Sunday special: upholstery fabric color trends

Press release

As the first buds appear on the trees and gray skies give way to blue in 2011, Spring fever will flourish in colors and fabrics that suggest escape and relaxation. Look for new combinations of color, pattern and texture that are both inherently comfortable and refreshingly fashion forward.


“All of our color themes evoke places and spaces where we can get away,” says Reyna Moore, director of marketing for Norwalk Furniture. “Even if we don’t have time to take an actual vacation, we can recreate that wonderful feeling of retreat in our homes.”


Fresh colors and interesting textures are especially important, as fabrics rely less on decoration and more on intrinsic appeal.


“There’s a focus on textiles with a handspun, artisanal, slubby and nubby feel,” Moore says. “They complement the trend toward ‘up-cycled’ furniture, found pieces that have been recreated in a lovely and special way.”


Colors range from an upscale take on bolds to sophisticated muted hues in pleasing combinations that reflect current trends as well as give us a peak at what’s ahead. Norwalk introduces 110 new fabrics in four color themes for spring:

• Coconut Grove: Undoubtedly tropical, but with a sophisticated twist that would make it appropriate in almost any environment, Coconut Grove is anchored by colorful prints and bold stripes. Palm frond greens abound, as do summery yellows, medium chocolates and splashes of coral red. Upscale and relaxed, Coconut Grove works wonderfully in a beachfront home, in a lakeside cottage or in the sunroom of a more traditional home
• Brittany Cottage: Conjuring memories of simpler times, Brittany Cottage has a casual, carefree ambience. Natural weaves and grayed-down base colors are paired with sky blues, charcoals and deep reds. Old script patterns, fine-line stripes, embroidery and fabrics reminiscent of French grain sack designs add appeal to this quiet palette inspired by stone cottages in Belgium and northern France.
• Highlands Manor: As comfortable and inviting as a glass of port in front of a cozy fire at the end of the day, Highlands Manor is inspired by the warm hues of the Scottish highlands. Look for a lively mix of traditional menswear and glen plaids, timeworn leathers and rich velvets, as well as stripes, feathers, paisleys and houndstooth. Rich layers of texture and color juxtapose elegant with casual to create a certain tattered luxury that suggests world travel and quiet retreat.
• City Lights: Imagine broad city vistas from a penthouse apartment. The blue-gray clouds, or “vapor,” as Candice Olson calls it. City Lights is a soft, see-through color palette sparked with luster that provides subtle light reflection. Dove gray is warmed by shades of cognac, topaz and green-cast gold. Rich velvets, soft wools and highly textured foundation cloths in nutty tones provide plenty of tactile appeal to this sophisticated collection.


“Our color themes allow you to design a home that is uniquely yours with fabrics that are easily coordinated on sofas, chairs, ottomans and pillows,” Moore says. “If you can dream it, you can create it.”

Norwalk Furniture offers something other companies don’t that the consumer and interior designers want: great design, customizable options, high quality, competitive pricing and quick delivery. Three upholstery programs offer 850 fabrics and leathers for a licensed collection by Candice Olson; Variations which consists of five basic styles and dozens of design options; and The Best of Norwalk, longtime best selling designs. The privately-held Norwalk, Ohio company manufactures upholstered seating in its 440,000 sq. ft. facility, delivered consistently in 35 days. For more information, visit www.norwalkfurniture.com.