I first made a name for myself online by finding a treasure trove of designer remnants. It must have been 2002 or 2003 when I got lucky and bought a tractor trailer load of Clarence House fabrics. I had just about every major design from the company from 1997-2001. Kanji, Les Oiseaux Enchantes in White and Black, Fleuries, Les Primeurs, a boucle that looked like a Russian circus... beautiful one-of-a-kind fabrics in abundance.
I moved on to another major brand in 2005, by buying 35,000 yards of Brunschwig & Fils designs. I found their selection to be a step below Clarence House- maybe two or three- but they did have some eye popping designs. I was in love with this pair of silk lampas designs in the Victorian style.
Today, as in years past, I am constantly scouring the fabric world for deals and one of a kind purchases. Every company is a little cash strapped- which makes it easier to get a foot in the door. On my Drapery Row site I'm offering the first tastes of 2010's crop. There are many more wonderful patterns to come.
You never know what will pop up next.
Exotic Remnants at www.draperyrow.com.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Blogs I love: Anh-Minh.com
anh-minh.com
I've been a fan and a follower of the wonderful "left coast" design blog from Anh Minh, who is a veteran web designer and interior design junkie who turns her very astute eye on a whole host of interesting things. My favorite posts deal with cool kitsch things she finds and her very creative methods of organization.
I wholeheartedly recommend that you check her out. You'll laugh and learn something!
***
Some Recent goodies:
A cool assortment of postcards from an unlikely source:
Obsessive magazine organization:
How to entertain:
Faux Silk is so 2006
I love TJ Maxx, but the fabric purist in me cringes when I see their home section. The should call the place Polyester Maxx- because that's all you will find. Poly pillows filled with poly fill. For me, if you are decorating your home- you don't want to fill it with phony faux silk. You wouldn't fill your house with faux plants, would you?
To make designing your life easier, I've picked up a roll of Elm Manor, a beautiful vintage damask in chocolate and seafoam. Elm Manor is a pure 100% silk fabric from Robert Allen.
Elm Manor Chocolate by Robert Allen
To make designing your life easier, I've picked up a roll of Elm Manor, a beautiful vintage damask in chocolate and seafoam. Elm Manor is a pure 100% silk fabric from Robert Allen.
Elm Manor Chocolate by Robert Allen
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Take a Ride in Montgolfier's Balloon
When Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier and François Laurent d'Arlandes lifted off of the ground inside of the globe aérostatique, the first hot air balloon on the 4th of June, 1783, they not only propelled man hundreds of feet into the sky but paved the way for many subsequent advances in manned flight. What a lofty achievement.
Robert Allen's tribute to early balloon flights is perfectly encapsulated in Balloon View, a wonderful tapestry that Drapery Row recently acquired. Balloon View is a cotton and polyester fabric fit for upholstery that features a cream base and a sky filled with hot air crafts in festive colors and vintage styles.
12 yards are all that remain of this classic Robert Allen pattern. Price per yard $26.85.
Balloon View Celestial by Robert Allen
Robert Allen's tribute to early balloon flights is perfectly encapsulated in Balloon View, a wonderful tapestry that Drapery Row recently acquired. Balloon View is a cotton and polyester fabric fit for upholstery that features a cream base and a sky filled with hot air crafts in festive colors and vintage styles.
12 yards are all that remain of this classic Robert Allen pattern. Price per yard $26.85.
Balloon View Celestial by Robert Allen
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Coral Vignette Crewel Just Arrived
It was love at first sight when I found the last remaining yardage of Robert Allen's fantastic Coral Vignette Crewel in Coral. This crewel features a winding stripe of coral woven from high quality wool.
I have 16 yards in two pieces (11+5) available on a first com, first served basis.
Coral Vignette Crewel Coral by Robert Allen
I have 16 yards in two pieces (11+5) available on a first com, first served basis.
Coral Vignette Crewel Coral by Robert Allen
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Introducing: Schumacher
Since I launched Drapery Row in December of 2009, I've been working to establish relationships with a number of wonderful fabric houses. My goal is to provide a customer focused space where you can be your own "designer" and have access to some of home fashion's most fabulous fabrics. Every brand I choose to work with fits a niche and offers something unique; has something important to say about life and your home environment.
Schumacher is a great company and I look forward to working with them. Their product range is diverse and for all budgets. They have wonderful fabrics that won't break the bank and some inspriational fabrics and wallpapers that are the very definition of luxury.
