antique tapestry pillows Archives

Seasonal Slipcovers!

What I love about slipcovers is so many things!!

My mother was from the “South”. (Lucky me in so many ways having particularly to do with the “HOUSE!”)

She taught me to have four………yes four…… seasonal sets of slipcovers for my furniture.

(My goal is four; I now have three; and I will have four!” )

First of all; when a new season starts; I get a” new house”! It’s almost like having 3 houses in one.

It is just a joy! Even my husband gets excited.

(I actually do this transformation with help, on the actual “first day of fall, Spring, Summer;

unless it falls on a weekend)

Otherwise the following Monday.

The very first day of “fall” The old “Oriental” rugs rugs go back down; All the pillows change, the slipcovers change on the furniture;

and it does almost look like a different house!

So to begin; this is fall. This is our “big hall” a combination living-dining room……

This is FALL!

This picture shows a lot of the furniture! with……

The fall slipcovers.

Deep rust Fortuny on the ottomans; teal on the chair seats, tapestry pillows and some quilt on the banquette, and the rugs and paisley

by the fireplace! (one of the two fireplaces in the room).

Rug and cozy seats around the fireplace on the “seating” side of the room.

(there are two fireplaces one at each end. One at the “seating end”; and another at the “eating end”.

This shot shows the paisley shawl upholstery with the inset vintage needlepoint. Also next to the fireplace.

Also the 18th century fragments of tapestries preserved and made into pillows………

We are not talking, nor doing, “Shabby Chic” loose slipcovers over here. Nothing wrong with them;

just way too “trendy” for this Pasadena decorator. I avoid “trends” like country people avoid “rattlesnakes”.

Just my view!

This is the opposite side of the room!

Directly opposite the other fireplace!

Its oriental rug is a cozy addition.

This is the dining area: this area has its fall and winter backwards Fortuny.

Fall includes my lifelong collection of antique paisley shawls, antique needlepoint

(collected for decades; even some made by me) ;

and the fall cozy colors emerge to replace the Summer pillows and fabrics.

The banquette is covered with my antique tapestry pillows; collected over my lifetime.

My favorites are from Dallas. The tapestry was falling apart; (there is nothing wrong in this)…….

The lady who made these exquisite pillows rescues the intact , fragile parts of the tapestry; and makes exquisite pillows

with antique trim, hand-dyed velvet, and down fills.

They must not be considered “pillows”!

Here are a few examples:

This is one from Dallas. There is a village scene around this tree.

This little creature I found in the flea market in Paris.

You can see that collecting things can give so many layers of beauty and meaning to your house!

(This is one of our dogs; rescued from a freeway on-ramp)! The dogs are fond of the banquette; and the leopard blanket came from Bunny Williams’

recommended dog bed source: “Wally beds” ; totally washable.

Again; Slipcovers. And end of FALL.

NOW LET’S TALK ABOUT SPRING!

HERE IT IS! THIS TRANSFORMATION STARTS MARCH 21st.

TAH DAH!

SPRING!

The main rugs go to storage and the pretty peach floors show.

Cushions pale yellow silk; ottomans yellow Fortuny.

Different pillows and quilt on the banquette.

This close-up shows the spring pillows in better detail.

By the way, the valance is two antique valances sewn together found at an “Antique Show”

Antique shows are great places to find vintage textiles.

And my antique toile coverlet with the hand embroidered work salvaged from some beautiful old sheets made into a pillow by my friend Kathy

(Pillow Beach on Etsy)

The Spring dining chairs have slipcovers of some Chelsea Editions embroidered fabric.

(Rugs not removed yet)

The whole room looking the other direction

We also have “summer slipcovers”…I call it “3 months in the Hamptons”

Please do notice; not one piece of furniture is different .

Same with the “summer installment”.

The whole point is; the comfortable arrangement of furniture does not change.

You feel as though you have gone to your “summer house” with just a change of tailored slipcovers

By the way; another important thing slipcovers do (I also learned from my adored mother);

is that your furniture (if you buy quality; which of course you do) will outlive YOU.

Three or four sets of slipcovers prevents any of them from becoming worn out or faded.

Just select carefully ; and preferably hire a decorator to help you.

Buy the best made upholstered pieces you can possibly afford.. (custom made or from a great consignment store).

and then slipcover like mad!

I truly believe there is much that can be learned from the past.

And old traditions are worth continuing.

Here comes SUMMER!!!

Luna is in her guarding position on the ottoman covered in an antique linen and hemp hand-woven French fabric!

In Spring, these 4 chairs are in vintage red French ticking! In Winter, cozy paisley!
These are covered for Summer in white on white Indian fabric that is all hand appliquéd in various geometric patterns!

You can see the incredible hand-work.

Looking the other direction!

The bay window has different pillows; a combination of some similar Indian appliqué that I found in bright yellow!
My favorite pillow in this group was made from a panel my mother bought in
Europe many years ago; and I found folded in her linens!

Now for an amazing story!

A few years ago,we rented a house in Spain for a week; we had our whole family ! (All 15!!)
I went to a painted furniture place I had always wanted to see; and look what was hanging on the wall!!!

The identical linen panel on another color background!!!

I’m trying to find out where it came from!!

This ottoman is in a vintage red French toile in
Spring; and in a red strie velvet in Winter!

This is another view!

The dining side of the “Big Hall” with Yellow Soulaido French fabric on the chairs !
This fireplace is opposite the other fireplace!
The trumeau mirror is one of a pair with two different scenes with children playing painted on them!

Dog-proof is important!!

Recycling wonderful old textiles is very GREEN!!

I hope this inspires some people to want “Seasonal Slipcovers”!!

It is so much FUN!!!

Slipcovers!! Seasonal slipcovers save your furniture!Read More