My best friends know that I'm generally a terrible shopper: I'm generally not suggestible and never have enough time. But there is one type of store that I could visit every day: Fabric stores. Rows of color and texture that I happily roam looking for inspiration, for an idea that will transform a well-worn seat into a work of art.
Today I had two chairs in mind: One, a fanciful chair that reminds me of a voluptuous 40’s film star in a cocktail dress. The other is actually a matched pair of narrow, angular chairs that remind me of the set of Mad Men. Because every chair requires a family of fabrics--related in palette but varied in style and texture--I first create fabric pairs. These help me envision the possibilities for each chair. I go so far as to sketch the finished chair using these fabrics in different ways, so I make sure I really like the final composition. After all, these are expensive fabrics, and there's no going back once they're cut and tacked.
Here are a couple of fabric pairs…more to come next trip!
Pictured fabrics are from the Zarin Fabrics store on Manhattan’s Lower East Side (www.zarinfabrics.com)