Handcrafted Necklace with Purple Handmade Paper and Brass Finishings

Fabrics and Frames represents artist from around the United States, through a company called Artique Decorative Collections. We are now going to allow our viewers a chance to purchase some of our collection through eBay! This will be a way for our international and out of state viewers to get a chance to fulfill there lives with items that we recommend. Trying to make your life more beautiful! Thanks for check out our merchandise. Collection consist of jewelry, handcrafted decorative accessories for the home, and wall art. View the details on the post to learn more about the product!

Like this item?  Find it on Ebay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/261092141503?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1558.l2649#ht_500wt_920

Introducing our Blogger!!!

Introducing our Blogger!

There have been so many positive responses to the blog that Fabrics and Frames provides as a service to our internet followers that I thought  our readers would be interested in knowing something about who writes this blog and where the ideas generate from.  My name is Erica Guajardo and I am the person who writes the blogs for Fabrics and Frames Furniture. I am both an artist and designer and have been educated in both areas!

Erica Guajardo writing for Fabrics and Frames Furniture.

When creating my weekly blog my ideas usually generate from an experience in my life during the week that I am posting.  Since I am involved in both the art and design world I find many opportunities to spark my ideas. I often get a new idea when talking with our design clients. When working with high-end clients in the Dallas metroplex,  we  find that there is quite a variety of personalities and ideas regarding design schemes.  Some tend to be very traditional, others eclectic, and on occasion we have the very contemporary client.   I have been working for Fabrics and Frames for the past eight years, and have learned that you must pay attention to the clients needs and leave your personal opinion  out of it while guiding them toward a polished look.  You want to direct them to what will suit their needs because at the end of the day they will be the ones living in the space that you create for them.

Using this knowledge that I have learned from working in this family owned company, I have been able to develop my own skills in regards to art and design.    One reason why the blog is so informative is because I have ventured outside of the walls of Fabrics and Frames to explore the art world and how it relates to design.  In the past year I have interned at Dallas Contemporary Museum, became a represented illustrator online through http://www.turningart.com/, created t-shirt designs, and am starting to participate in art shows around the metroplex which showcase my contemporary style of artwork.  Check out some of my art pieces below:

Girl With A Dream by Erica Guajardo. Prints available on whttp://www.turningart.com/art/gallery/search/erica%20guajardo

Walking Through Life with Movement by Erica Guajardo.  For more artwork like this visit http://www.ericaguajardoillustrations.com/.

Halloween Designed T-shirt Image by Erica Guajardo. To vote on this t-shirt getting printed visit…http://www.threadless.com/submission/440916/Exorcist_Men_T/from,lancegray02.

One of reasons I was motivated  to create my own artwork was because  when clients came in for design advice they would often complain that they could not find pieces of art to coordinate with their interiors.  I started to create images that reflected the color schemes that were discussed during that week and discovered that this made my art more marketable.  Education can come from anywhere and even though I had many design classes in school I learned the most about design under the lead designer at Fabrics and Frames, Andy Fischman.

Who leads the design team at Fabrics and Frames? 

Andy Fischman is the lead designer at Fabrics and Frames Furniture.  She is ASID certified and has guided our clients for many years in creating room schemes that they will enjoy for decades to come.  Having an excellent eye for color and space planning, Andy is able to remake a seemingly boring room into a room that will be both functional and aesthetically appealing to the customer. Designing all over the metroplex, including high-end venues such as The Ritz Carlton, The Bonaventure Condominiums, and The Grand Treviso Condos,  Andy has developed great relationships with her clients and other designers.   I should also mention that she has also designed for clients with homes in some of the most luxurious areas of Dallas such as Highland Park and Preston Hollow.  She has a personality and experience that our high-end clients love!

