – Lancaster – and dream about visiting your store someday, Mary Carol. Your Christmas ideas inspired me this year! Thank you for these blogs!
karen says
January 13, 2011 at 12:32 amI bought all my furniture with custom fabrics from Nell Hill Briarcliff for my family room including rugs, pillows, and accessories. I live in Tulsa, OK but Nell Hill’s was able to visualize my room without even seeing it. Each day I walk into the room I feel so blessed and happy to have a coordinated room that will give me years of pleasure. Thank you, Mary Carol.
Laurie Ward says
January 13, 2011 at 12:32 amI’m lucky. I live in a small town about 20 miles from the Atchison (the original) store. I visit the store often. Both stores are awsome! Hope all of you who live far away are able to visit either her Atchison or Kansas City store. She has a second store in Atchison called Garrity’s that is wonderful, too.
Merit N Hellman-Funk says
January 13, 2011 at 1:39 amHej sweet gal…………….First of all Don and I want to wish you both and your incredible staff a VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR…………..T hen comes my question……………How about that large painting over the soffa…………are you selling and then how much…………..Let me know please. Love ya, Merit and Don
Susan Martinkovic says
January 13, 2011 at 2:06 pmLove your home furnishings. I have all of your books and enjoy purusing them for inspiration. I sew decorator pillows and wonder if you are interested in seeing some of mine. I can also be available for taking sewing orders. I used to help sew orders for for Robb and Stuckey.
Best Regards.
Wendy says
January 13, 2011 at 2:22 pmI love the light fixuture hanging above your breakfast table. I’ve been searching and searching for it. Could you please let me know where you found it? Thank ou so much!
Whitney says
January 13, 2011 at 4:38 pmHello Mary Carol & Staff! Always love your ideas and we carry your accessories at our two stores in Oregon! I was so lucky to visit your stores last December. A winter wonderland of delight for me to see your decorating talents in person! For those of you who love making your home wonderful for yourself, your family, and friends…you should treat yourself to a trip to Nell Hill. So much fun and you’ll be inspired everywhere you look! If you are close to Oregon…feel free to stop by and see us- we carry a lot of Mary Carol and we’d love to meet you!
Mary Carol says
January 13, 2011 at 6:36 pmSusan– We have several sources we use concerning sewing–thank you for your inquiry. Just call Janet @877-746-4320 to see if that would be an option.
Anna Belle says
January 13, 2011 at 11:31 pmThe pillows look great. I have them, too. I’ve noticed that when people sit in a chair or on the sofa, they often feel uncomfortable and immediately begin to look for a place to put them. How do you handle a mound of pillows on the floor?