Three Arkansas-based designers share their advice on layering fabrics, varying patterns, and adding color and texture to create a luxe environment in your home

From left:

1/ Golden Sunburst by Tony Duquette for Jim Thompson

2/ Tangled by Porter Teleo

3/ Genevieve Gorder Flock Circa Chalk

 

What’s your signature design style?
My style is based in a modern aesthetic with luxe neutrals and layered textures for warmth. I strive for an interior that looks collected over time and speaks to the interests of the people who reside within it rather than a specific time period.  I love the juxtaposition of opposites, a carved heirloom chair with a modern Lucite table. Lastly, I subscribe to the mantra “form follows function.” The most successful spaces meet the needs of a modern family in addition to looking aesthetically pleasing.

Describe your approach to creating a fabric scheme.
I think it’s easiest to start with something the client really loves. I will pull over-scaled geometric prints or bold textures from my library and see what they are drawn to. Then I add complementary colors, patterns, and textures for a layered finished look.

Are there any fabrics you just cannot wait to use?
3-D printed textiles have been making a statement on the fashion runways, especially in the haute couture shows. I look forward to getting my hands on these texturally amplified and futuristic fabrics, or better yet, a printer to experiment with my own.

How do you select upholstery fabric?
It’s important to think long-term on investment pieces which is why neutral colors tend to be the best choice. You may replace your pillows, or art as trends and your taste evolve but main upholstery pieces should withstand a few room restyles.  My first choice is high quality leathers that age well as they show signs of wear. When choosing a fabric, I select something with depth or variation of a color vs. a uniform solid as it is the least forgiving to spills and stains. Crypton, Sunbrella, Microfiber and other performance technologies should be prioritized in high-traffic zones like a main living area.

Ashley Cardiel, Ashley Cardiel Interiors, Springdale, (479) 530-1147

1/ De Loop Smoke by Duralee

2/ Roped by Duralee

3/ Azalea Emeraude by Casamance

What’s your signature design style?
When I design a space that functions in varied ways and is also a safe environment, then I am most happy. When I say to function in various ways, I mean that I want it to be a space that is comforting and feels very personal, but at a moments notice it can also be a sophisticated area for entertaining. I refer to this style as “casually elegant.” My clients can be very relaxed at times, but then they can be extremely sophisticated at other times.

Describe your approach to creating a fabric scheme.
This is the best part of design for me because fabrics can speak volumes when it comes to setting a style. I love fabrics of all kinds. Mixing textures and sheen adds interest and depth to a space. I love to find a couple of fabrics that speak to me and then begin layering them with fabrics that are a little off beat so that not all of them are the star of the show, but they are a great supporting ensemble.

How do you select upholstery fabric?
It is all about how it will be used. If it is a sofa in the family area I select from fabrics that have a long life and hold up to a lot of activity. This is not the place for that beautiful Silk Damask.
It is also important to see that it is comfortable. I tend to keep my big pieces like a sofa in a neutral tone and then enhance the space with patterns and different textures on accent chairs, pillows, and window treatments.
Today I am able to use many fabrics that I shied away from in the past because of the fabric protection products that are available. My palette is much larger now. That makes me and my clients very happy.

Sandy Sutton, The Design Center with Sandy Sutton, Hot Springs, (501) 624-6700

1/ Graffito by Kelly Wearstler for Groundworks Lee Jofa

2/ Bosque by Laura Kirar for Highland Court

3/ Covet Forest by Donghia

Describe your approach to creating a fabric scheme.
I’m drawn to glamorous rooms and art-filled spaces but I champion a look that is luxe as well as livable. More and more, people want spaces that are beautiful yet can actually hold up to daily use. I choose fabrics that fit clients’ lifestyle needs. True glamour is the freedom to enjoy living informally in a formal setting.

What are your all-time favorite fabrics?
Donghia’s Covet velvet. There’s nothing quite so beautiful as the way a cotton velvet like this absorbs natural light and gives color unimaginable depth. It’s almost iridescent.
In addition to velvets, I can’t get enough of fabrics that are naturally tactile. I want furniture that invites touching, sitting. Clients shouldn’t feel guilty about using their furniture.

How do you select drapery fabric?
I’ll often select a fabric for individual properties such as crushing, wrinkling, and lightfastness. Linen draperies pleat beautifully but are prone to wrinkling. A felted wool has weight and hangs in a very crisp, tailored way but can feel too heavy for those who are hesitant of committing to window treatments.

What eccentric or unusual uses of fabric do you like?
Whenever possible, I always incorporate large-scale pieces of artwork – there’s something very enjoyable about the dimensionality that it creates. I love taking that same approach with large-scale patterned fabrics, chopping them up and piecing them back together to create fresh new geometric patterns.  This technique can be so great when applied to a single pillow or accent chair. It just feels special.

Joshua Plumlee, Ransom Interiors, Little Rock, (501) 838-7267

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