In 2010, Andy decided that she would venture into the art world as well, bringing high-end accessories produced by various American artists  into Fabrics and Frames, giving the showroom a completely different look!  Check out some of the art below:

Artique Decorative Trends: U.S. Artist
http://www.artiquecollection.com/store.html

Artique Decorative Trends. U.S. Artist
http://www.artiquecollection.com/store.html

By opening the store, Andy wanted to be able to supply high-end clients with luxury art for their homes that worked well with the interiors she created.  In design, it is  said to be that accessories are the finishing touches that make a house a home.  The items that are chosen for the room schemes reflect the personalities of the people who live in that home.  Andy wanted to make Fabrics and Frames a one-stop shop where you could create  custom furniture and accessorize your interior with one-of-a-kind art made by American artists.

Fabrics and Frames is a place where we are not only designers but artists.  Each designer on staff  has a background not only in interior design but art as well which gives us a different approach to how we see a room.  We are able to think outside of the box when it comes to difficult tasks assigned to us by our clients and find unique solutions to the problem areas in their room design.  Art is a reflection of life and your home should be a reflection of you. When you combine the two you get the perfect blend of both with a home that should make you happy for many years to come!

For more information about designing or where to get custom looks like these please visit our website:

www.fabricsandframes.com

We are currently located at 5322 Alpha Rd, Dallas, Texas 75240972-385-4097.  Please contact us if you have any questions about this blog atandy@fabricsandframes.com, and or follow us on Facebook!http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fabrics-and-Frames-Furniture/156825517684205

Writen By: Erica Guajardo

Edited By: Linda Decuir

The Influence of Peacocks!

The power of peacocks has influenced the design and art world for a number of reasons revolving around spirituality, famous logos, and  trendy interior designs.  The peacock has a relation in many religions that connects the pheasant with  patience, kindness, compassion, knowledge, and love.  This creature has appeared in many different forms throughout time. Some examples are below.

Artworks that have Peacock Influences:

Murugan by Raja Ravi Varma: This shows the Hindu god of war Murugan, also referred to as Kartikeya. The image shows the diety with a crown of peacock feathers around his head which was believed that the peacocks had given the feathers as a reminder of patience, kindness, compassion, and knowledge.

Mario Mariotti: Italian based artist who specializes in creating objects from his hands.

Although these pieces of artwork contrast with each other, they are both great examples of how peacocks have emerged in art through time.  Another great example of how the peacock has influenced the public is the logo for NBC.  On May 22, 1956 the original eleven feathered bird designed by John J. Graham had been released as the NBC logo.  Later in the mid 80′s the image was altered to show only 6 feathers.

1956 NBC logo

Revised NBC logo

The Peacock Influence in the Interior Design World:

At the beginning of the 2012 year, the company Greenhouse Fabrics debuted it’s book called, “Eclectic Elements”, which came out featuring a very popular fabric that showed the image of peacock feathers.  From the day of this book debut, the fabric was extremely popular and has been used on many different furniture pieces.

Greenhouse Fabric: A 1586/ radicchio

Greenhouse Fabric: A1586/ Radicchio on Reupholstered Chair

One great thing about this fabric is that it incorporates a metallic stitch in the pattern giving it a whimsical modern approach to the traditional image of peacock fabric.  Another reason this particular fabric has had such a great response is it’s terrific use of color.  This pattern comes in many different color ways!

The image of the peacock has also been a big trend in interior design, regardless if its in fabrics,or a mural on the wall.  It has shown itself to be a pronounced design that many are drawn to. Check out below to see what I mean!

Peacock Image Mural on Wall

Robert Allen: Vintage Plumes/ Camel


Robert Allen: Vintage Plumes/ Camel on Contemporary Parsons Chair

The last place that peacocks have influenced the interior design world is in their color.  The “peacock” color, very similar to a caspian blue, has emerged through out the past 5 years as the cool trendy color.  This color pairs up well with warm colors, such as the color of the year “tangerine tango”. The color does not appear to be too vibrant in color although it has a major presence in a room.  Below are a few examples.

