| Velvet Accents |
From "Ask DIY"
episode ADI-112 |
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Q: I like the look of velvet but don't think it's appropriate year round. How can I decorate with it for only the cold-weather months?
A: (Nancy Golden, Ask DIY Decorating expert) Velvet is a wonderful choice to warm up your home in the cold-weather months. It's an old fabric made new again, coming in new textures and colors. And it isn't strictly formal anymore. Now velvet is available in, for example (figure A, from left), a chenille pattern; a lush, stamped look; striped silk velvet, which is an upgrade of inexpensive cotton corduroy; or a crushed look that adds richness to an accent piece. There's also metallic velvet (figure B), which has a silky feel but also the nap and pile that makes it velvet. Velvet is also available in more happy fun colors than ever: bright blue or lime green, for example. These are appropriate for pillows, perhaps in a guest room or a child's room. Velour is a less expensive form of velvet. It has a little more give to it and is stretchy. It's also the only washable type of velvet. Any other type you use must be dry-cleaned. Silk velveteen or velvet should not be used for draperies, because the sun can really damage silk. Or you can line the silk velvet with something else that will make it more opaque. One way to use velvet as an accent is to add some velvet ribbon to an inexpensive polyester sheer curtain liner (figure C) with no-sew tape. Put the no-sew tape down along the inside edge of the curtain liner and then pin the velveteen ribbon in place on top. Cover the ribbon with a press cloth before ironing it in place -- never iron directly on top of velvet. Also use low heat to iron so you won't burn the velvet or the polyester liner. Nobody's perfect: Don't buy the less expensive paper-backed velvet ribbon for this project. You'll need the fabric-backed variety or you can't get it to stick to the no-sew tape. You can also use velvet ribbon to decorate the tabs of inexpensive polyester curtain liners. Again, use no-sew tape (figure D). Velvet tiebacks are another possibility. Also consider velvet chenille throws, store-bought velvet pillows in a variety of designs or a velvet slipcover for an armchair. More questions for Nancy:
Q: I want to add an island table to my small kitchen but don't know whether I have enough room. Is there a magic formula for figuring out what size it should be?
A: You need to add 3 feet between your island and the countertops. That way, your cabinets and dishwasher will open and shut easily. But that rule holds true only if the island is going to be solid all the way to the floor. With an island table you can maybe make the space 2 1/2 feet. And an island should be counter height, 36 inches high. If you have custom counters that are higher, match the island height to your counters.
Q: Is there a quick and easy painting technique to make my dining room's 8-foot walls look taller?
A: Yes. Put a chair rail up all around the room and then paint a darker value of the color below it and a lighter value of the color above it, all the way to the ceiling and across it.
Q: I moved into a loft and need my old bookshelves for storage. Is there anything I can do to make them blend better with the rest of my furniture?
A: Try painting them the same colors as the walls and they'll blend right in. Web site resources for Velvet Accents: Velvet Frames and Mats from HGTV.com Velvet Ornaments from HGTV.com Gilded Velvet from HGTV.com Cozy Velvet Throw from HGTV.com Velvet Table Runner from HGTV.com Stamped Velvet from Decorating Plus.com Books: Country Decorating With Fabrics: More Than 80 Projects That Add Country Style, Charm & Color
By Chris Rankin
ISBN: 0806983817
Sterling Publishing Company Inc. (1993)
387 Park Avenue South
New York, NY 10016
Phone: 212-532-7160
Fax: 212-213-2495
Customer Service Phone: 800-367-9692
Customer Service Fax: 800-542-7567
E-mail: webmaster@sterlingpub.com
Cozy Country Decorating: Fabric Ideas for the Home
By Adele Corcoran with Carol Hart
ISBN: 0806983817
NTC/Contemporary Publishing Group (1997)
4255 Touhy Ave.
Lincolnwood, IL 60712
Phone: 847-679-5500
Fax: 847-679-2494
E-mai1: ntcpub2@aol.com
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