'What's Gingham Anyway'

All this talk about fabrics like damask and linen… but what’s gingham?! I promised I would explain:

Chipper and Patterned

Gingham editorial in March '09 issue of British Vogue

The gingham men’s shirt that I managed to pry from my boyfriend’s fingers a couple weekends ago is what I would consider a good print to use as a picnic tablecloth at a summer barbecue. But I cannot deny that prints like gingham, check and plaid are gaining in popularity. My boyfriend falls in the same group as most trend goers, and likes the print.

Gingham, when taken for its original meaning, refers to its repeated stripes. The printed or dyed fabric dates back to the 1600s when it was imported to England and then the American colonies. Blue and white was often the checked pattern of choice.

To this day, gingham has various uses in the home and in the wardrobe. This might be because gingham is today spun from cotton and synthetic fibers – making the textile light, wrinkle-free and easy to clean. Gingham can be found in the kitchen as curtains, handkerchiefs, barbeque bedspreads, household linens and in summer dress for men and women.

Sophisticated and Draped

Silk Dupioni curtains

Silk dupioni is known for its texture and its visual appeal. The silk is produced when two or more silkworms spin their cocoons too closely to one another – the result is a silk that is tougher and has an uneven and regal appearance.

The silk is often mixed with fine or heavy yarns that have occasional soft but think lumps. If you take a look closely at silk dupioni, you will most like see this lumps in the fabric. It is a combination of the ‘lumpy’ texture and the roughness in the silk that makes this fabric so popular.

Unlike other silks, this fabric resists wrinkles and tends to carry more weight. Silk dupioni is also reversible, an added bonus when used for window treatments. Chances are if you’ve seen silk dupioni, it’s by way of jackets, blouses, dresses, gowns, window treatments and table runners.

Not that gingham, linen, damask and silk dupioni are the only fabrics out there. But it’s good to know a little bit about some of frequently used fabrics before adding to your wardrobe or home décor.

Now you will never find yourself asking: “What’s gingham?”

-S. Gonzalez

*Photos courtesy of liebemarlene.blogspot.com; decorinnovation.com

'Gingham Who?'

A stack of crisp, folded men’s dress shirts sat on a shelf in front of boyfriend, who stared back at the mishmash of patterns with one eyebrow raised.

He pulled out a men’s shirt in black and white gingham, and looked over at me. “I like this one.” he said.

“The gingham?” I asked. It was impossible to hide the disappointment in my voice – not only does my boyfriend always wear black, but he was going to look like a black picnic table at my girlfriend’s Miami wedding.

“What’s gingham?” he asked. “You know I don’t know anything about fabrics. You’re the one who works in fashion.”

True.

Black Gingham Shirt

The Saturday shopping experience – I managed to have my boyfriend surrender and purchase a light blue shirt with tie – made me realize that there might be others in need of a fashion tutorial.

Whether it’s dressing for a gala or redecorating your house, knowing which fabrics work for the occasion is essential. Here’s a list of some common fabrics found in home & fashion:

Lavish and luxe

Damask is known best for its rich and sumptuous appearance. Originating from Damascus, damask is a flat and reversible pattern made from fibers like silk, wool, linen, cotton or synthetic. Weavers will often add gold and silk thread to the weave to give the pattern its metallic luster.

It is a fabric that typically resonates with the aristocracy of centuries past, of lush parlors with tufted chairs upholstered in damask, velvet drapes and gold trim. For an Old World inspired look, this contemporary set of damask curtains has blue-blood written all over it.

Burgundy damask curtains

Light and care-free

This weightless and fresh fabric dates back to 3,500 years ago when linen was discovered on mummies in Egyptian tombs – a symbol of purity, light and luxury. It’s popularity eventually led to its introduction to Europe, where it was the chief textile of the Middle Ages.

Linen is often worn in the balmy summer months to keep cool. Linen pants, shirts, dresses and shorts are often a staple in coastal regions. In home furnishings, you might find linen in the following places: window treatments, tablecloths, bed sheets, upholstery and handkerchiefs. If you’re looking for a stiff fabric that is highly absorbent and resistant to high temperatures, then linen is the fabric for you.

Linen tablecloths

So what’s gingham, you’re asking? I’ll get to that later.