Peacock Colored Furniture: 

Peacock Leather Extra Wide Two-Armed Chaise Lounge

Peacock Colored Velvet Tufted Fainting Chaise Lounge

French Baroque Button Tufted Peacock Blue Silk Sofa with White Lacquer Finish

Rooms  with Peacock Colored Influences:

Peacock Colored Bedroom

Duralee Peacock Fabric Walls

Peacock Walls as a light accent.

Peacocks have influenced many areas of art and interior design.  This animal has a presence that is kind in nature and promotes a compassionate, gentle feeling.  This may be the reason why it has been so popular in the world of design.  As a designer, it is important to design a room that the client wants to enjoy and feels at peace in. The calming color keeps the room trendy without the annoyance of being too vibrant in color or presence.  When using the pattern in the room, you will only want to repeat the image once unless you are using it in different scales.  Repetition is important in design, but when it is a unique print like peacock, you want it to create hierarchy in the overall design scheme of the room so a good hint is to use the pattern only once in a room.

For more information about designing or where to get custom looks like these please visit our website:

www.fabricsandframes.com

We are currently located at 5322 Alpha Rd, Dallas, Texas 75240972-385-4097.  Please contact us if you have any questions about this blog atandy@fabricsandframes.com, and or follow us on Facebook!http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fabrics-and-Frames-Furniture/156825517684205

Writen By: Erica Guajardo

Edited By: Linda Decuir


Typography: How it is being used in fabrics, architecture, and design.

What is Typography?

Typography is the art and technique of arranging type in order to make language visible.  Many designers in the area of art and design are using this technique to communicate a specific message to the viewer.  The most common form of typographic art is used for logo designs, but if you think outside of the box you may notice that typography is all around us.  From architecture, to famous music covers, and even fabrics used for interior design purposes typography is being used more frequently.  The way typography has made a presence on how we market businesses and products is truly a creative use in design.

Typography in Architecture 

 When designing a building as an architect, you sometimes have to look at the overall composition of the building as an artist.  There are many different criteria to consider when designing a building, with structure and support being the main focus. When it comes to the aesthetics of the building, you may sometimes notice that the facade of the building may have a theme associated with it that describes either  the purpose/ function of the building or the history of the building.  I have provided examples of two buildings that incorporate typography in the design of their building with these key themes in mind.

1. Wales Millennium Center, located in Cardiff Wells.

Wales Millennium Center: This Center is used as an Opera House , incorporating a typographic facade revolving around the poet Gwyneth Lewis words “In these Stones, Horizons Sing”. The words are printed on the facade of the building written in the language of Welsh and English.

2. House of Terror, located in Budapest, Hungary.

House of Terror: The awning of the building incorporates the words “TERROR” in the design, to reinforce the horrifying history of the building. Revolving the terror and torture that people experience here during the Nazi reign.

Typography in Music Cover Designs 

As the world gets more involved with tabloid magazines, the influence on the public for watching celebrities is rising.  Musical artists are leaning towards using fine art artists to generate the artwork for the cover of their CD’s and magazine shoots which gives the opportunity for young artists and designers to be discovered.  Many of these images are computer generated which opens up many possibilities to design and incorporate type.  Some of the leading artists are starting to work with this genre of design to give it a shock value that catches the interest of the viewer.

Beyonce Complex Magazine Cover using typography.

Kanye West Cover using a dye cut typography image.

Typographic Celebrity Image

Typography in Fabrics: Used in Interior Design

Just as in architecture and artwork typography has found its niche in interior design  as well.  It has mostly been incorporated in the room design with fabrics that have typographic images on them.  Since many designers and clients are using this type of design in their room schemes it leads us to believe that this could be the new wave for the 2012 room.

Typographic Fabric used on the In-Back of the Chair and Seat Cushion.

Burlap Sack used to cover Wing Chairs.

