Furniture, appliances and now even home decorating fabrics are going retro.
When it comes to fabrics, consumers will see the influence of the 1960s and 1970s, said Linda Schoener, owner of Schoener’s Interiors in Lynnwood and Henredon in Bellevue. Lots of solids and bold patterns and period coloring, too.
Polyester, a fabric that earned a bad reputation in the era of leisure suits, is some of the best stuff available in home decorating fabrics, she said. Manufacturers now make drapes out of the stuff that look just like silk.
“It doesn’t breathe as a fabric but as far as durability goes, it’s perfect,” she said.
Schoener attributes the retro influence to the fashion industry, which often sets the tone for decor fabrics. She said the hit television show “Frasier” used a lot of retro furniture on the set and that didn’t hurt either.
F. Schumacher &Co., founded in 1889, is known for classic, sophisticated style. This is a company that decorated the mansions of the Vanderbilts, the DuPonts and the Roosevelts.
Today the company is broadening its appeal by adding “transitional” fabrics to its mainstay offerings, said Doug Devier, a manager of the company’s showroom at the Seattle Design Center.
Art deco and retro fabrics that evoke a feeling of a bygone era are popular now, he said. Dazzle, for instance, features a zigzag pattern and tiny mirrored appliques. The 1920s- and ’30s-inspired fabric reflects the fun times of the era, he said.
The beauty of retro fabrics is that the consumer can mix and match with existing decor.
“Someone may want to keep the sofa handed down in the family with the beautiful damask and add contemporary chairs with complementary colors,” he said.
Many of their customers want natural fabrics and clean-lined looks, rather than more traditional damasks or printed fabrics. In terms of colors, bright clear colors and muted taupe, beige and gray continue to dominate, he said.
One of the biggest hits of the season is a collection of 100 percent woven silk fabrics in dressy checks, plaids and stripes that are named for classic movie stars. The Olivia, for instance, features wide stripes of gold, pink, apple and taupe. The effect is classy and glamorous. The showroom shows off the rich fabric on a pair of fluffy down pillows on a contemporary sofa. It could be used on a simple side chair or be turned into gorgeous draperies, he said. It costs $150 a yard.
“There are so many wonderful fabrics in the world,” Devier said. “There are some beautiful choices at consumer’s fingertips – if they know where to look.”
Reporter Debra Smith: 425-339-3197 or dsmith@heraldnet.com.
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