When it comes to decorating, there is one thing that I am definitely not good at. That would be mixing and matching different fabrics. I think my main issue is that I always want everything to be too matchy-matchy.
I am truly envious of those people out there, you know who you are, who can just throw four or five different patterns and colours together and have them look like they belong together.
Here are a few of my inspiration pictures from Pinterest:
Here are a few of my inspiration pictures from Pinterest:
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| Source: Daniella Witte |
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| Source: The Elegant Abode |
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| Source: Proverbs 31 Girl |
I also find it difficult to coordinate different fabrics because I can't seem to find any that I like locally. Fabricland is a total bust. Every once in awhile I go in there in hopes of maybe finding one fabric that I like. I always walk out disappointed. Not to mention the ladies that work there are the un-friendliest bunch that I've ever come across in a retail store! (Seriously. They're kind of mean to me, sniff sniff.)
I also find choosing fabrics online difficult. I can't get a good sense of the true colours or materials on a computer screen. I need to see it and feel it to know if I really like it.
I remember coming across a post by Jen over at Rambling Renovators awhile back and she shared some photos of fabric samples from Tonic Living. They looked so much nicer in her photos than they did on the website!
Since repainting the living room and dining room from bright yellow to light gray, I've been inspired to finish decorating them. Both rooms were feeling pretty stark. I feel like I'm on the right track now that I've added in a cozy living room rug and some curtains in the dining room. Now it's time for me to add some cushions into the mix.
P.S. I did end up going back and ordering two more curtain panels for the living room. Thanks for your feedback!
So, I've started my swatch shopping. My first stop was Fabric.com and I placed an order for six different fabric swatches. The following are the ones that I want to see in person.
P.S.S. These fabric choices are not intended to all go together. I may or may not choose any of them in the end.
P.S.S.S. Why am I so annoyingly picky?
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| Finally, a rug in the living room. |
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| Finally, curtains in the dining room. |
P.S. I did end up going back and ordering two more curtain panels for the living room. Thanks for your feedback!
So, I've started my swatch shopping. My first stop was Fabric.com and I placed an order for six different fabric swatches. The following are the ones that I want to see in person.
P.S.S. These fabric choices are not intended to all go together. I may or may not choose any of them in the end.
P.S.S.S. Why am I so annoyingly picky?
So, those are my first set of fabric swatches. I have a few other online fabric stores that I would like to order some more from. But I'd better space these little swatch shopping spurts out so I don't get asked too many questions from the hubby. ;)
Do you have any go-to online fabric stores? Tell me, tell me, tell meeeeeeeeeeeeee. :)
Great choices! I love the birdcage fabric. Ordering fabric can be hard for all the reasons you mentioned. Lately I've had a lot of success ordering fabric from Etsy. Good luck in your search.
ReplyDeleteThanks Brandi!
DeleteAny specific ones you really like from Etsy? I'd love to check them out. :)
I love your inspiration photos Sarah! The wall color you chose for your living room is too die for! I love your room so much.
ReplyDeletehugs...
Aw, thanks June. :)
DeleteI love your fabric choices! I always have the hardest time with them too! I think the stripes and polka dots are my favorite!
ReplyDeleteMe too! I really hope that green isn't too bright.
Delete:)
great choices! i love the colors! i love spoonflower as well as fabric.com but i am more of an ogler than an orderer. ;)
ReplyDeleteOh Cassie. Spoonflower = complete time suckage. I was just introduced to that site a few weeks ago and I can get lost in it for hours!
DeleteSoooo hard to decide and it's a bit pricey. :S
I've ordered swatches from Tonic Living a few times...so fun to get them in the mail and see which ones you end up liking and those that end up being an instant NO, lol. I ordered two custom futon covers for our cottage and I love them! They are well made, wash well, and I was really impressed with their Customer Service! I asked a ton of questions about sizing, ideal fabric type, etc. and the TL Lady was so patient and informative. If you find something you like there and the price is right you won't be sorry! I've never looked at fabric.com, I'll have to check it out. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteLibby
Libby,
DeleteThat is great to know! Thanks so much for that info. I have been wanting to make a cushion for the bench in our breakfast room but I want it to have piping. I'm just not sure I'm up for that sewing challenge yet.
:)
I'm dying to use that grey polka dot one somewhere. I feel like it doesn't match my space.. maybe I am like you. I will just make it match! :)
ReplyDeleteFor some reason I really want the small polka dots to work, too! I think it adds just a little bit of fun.
DeleteUm, yeah, even a number of hours away from where you live, I find our fabric stores to be a little elitist or something. And I've been sewing since I was a kid...but it's the kind of place I dare not ask a question unless I am really in the mood to be looked down upon...
ReplyDeleteThat is the perfect way to describe it.
DeleteAlex thought I was imagining it but before Christmas he went in by himself to get some sewing supplies for my stocking and he was shocked at how rude they were to him... and he is like Mr. Joe Friendly, too.
Weird.
Ugh...fabric is sooo hard!!! I feel like I would be ok picking patterns to go together if I just had access to the right resources. Just like you said...it is so hard to get the right idea from a website and I have no idea about fabric weights and what's good for upholstery vs a pillow vs curtains, etc. I wish I could find a good fabric store near me. Sounds like you are on the right track though! Are you going to make pillows out of these yourself or have them made? What's the plan? Sigh. I have an obsession with throw pillows, I wish I knew how to sew so I could make them for myself. Great patterns you found! Are you into adding any color, or you just want to stick with the grey and white?
ReplyDeleteI KNOW!!!!!! I watch Sarah Richardson go into those designer fabric stores and have so many pretty selections to pick from. It makes me so jealous.