With a little creativity, you can use any fabric to design the room of your dreams.  Below are some of the typographic fabrics that Fabrics and Frames shows can be used for both durability and aesthetic purposes when designing your room.

Robert Allen: Pattern: Champion/ Poppy

Robert Allen: Pattern: Champion/ Poppy

Chair covered in Robert Allen: Champion/ Poppy

Kasmir: Pattern: Love Letters/ Pewter

Kasmir: Pattern: Love Letters/ Pewter

Micheal Jon Designs: Pattern: Boardwalk UBK/ Beach

MJD: Pattern: Boardwalk/ Beach

Chair covered in MJD: Pattern: Boardwalk UBK/ Beach

When incorporating typographic fabric in the scheme of the room, treat it as a novelty piece. Meaning that this should be the one unique thing in the room.  If you use a pattern with type, limit  its use to a small chair or a pair of pillows.  This type of fabric does appear to have a very bold presence to it and if you use it in abundance in the room it will become gaudy and over-baring.

For more information about designing or where to get custom looks like these please visit our website:

www.fabricsandframes.com

We are currently located at 5322 Alpha Rd, Dallas, Texas 75240972-385-4097.  Please contact us if you have any questions about this blog atandy@fabricsandframes.com, and or follow us on Facebook!http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fabrics-and-Frames-Furniture/156825517684205

Writen By: Erica Guajardo

Edited By: Linda Decuir

Black and White…Classic Look?

As the industry of design becomes more modern, we notice that that the classic color combination of “Black and White” has been used throughout many generations and genres.  During the late 1890′s, some art movements began to incorporate the combination of “Black and White” into their designs, this created contrast in their art designs which forced the viewer to pay closer attention to what they were trying to say about each particular movement.  Many movements during this time had political or social meanings behind them and the usage of black and white helped relate a message more clearly.  Although some color was incorporated into the designs, “Black and White” was the primary way used to translate the intended messages.  Examples of different art movements that incorporated “black and white” combinations are provided below.

MALEVICH, Kazimir
1878 Kiev – 1935 Leningrad (now St. Petersburg).
Abstract Expressionism Movement

El Lissitzky
Proun. 1st Kestner Portfolio 1923
Constructism Movement

♯11
Shwitters Merz
1923-1932

Many of these art movements focused on art, architecture, political and social meanings.

Movements in Interior Design

Like art movements, the usage of black and white helps relate a clear message in design.  There are many different genres that incorporate the combination of “Black and White” which include Eclectic, Art Deco, Minimalism, Post-Modern, and Contemporary designs. To clearly distinguish each of these different genres of design from one another specific patterns may appear in the different genres.  Lets take a closer look.

Eclectic Room with Black and White Incorporated:

When creating a eclectic styled room, using more ornate architecture in the space is a plus because it can give the area an overall feeling of a different  time period.  Many designers like to update the overall look of the room by using modern colors and keeping the traditional ornate shapes in the accessories and furniture pieces used in the space.  White can be used as a neutral pallet in any design to allow other pieces to be the focal point in the space.  It tends not to distract the eye but rather pushes the eye to focus on the overall composition.  This concept is used in many different areas of design regardless of whether you are trying to display art or design a room.

Some pieces of furniture that may be used to decorate a room that have an eclectic style are shown below:

Asymmetrical Reverse Hump Sofa with Awning Stripe

Black French Settee Sofa

Black Lacquer Bergere Chair Frame with White Fabric

Black and White Awning Stripe on French Chair

Art Deco Room with Black and White Incorporated

Art Deco was a movement that originated in the 1920′s.  It is known for its elegance, glamour, functionality, and modernity.  A particular characteristic of this period in time is the organic curves that are found in each piece in the room.  A room during this time period may look something like this…

Traditional Art Deco Interior

Contemporary Art Deco Room

Not straying too far from the style of “Old Hollywood Glamour”, this look can be found with prints such as damask motifs, awning strips, and organic patterns.

