Fabricating style

By Jessica Aquilina

Oct. 15, 2012, 1:38 p.m.

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F abric can be easily, and very creatively, used to boost the style of one's home.

The only problem is that with so many different colours and designs of fabric available, choosing the right fabric to complement furnishings and overall room design can be difficult.

Interior decorator Valerie Ferris, of Anna Livia, said an expert could help with your fabric choices and applications.

"Of course the choice of fabric and heading style is very important in achieving the right look with curtains and soft furnishing," Ms Ferris said. "Whether the goal is a contemporary, simple elegance, or perhaps a more glamorous extravagance, expert help is essential. Fabric is not on the shopping list very often, therefore having an expert to help, will ensure success and a result you will continue to enjoy for many years."

Ms Ferris said homeowners were embracing the current trend of using vintage and brightly coloured fabrics in the home.

"Fabric designs and colours are endless, with a great resurgence of interest in designers such as Florence Broadhurst," Ms Ferris said. "The flamboyance of colour and design in this range gives great opportunity to make a real statement in a room, with upholstery and bedheads, curtains and co-ordinated bed covers."

Ms Ferris said the choice of fabric was a very important detail when decorating.

"For example a hand-made, pleated silk lampshade, lined with gold or silver foil is not only beautiful to look at, it also creates a wonderful light once it is turned on," she said.

The best opportunity to use fabric in any room, is with the addition of curtains. Ms Ferris said curtains offered many benefits within a home, much more than just window dressing.

"Blinds, for instance, will always have their place, and serve a great purpose when used as a sunscreen to reduce heat and glare," she said. "However, the addition of curtains to the windows will not only look sensational, but they also act as superb insulators, greatly improving the comfort level in the home as well as block the sun's harmful rays."

Ms Ferris said curtains can help reduce electricity bills.

"A blockout lined curtain can reduce heat loss by four per cent, and reduces heat gain by five per cent," she said. "Background noise is also reduced by a massive 34 per cent. The addition of a pelmet can further improve the efficiency of curtains, by preventing any heat coming in over the top of the track."

Motorised curtains and blinds are the latest technological advancement in window furnishings. Ms Ferris said there were many benefits to using motorised blinds and curtains.

"In the home theatre, motorisation of curtains is wonderfully user friendly," she said. "With just the press of a button, the curtains close silently. Motorisation of Roman blinds, does away with the need for cords, which is an obvious safety benefit when there are children in the home."