We'll keep our eye on the many new and unique offerings in the Schumacher stable- and hope you keep coming back to Drapery Row. You never know what we'll find next.
Charles Morgan
Schumacher is a great company and I look forward to working with them. Their product range is diverse and for all budgets. They have wonderful fabrics that won't break the bank and some inspriational fabrics and wallpapers that are the very definition of luxury.
We'll keep our eye on the many new and unique offerings in the Schumacher stable- and hope you keep coming back to Drapery Row. You never know what we'll find next.
Charles Morgan
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Sailor's Compasses
I'm actually a great fan of fabrics that have curious motifs. I was instantly taken in by Gales Point, which is a nautical themed outdoor fabric with a slightly more sophisticated than usual motif. Inside diamonds made of sailing rope is a large circular sailor's compass. Each line leading out from the center of a sailor's compass represents a constellation in the sky. It is, perhaps, the only way ancient mariners had to navigate their ships on the open sea.
Gales Point is made of 100% acrylic and withstands 30,000 double rubs in durability tests.
Gales Point Outdoor Sand Dune by Robert Allen
Gales Point Outdoor is available for sale at www.draperyrow.com
Gales Point is made of 100% acrylic and withstands 30,000 double rubs in durability tests.
Gales Point Outdoor Sand Dune by Robert Allen
Gales Point Outdoor is available for sale at www.draperyrow.com
Monday, March 1, 2010
Fortuny iPhone App
The iPhone is one of those devices, it would seem, that's sole purpose is to drive me to distraction. During a midday App-Store browsing session a week ago, I came upon the interesting discovery of a fabric App from the esoteric luxury brand, Fortuny.
This scribble probably says Fortuny.
Having spent most of my career working for a closeout wholesaler, I never had access to Fortuny fabrics- but I am familiar with the company's product- amazing turn of the century (that's 20th century) designs made the exact same way as they were made then- utilizing a top secret printing process that was invented by artist Mariano Fortuny.
It's interesting that such a niche brand would be the only fabric label to have an app on the iPhone. After waiting fifteen minutes for this app to upload to my phone I can see why.
Odds are good that this design isn't available at your local La-Z-Boy showroom.
The app features more than one hundred designs on the app- which means you do not have to wait for images and their enlargements to load. Scrolling through is easy as the patterns are sorted alphabetically by color way.
***
I have to admit, I wasn't sure who this app was intended for. Normally, the way the fabric industry works- is that the companies that make fabrics sell not to the end user but instead to designers, architects, manufacturers and stores.
The Fortuny app seemed to disregard this paradigm. I was able to enter in my information into a quick form and after having selected six or seven samples- I sent send.
A week or so later I receive this:
I am gobsmacked. Never did I expect such customer service. The envelope featured a hand written address done up in full Art Nouveau glory. The samples were small, but carded professionally on a 7.75" by 4.75" card stock.
For what it's worth, the Fortuny prints are marvelous. The gold print shimmers and the patterns look better the farther you get from them. You can imagine them done up in amazing draperies or throw pillows.
As it stands right now, Fortuny is the only fabric brand to branch out into the realm of the iPhone app. You hope that this great customer care leads to more business for them- and that perhaps other fabric companies may take their lead.
Charles Morgan
Drapery Row
***
I have to admit, I wasn't sure who this app was intended for. Normally, the way the fabric industry works- is that the companies that make fabrics sell not to the end user but instead to designers, architects, manufacturers and stores.
The Fortuny app seemed to disregard this paradigm. I was able to enter in my information into a quick form and after having selected six or seven samples- I sent send.
A week or so later I receive this:
Yep. Snail Mail. Sent just as it was at the turn of the 20th century.
I am gobsmacked. Never did I expect such customer service. The envelope featured a hand written address done up in full Art Nouveau glory. The samples were small, but carded professionally on a 7.75" by 4.75" card stock.
For what it's worth, the Fortuny prints are marvelous. The gold print shimmers and the patterns look better the farther you get from them. You can imagine them done up in amazing draperies or throw pillows.
As it stands right now, Fortuny is the only fabric brand to branch out into the realm of the iPhone app. You hope that this great customer care leads to more business for them- and that perhaps other fabric companies may take their lead.
Charles Morgan
Drapery Row
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