One of the hottest trends today is the use of opulent fabrics in the home, particularly silk. At one time we had to really search for the right silk at the right price. Now silks are featured in the showrooms, and with more variety comes lower prices. Slightly lower. Silk is like an “iron butterfly”; it has surprising tensile strength when lined, yet it is highly sensitive to sunlight, heat and moisture.
Silk must be backed for upholstery and should not be used on windows with southern or western exposures.
Silk must be backed for upholstery and should not be used on windows with southern or western exposures.
Linen is another prestigious natural fabric. It comes from flax, which is dimensionally stable. While it is easily bleached, it doesn’t dye well so colors are often limited. Linen has a crisp feel and wrinkles easily unless blended with other fibers.
The most popular fabric in the home is cotton. It dyes beautifully, is extremely durable (often lasting centuries), and is often inexpensive. It is susceptible to sun damage and mildew, however. Cotton, in and of itself, is not considered opulent unless one considers its stunning patterns, rich colors, and transformation into velvet.
Wool is one of my favorites. It takes dyes beautifully, and ranges from stiff and extremely durable to soft and flowing. The latter makes stunning drapery. If kept away from mildew, wool is extremely long lasting.
There are also amazing new manmade fabrics on the market today, particularly from Europe. No more snobbery about polyester; they have come a long way. These manmade fibers eliminate many of the drawbacks listed above when blended with the natural fibers.
There is now so much variety out there that no matter what the budget, everyone can enjoy opulence in their home.
