Southern Coast Home Design - Index

Southern Coast Home Design - southerncoasthomedesign.com - Index

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Bring the outside in
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To find out the fabric industry’s trends,
just ask John English, owner of Garden
Street Fabrics.
“Customers along the coast are bringing
the outside in,” he reports. ”They want
to maintain and frame the view, rather
than block it. Textures soften the look.
Instead of drapes, the honeycomb blind is
unobtrusive, for example. But when they
do want panels, they use the outside color
palette: greens, blues, and sand.
“And, people are living outside more.
For outdoor fabrics, Sunbrella has been in
business the longest. Their choices used to
just consist of stripes and solids. Now
they, and Astrup, are coming out with
more contemporary patterns and styles.
There’s also Duralee, Kravet and Robert
Allen.
“Customers are interested in ecofriendly
‘green’ fabrics. Manufacturers
have been responding, during the past two
years, with new technologies
and fibers.”
John English has
been in the business
for a total of 21
years, and in textiles
for 15 years. He is
assisted by Jonathan
Weatherby is a former
head designer for
Lane Furniture, with
a total of 10 years
experience.
With this much
experience, they
know the needs of
other interior designers
and decorators.
“That’s about 20 to
25 percent of our
business,” he said.
“But we cater mostly
to retail customers;
this is a fabric store
first.
“We can guide
them with decorating,
design and choosing
paint colors. But we
try to catch them
before they paint. We
encourage them to
40 SOUTHERN COAST HOME DESIGN www.SouthernCoastHomeDesign.com
BY BRENDA J. LAWRENCE
PHOTOGRAPHY BY TIDAL IMAGES, INC.
buy the rug first, match the shades, then the
rest of the colors go up the walls, and into furnishings
from there,” he explained.
“We’ll ask: What’s the purpose of the
room? Do you have dogs, cats, or kids? To get
initial ideas, we suggest they start looking in
magazines, and decide what overall look they
want. They should keep a scrapbook, add colors
to a palette, and come here and just shop
around.
“We all have to get to know our clients. We
have to find out their style. We’re not going to
come in there, and try to put transitional
designs in a traditional home. That would just
create havoc,” he explains. “But, we can
update fabrics, change textures and patterns.
Maybe introduce something eclectic. It’s all
about customer satisfaction.”
The fabric industry, he reveals, is
finally being more responsive.
“Choices have increased dramatically.
For a bedroom, designers at Garden Street
Fabrics chose a large, colorful botanical pattern
for nightstand covers, and pillows. Its colors were
matched for solid fabrics, to create a comforter in
Spring green, and bed skirt in fuchsia. A contrasting
shade of turquoise was chosen for the headboard.
Other combinations are possible and any of
the trims and tassels would complete the bright,
bold look.
Manufacturers typically have catered to the big
box stores,” during the four trade shows a year,
held in Highpoint, North Carolina. “But now,
there is more one-on-one communication with
designers and decorators. It’s wonderful.”
Durable synthetics have become more popular,
he said, while natural fabrics have grown
more expensive. “Because of the cost of production,
cotton has gone through the roof,
along with denim. White denim and burlap are
very popular here, along the coast. People
seem to be the most interested in silk and linen.
“Silks from India and Indonesia are affordable,
but they can be delayed in getting here,
because companies there frequently go out of
business, or change hands,” he revealed.
“Fabrics made in the U.S. can arrive quickly
after ordering, but are more costly.”
‘’What we have on the
rack here is less expensive,
because it’s bought by the
bolt.” The shop also carries
trim, tassels, fringe,
long rope, cording
and tape. Garden
Street Fabrics has
an in-house sewing
workroom, and
upholstery shop.
They serve customers
from
Mobile, to Panama
City, and north to
Flomaton.
“We provide
services across the
full spectrum, for
upholstery, window
treatments, and bedding.
We also create
one-of-a-kind
‘knock offs.’”
“We go to their
homes, and get
measurements ourselves.
Most customers
appreciate
that.”
See thousands of
choices at Garden
Street Fabric, at 42
East Garden Street,
Pensacola, or call
(850) 432-8588.