Art Deco Inspired Fabric Robert Allen: Poiret/ Noir

Art Deco Inspired Pattern by Robert Allen at Home: Wanaque/ Kohl

Minimalism, Post-Modernism, and Contemporary Rooms with Black and White Incorporated

When speaking about the Minimalism, Post-Modernism, and Contemporary Movements in interior design, there are just a few different characteristics between them.  A common characteristic that all three movements share is that they have a clean linear approach to design and use minimal pattern.  Although Post-Modernism Design generally has more curved lines incorporated in the overall design, it still carries a clean line quality. Below are some images that should explain the differences of each specific look.

Minimalist Bedroom

A Minimalist Design tends to only use accessories that are functional to the design of the room.  It primarily resembles the technique of color blocking.  This look is great for anyone that may have a high-rise loft or industrial setting.  It has a reputation of a cold, stark, contemporary style that appeals to many younger clients.

Post-Modern Bed Room

As stated above Post Modernism tends to also incorporate a clean lined approach, yet will have organic curved shapes incorporated into the overall design.  By incorporating the curved shapes in the design, it tends to create a more inviting perspective in the room.  It will still have the stark contemporary design, but with a more inviting feel. This design is also appealing to a more younger client because it generally has lower scaled furniture which may be harder for an older client to be comfortable to get in and out of.

Contemporary Styled Living Room

A great compromise to a modern look is going with a contemporary styled room.  This incorporates minimal qualities such as lack of pattern with inviting functional qualities that may give the viewer the idea that someone lives here.  In the image above, you can see that little accessories such as the newspaper holder are incorporated with the same black and white color pallet so that it still blends with the interior and doesn’t create hierarchy in the overall composition.

Black and White is a classic look that many different genres of design have used through the past century.  For more information about designing or where to get custom looks like these please visit our website:

www.fabricsandframes.com

We are currently located at 5322 Alpha Rd, Dallas, Texas 75240972-385-4097.  Please contact us if you have any questions about this blog atandy@fabricsandframes.com, and or follow us on Facebook!http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fabrics-and-Frames-Furniture/156825517684205

Writen By: Erica Guajardo

Edited By: Linda Decuir

A Lesson in Anthropomorphism and Design….

Leonardo Da Vinci, a man of many skills including painter, sculptor, and architect, opened up a new concept toward design that reflected a theory of proportions and how it relates to humans.  He demonstrated this concept in a world renowned drawing called, The Vitruvian Man, which was based on the work of the architect  Vitruvius.  In this  document he demonstrated how the human body is sectioned off into simple geometric proportions such as a circle and a square, which can be used to understand other proportion theories such as The Golden Section and Gestalt Theory.  These theories led new aged designers to a world where there were no limits to design.  By using these theories and logic, designers in our modern world are able to create boundary breaking designs and make them functional.  Anthropomorphism is a genre of design that studies these traditional theories and juxtaposes them with modern Avant Garde logics.

What is anthropomorphism?

Anthropomorphism is any attribution of human characteristics (or characteristics assumed to belong only to humans) to other animals, non-living things, phenomena, material states, objects or abstract concepts, such as organizations, governments, spirits or deities.  When you start to look at this concept and how it relates to design, we find out that many famous artists and designers around the world and throughout the generations have been learning from this concept and how it relates to design.

Contemporary examples of what anthropomorphism in architecture:

Contemporary examples of what this may look like in furniture design is shown below:

This style of furniture design represents the Avant Garde movement, because it pushes the boundaries of design to ergonomical and aesthetic characteristics, while introducing “shock value”.  Louis Sullivan, world-renowned architect whose apprentice was Frank Lloyd Wright, emphasized that “Form follows function”. When designing a piece of furniture with artistic characteristics, you must keep in mind that the piece must also be functional.  This opens up the designer’s eye to antyhropometry, which is the study of the branch of the human sciences that deals with body measurements: particularly with measurements of body size, shape, strength and working capacity.