DeleteI will definitely be making the cushions myself to save some $. I'll be able to re-use all of the pillow forms that I already have.
A plain cushion is the first sewing project I ever did. You should give it a try you might just love it. :)
I would like to add a bit of colour but I can't find a fabric with soft colours to pull from yet. Maybe that floral one on the bottom?
I want to do grey, green, and maybe a bit of raspberry? Ahhhh I have no idea.
Hahaha!
Love the birdcage fabric! You could also introduce some color by throwing in some solids with color pulled from the floral pattern
ReplyDeleteI really hope that floral pattern is pretty in real life. Then I might try to pull some green and maybe raspberry out of it.
Delete:)
You say you aren't good at mixing patterns, but the fabrics you picked coordinate perfectly!!! Give yourself some credit~you did great!!!
ReplyDelete:)
DeleteI have the same problem! I have been trying to find fabric to make curtains for our kitchen so I am not blinded by the afternoon sun while making dinner and just can't seem to decide on anything. I *think* I may have finally found something I like at Hobby Lobby, but at over $20 a yard I am going to have to buy a yard here and a yard there to avoid the eyebrow raise from my own hubby. I love all of your choices. Best of luck!
ReplyDeleteWow, fabric prices are pretty crazy sometimes. I found a site that I really like but the swatches are $5 each.
DeleteYikes! That's a lot of moola if I don't end up liking any of them!
Good luck with your kitchen curtains!!!
Oh I agree such great choices! So glad to have discovered your blog!
ReplyDeleteHee hee! I'm glad you found it too Alicia. :)
Deleteall those fabrics CAN go together!!! i would narrow down and only have one damask, but otherwise they all work nicely together!! you have a nice mix of floral, whimsy and geometrics. colors go together too. i say dont be scared!! you obviously like all these in some way shape or form or you wouldnt have picked them...
ReplyDeletedo it, i dare you to use all of them! :)
The funny thing is that the swatches your ordered all look perfect together! You have done a great job of putting together a collection of prints that play nicely with each other and that you love. :) (I am just noticing that Kelly who commented above me said the same thing. Great minds...)
ReplyDeleteOOOOOOOhhhhh! Great choices! Love the flower one and the polka dot one! And the bird cage one is super cute! Can't wait to see what you come up with! You have fantastic taste! I know it will all come together... Then you can make me throw pillows when your done making yours! ;) hehehehe
ReplyDeleteJeni
I like Fat Quarter Shop and Hawthorne Threads, both online...they have all the basics plus ones I haven't seen on other sites.
ReplyDeleteLove your blog as I just started following. I love picking out fabrics but always has to be a personal choice! I would love the raspberry as it would had a pop of color as pillows. Also love the birdcage fabric on a pillow. I am sure you will love whatever choice you make do not be afraid of a little color.
ReplyDeleteI'm kind of glad that our's isn't the only Fabricland with horrible sales staff!
ReplyDeleteLOVE the bird cage fabric, and the one on the bottom right.
I could have written this post myself because I totally agree! I'm also at the point of trying to pick fabric for throw cushions in my living room and I have no idea what to pick because I look at stuff and think none of it matches but then I see other people's cushions and somehow, the fact that they don't match makes them match (does that make any sense?). Gahhh! I've also ordered samples from onlinefabricstore.com and ended up ordering material for my LR curtains from them (I'm in Montreal but had it shipped to my husband's office in NYC....score for saving on super expensive shipping and duty....woohoo!) :)
ReplyDeleteOooh, gorgeous fabrics. I love fabric shopping. Birdcage and Jacquard Raspberry would look amazing together. You could probably put them all together in cushions with maybe the plainer fabrics in bigger cushions or a table cloth - so many options...... :-)
ReplyDeleteSelecting fabric is SO hard! Thanks for linking to my post. I'm the same way... I still need to see and feel a fabric even if I fall in love with it online. Centsational Girl had a great post with links to fabric stores:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.centsationalgirl.com/2012/06/fabulous-online-fabric-sources/
Offline, you HAVE to visit Designer Fabrics (its where Sarah shops). They have an online site but its only a small fraction of their inventory in store.
Love the fabrics you chose. And I actually think they all DO go together! Nice work!!!
ReplyDeleteJen
athomeinthenorthwestblog.com
the polka dots are fun, but i realllllly like the stripes. i think that green would go nicely in your space and not be entirely expected.
ReplyDeleteI am also annoyingly picky. I stalked your blog the entire time we were remodeling our home. :)
ReplyDeleteI've been wanting to make some pillows but can't find any great fabric either! i'm pretty gun shy when it comes to ordering online...most places, you can't return fabric (at least, that's what i've noticed?!) and there's just something so nice about picking it out in person!
ReplyDeleteWhat is it with Fabricland?! My friend and I were talking about it just the other day and saying that it is absolutely, definitely, totally and utterly the most hideous shopping experience EVER!!! There is NOTHING redeeming about it - the warehouse setting with buzzing flourescents, the not quite in tune radio, the jumble sale set up of the fabrics, the slow slow service. The trouble is there isn't any alternative (atleast not here in Calgary) unless you want/are able to go wholesale or very expensive Chintz and Company.
ReplyDeletePerhaps we should all let them know how appalling the experience is and maybe something might change....
Caroline, Calgary
Fabricland ladies are totally mean to me too! What's their deal?! I swear this one time, two of them exchanged looks and rolled their eyes at me! I've decided after a year of it I'm tired of it and their fabrics are tacky anyway so I didnt renew my membership! Check out tonicliving.com, they have great fabrics and fast shipping! And after ordering samples they usually give 10% off the first order :)
ReplyDelete