I’m back from my trip to High Point Market this past weekend and I have some news for you design lovers!
In recent years, we’ve seen so much bouclé on upholstered pieces at market. It was everywhere! I reported it here in 2021 and several other times too.
Now, bouclé can be wonderful, but we all got a little tired of it being the go-to fabric at market for several years in a row. Of course, the reason it went so big at market was that it was neutral and showed off all those organic curves that were being designed into upholstered pieces. However, we all know there are lots and lots of fabrics out there so designers have been really ready to see a change in how sofas and chairs were presented.
The stand out fabric that was used liberally in almost every showroom I visited was…velvet!
Velvet is the new bouclé.
It was beautiful to see, in all colors, even patterns! It made for a much more colorful market experience and was a true visual delight.
One fact about velvet is that it enhances a color. It makes a color look richer, bolder and more pure. I love doing velvet pillows, as they add just a really nice punch of color if the room is mostly neutral. If you put a linen fabric next to a velvet in the same color, the linen will look rather faded and dull compared to the velvet.
So, let’s see some of those velvet upholstery finds. This was only a portion of the velvet I saw!
That bold citron velvet sofa glows in this yellow seating group, seen at Sherrill Furniture.
A blue velvet sofa with fringe anchors this seating group at Highland House.
Hunter green velvet wingbacks seen in Odette, a gallery with art, antiques and upholstered goods.
Love this arm chair in the bold yellow velvet. Sherrill Furniture.
Tufted back velvet sofa with a cut velvet chair in the Hickory Chair showroom.
Lovely blue velvet sofa at Century Furniture. Note the blue velvet welting on the chair. (Love this wall color.)
Love the matte look of mohair velvet, these chairs in the Wesley Hall showroom.
This soft pink velvet sofa in the Sherrill Furniture showroom was just darling.
A luscious emerald green sofa seen at Highland House showroom.
Navy velvet sofa with handy wood armrests at the Chaddock showroom, designer: Benjamin Johnston.
Dark velvet sofa at the Odette showroom.
More pretty velvet on the skirted sofa with pillows too.
Terracotta velvet on this sofa in the Jessica Charles showroom.
Chocolate brown velvet sofa seen at the Hickory Chair showroom.
Velvet works on more modern, clean-lined pieces or, of course, more traditional ones like this settee from Theodore Alexander.
Orange velvet was a stand out in this dining room at Sherrill Furniture.
Sage green velvet in this super contemporary showroom, Caracole, softened that deep burgandy wall.
Here’s a great example of a chocolate brown in a linen, in the foreground, and then a chocolate brown in a velvet on the bench. Velvet just has a bolder expression of that color and feels so much richer with the slight nap in the fabric.
Chocolate brown velvet bench cushion in the Chaddock showroom.
A rich merlot colored velvet sofa was showcased in the Kravet showroom.
This velvet upholstered seating group has a stunning, luxurious vibe. Hickory Chair
There was cut velvet too.
Cut velvet is a great way to have the rich, luxurious feel of velvet, but with texture and pattern. We saw lots of cut velvet too.
This rich, gold cut velvet stood out in a jewel toned room at Thibaut.
Cut velvet can add subtle, tone on tone pattern in a room. Sherrill Furniture
These sofas were covered with a small scaled cut velvet giving them a luxurious texture.
A cut velvet settee seen at the Thibaut showroom.
There was even patterned velvet.
A plaid velvet and a floral velvet were on these lounge chairs at Sherrill Furniture.
A beautiful, shapely ottoman in a damask pattern velvet was a stand out at Hickory Chair Furniture.
Velvet’s Characteristics
If you are a decorator in Houston, you know that if you sit on a silk or cotton velvet sofa after you’ve just had a run in the middle of summer, you’re going to ruin that fabric in a snap.
There are performance velvets, meant to be cleanable and will hold up better, but they have a more matte appearance. They don’t have the sheen that something like a silk velvet would have. I have used them on projects before and they still add that vivid burst of color to a space, so those are a good option.
I like to use velvets on dining chairs in proper dining rooms, because it is generally a place where people mind their manners and are there for more special occasions.
This is one fabric that cats don’t like, as their claws can’t really grab any loops. However, cat hair can cling to the nap of the fabric, so while your furniture might not be used for a scratching post, it will need maintenance if your kitty likes to rub up against it. :-)
Performance velvet from Inside Out Fabrics, a good option to get more wear out of your velvet upholstery.
Lastly, I have to end with this photo, as it reminds me so of my childhood home. Although this avocado color was actually the color of our kitchen cabinets, a crushed velvet in a gold color was on the sofa in the living room. This took me back, but it is a hard no from me. :-)
A throwback to your mom’s (or grandma’s ) 70’s sofa, crushed green velvet, was in the front main room of the Sherrill Furniture Showroom.
I’ll be sharing more finds and trends from market in the next few weeks!
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