Here at Fabrics and Frames Furniture, we are constantly thinking about how the client is going to be using our product, and how we can improve the functionality of the product for the client.  Throughout the 34 years that Fabrics and Frames has been in business we have assisted clients with their special needs by finding ergonomical solutions to make their custom piece of furniture more functional for their specific use, while keeping aesthetics in mind.  Some major factors that we consider when designing a piece of furniture are seating height, arm height, back height and lumbar support.  We also give our customers choices in cushion firmness to make the piece the most functional for them. Although stucture is a key issue for us, we also want to make sure that the piece of furniture that we design for our clients will meet their everyday needs. Each one of our clients comes in with their own specific needs and we try to meet all of them. Each piece that we create is unique in that it reflects each individual customer’s style and purpose.

Ergonomic standards will vary depending on who the client is.  We understand  that different ages, nationalities, and genetic makeup will affect the ergonomics of a piece of furniture.  In past Fabrics and Frames blogs, we have discussed how our furniture is made up of hardwoods and how they have a spring system  in the furniture piece that will give it structural support.  These key elements are important because if you don’t understand the limits that your piece can support,  you run the risk of it malfunctioning in the future.

Designers, engineers, and architects are great examples of people who understand the ergonomics of any product. In order to design a product that has anthropomorphic characteristics, you must understand on how it will be used.  Remembering that…Aesthetics are nothing without function!…leads the “designer” to create something that will not only make a statement but give a presence of heirarchy in any setting.  Regardless if you are traditional or contemporary in design choice, you must remember your basics!

For more information about designing or where to get custom looks like these please visit our website:

www.fabricsandframes.com

We are currently located at 5322 Alpha Rd, Dallas, Texas 75240. 972-385-4097.  Please contact us if you have any questions about this blog at andy@fabricsandframes.com, and or follow us on Facebook!http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fabrics-and-Frames-Furniture/156825517684205

Writen By: Erica Guajardo

Edited By: Linda Decuir

Using The Basic Elements of Design To Create A Visually Appealing Room

When designing a room, you must keep in mind many different things so that you can create a visually appealing interior space.  One of the first things that you learn  in design school is that there are seven elements of design.  Whether you are creating a single piece of art work or an entire room, a good designer will keep these seven elements of design in mind.

The 7 Elements of Design:

1. Line

When creating a room the word Line refers to the lines in the room, meaning the lines in your sofa, tables, structure of the room, etc.  Depending on the particular style that you prefer, the lines in your room will differ.  For a contemporary styled room, you will find that most the lines are linear, while a traditional room will tend to have more curved lines associated with the design.

One of the reasons that many traditional rooms have more curves than contemporary rooms is because the design concepts pull from the old Greek thought process of design.  When the Greeks first started to design interiors and architecture, they developed three different types of columns to embellish their interiors and exteriors: Doric Columns, Ionic Columns, and Corinthian Columns.  Doric is the straighter of the three. Ionic consists of a curved scroll look and Corinthian bases its structure from the organic structure of leaves.  The lines used in these columns were used to create and define the styles in interiors.

2.Shape

Shape is a word that is used in design to train the eye to concentrate on negative and positive space.  For those that don’t know what negative space and positive space is, let me explain… Positive Space refers to the object taking up the space, an example of this would be a chair or a sofa and the floor space it encompasses.  The Negative Space would refer to the floor space that is left over in the room.  This should not be a great concern to the average person unless you are creating a furniture plan for your interior space.  When space planning, you must think about the flow of traffic and the shapes that are created by the different combinations of furniture.

 3. Direction

Direction refers to the lines that are used in a room.  Sometimes this will be as simple as picking the direction of fabric when it is a stripe.  Some helpful tips about choosing the direction of something that has a stripe in it is that horizontal [stripes] suggest calmness, stability and tranquility. Vertical [stripes] gives a feeling of balance, formality, and alertness.  If you are looking to create a “pow” statement in the room, mix things up with a piece that is constructed with an oblique angle. The piece will create movement and action because of its unique lines.

