House Beautiful the Fabric Style Book: Decorating with Stripes, Plaids, Florals, and More

Following the maxim ""form follows function,"" Dellatore offers readers advice on choosing home fabrics that will not only fit their individual tastes but also suit their domestic needs. The book is a spin-off of the House Beautiful ""Swatch Watch"" column, which is dedicated solely to fabric talk, and the wide array of furniture and interiors captured here are pleasingly laid out to reflect a multitude of aesthetic tastes. Dellatore, owner of an upholstery and curtain-making firm in New York City, takes furniture staples-such as loveseats, wing chairs and trestle benches-and wraps them in whimsical patterns to demonstrate how different moods and styles can be achieved by fabric applications. He also tackles related topics, such as fabric treatments for windows and ""small touches"" like tablecloths and folding screens. One of the most magical pieces is a plain metal shelf unit transformed into an elegant moveable closet with a few bits of colorful fabric and some grosgrain ribbon trim. With practical tips on upholstering (e.g. align those stripes when nailing down material) and more creative suggestions on decorating (""to make horizontal furniture look taller, use...vertical patterns, and add contrasting pillows to draw in the eye""), this book gives readers a chance to get a professional's advice without paying the professional rate.