Our pal, designer Jamie Gibbs, updates the chaise longue, or fainting couch. With the popularity of floating furniture arrangements, the chaise longue has seen an increased interest. Basically an upholstered couch in the shape of a chair long enough to support the legs, these are often called “chaise lounges” in North America, particularly in the furniture … [Read more...]
Fabric Schemes 1-2-3
No vague answers from Jamie Gibbs. Our designer pal guides us through fabric schemes for any room. Professional designers don't think much about fabric schemes. After years of experience, pulling a room together becomes automatic. The client provides general guidance about the colors and designers already have a mental data base based on looking and using hundreds, if not … [Read more...]
Boost Your Fabric IQ
Expert designer answers on need-to-know questions about home decor fabric. When interior designer and textile expert Jamie Gibbs teaches his class on interior fabrics at Parsons The New School for Design in NYC, he asks each student to bring in a fabric sample. Then he does a virtuoso “show and tell,” identifying and discussing fibers, weaving, printing, finishing, use and … [Read more...]
Guest Room Curtain Secrets
Two DIY curtain secrets that helped me improve the look of my ready made guest-room draperies. I never thought I would be doing a DIY curtain project or writing about curtain secrets I learned in design school. But my guest room curtains have been a back-burner project for the past three years. The pair of corner windows in the room provide good light but, like every original … [Read more...]