-S. Gonzalez

*Photos courtesy of tmlwin.images,nowvalley.com; decorinnovation.com; oldcolonial.biz

'Color Stays'

Want to know more tips on how to add a fresh, punchy shade so that it will immediately liven up your space?

3. Wallpaper Wall

Have any leftover wallpaper from the DIY wallpaper your medicine cabinet from my last post?

If you do, one way to make your walls pop with color is to play up a bright wallpaper print on one wall. Designs with patterns, like horizontal (best for a short wall) and vertical (best for a low ceiling) create instant depth. This could be your chance to really let loose! But since wallpaper ink tends to fade easily with overexposure to the sun, avoid walls that directly catch the sun’s rays.

Wallpaper adds height to this small nursery with low cielings

4. An Unlikely Story

It’s time to think outside of the box. Just as the choice in a new bold color can come as a complete surprise, so could the spot you decide to add the color.

For instance, try painting your kitchen floor or installing linoleum flooring in an unexpected aquamarine or lime green shade. Or what about the ceiling instead? The color choice could add a nice surprise element to your décor. Keep the rest of the kitchen décor and walls neutral – let the floor do all the talking.

Summer house owners take risk by painting their floors

Better yet, paint your bedroom doors in a rich burgundy color for an immediate color contrast. Use the bedding in your bedroom or other room accents to echo the new color of your doors.

A bright door that instantly catches your attention

5. Mix N’ Match It

I know what you’re thinking: “What?! Mismatched curtains?! What are you thinking?”

Sounds a bit unusual. But if done with a little bravado, you can pull off the look. The first step must be to select a fabric that already has a unique texture, for immediate visual attraction. Rich fabrics like taffeta, linen or those with a metallic sheen drape well.

To choose the shades, again choose a shade that is found within the same color family (brights, primary; pastel, jewel tones, etc.). Another way to slowly introduce color is to leave one panel in a neutral hue and to have the other in a bright color.

An average home with curtains in orange and yellow

Some color combinations you might not have thought of before: yellow with turquoise; purple with green; blue with silver; red with purple; brown with hot pink; blue with gold; coral with green.

House rules have changed. It’s time to think in color!

-S. Gonzalez

*Photos courtesy of apartmenttherapy.com; lh4.ggpht.com/; images.bidorbuy.co.za/user

'New House Rules: Color!'

I’m not going to lie.

There’s a fair amount of black in my wardrobe: the boyfriend blazers, skinny jeans, open-toe pumps, leggings, turtlenecks, cardigans and booties. And there’s a fair amount of black in my bedroom décor too: the wrought iron bed, the embroidered valence on my curtains, the futon, the photo frames and appliances.

One would think that I have this obsession with black, which I don’t. Black is the easiest color option whether in wardrobe or décor to find and to pair with anything.

But all this black is making me depressed.

Let’s start with the décor. Adding color to unexpected places or furnishings will create contrast, depth and an instant visual appeal to what might have felt like a funeral parlor before.

Bold furniture and pillows instantly brighten up this living room

1. Go wild with the furniture

Remember that all-black futon I just described in my master bedroom? I suggest to keep the futon frame intact and replace the black cushions for some fuchsia ones. If this seems too extreme, a set of bright pillows strike a nice compromise.

The key, in this case, is to keep the rest of the color scheme in a neutral palette. Make sure that the eye-catching color works well with the existing hues.

Bright pillows do the trick

2. Paint by number

Ever noticed those white, dining room chairs you bought years ago at a flea market? Or do you ever stop and notice your bookshelf on that far wall, the one that houses your favorite short stories and novels? My guess is that you haven’t, the same way I have ignored all the functional (and bland) furniture in my house.

Ever fancy a red bookshelf?

A quick way to give instant pep to a dining room area or library nook is to take a chair, bookshelf, stepping stool, and paint it in one bold color. If you have chosen to paint a dining room chair, try painting one chair in the bold shade and leaving the others neutral. For a more unified look, paint all the chairs in the same hue. Tip: A paint spectrum serves as a good color guide.

Let this dining room set inspire you

For more color tips, come back for my next post.

-S. Gonzalez

*Photos courtesy of apartmenttherapy.com; farm3.static.flickr.com; www.furniturestoreblog.com; tudorks.file.wordpress.com