Suggest calmness, stability, and tranquility.

Gives a feeling of Balance, Formality, and Alertness.

Suggest movement and action

4. Size

 The term Size refers to the scale of the room.  When choosing the objects that you are going to place in the room, you need to consider the scale of the objects.  Scale and porportion are very important because you can easily draw attention to something that was not meant to be enhanced by not paying attention to scale.  Many people don’t consider the size of their sofa compared to the chair that they put next to it.  Sometimes if you put too large of a sofa next to a small chair, it will make the sofa look much bigger than it is and the chair much smaller.

Two chairs are too large for the bed.

5. Texture

In design the term Texture can refer to many different things in the room.  Depending on the particular style that you are going for…Minimalistic style vs. Old World Style, you may notice that texture will be represented in many different areas.  In a room that is going for the minimalistic style, you may notice that it will have very little pattern, but uses texture on the walls, in pillows, woods, etc.  This will give an overall calm, tranquil look…but still contempoary! In an Old World Room, you will notice the complete opposite.  These rooms usually consist of multiple patterns, and using textures in the fabrics instead of materials around the room.  An example of a texture that would be commonly used is a tweed fabric.

Textured Walls and Surfaces; Small amount of Pattern Incorporated

Old World Look; Many Patterns Together

6. Colour

Colour is another word for hue when talking about design.  Even if the design in your room is all monochromatic, you still have some form of shade or tone in the colour itself that must be matched.  Whites and Beiges are one of the most difficult colors to match in design because there are many different hues of beiges and white.  To further explain myself, Beige tones tend to go in the direction of having a hue of green, red, or yellow incorporated with it.  When working with these tones, you must stay consistent with similar hues because if you don’t you run the risk of making one beige look “dirtier” than another.  Most people don’t understand why one beige tone looks cleaner than the other, but this is the reason.  This will happen with almost any color, but with other colors it may not be perceived so much as “dirty” but as just plain “wrong”.

Chair in lighter Beige; Mantle to Fireplace Yellow Beige

7.Value

Value in reference to interior design can talk about lightness and darkness of tone with in multiple areas of a room.  Value can be spoken about in regards to fabrics or in regards to the amount of light in the room.    When speaking of value as it pertains to the light quality in the room, you have to consider “What type of lighting am I getting in this particular room?” There is yellow lighting, natural lighting, flourescent lighting…each of these lightings will affect the nature of the fabrics and materials used in the room differently.  You must select a lighting choice that will best compliment your style.  I have provided some examples to better explain.

Yellow Lighting

Natural Lighting

Flourescent Lighting

By using these basic Elements of Design as a guide you will be able to create a very well-designed room on your own without the help of a designer! For more information about designing or where to get custom looks like these please visit our website:

www.fabricsandframes.com

We are currently located at 5322 Alpha Rd, Dallas, Texas 75240. 972-385-4097.  Please contact us if you have any questions about this blog at andy@fabricsandframes.com, and or follow us on Facebook!http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fabrics-and-Frames-Furniture/156825517684205

 Writen By: Erica Guajardo
Edited By: Linda Decuir

Buying New??? Think Twice…

Buying New??? Think Twice…

“Out with the old, in with the new”  In today’s disposable society this seems to be the motto when looking for new furniture. That is not the case at Fabrics and Frames Furniture! Fabrics and Frames is celebrating its 34th year of service in the furniture industry.   With so much experience behind us, we have learned a couple of do’s and don’ts from the industry, and reasons why we suggest you carefully reconsider before throwing out your old furniture or buy new.

With the way most furniture is constructed these days, it no longer holds the label of “furniture built to last a lifetime”.  Most of us assume that our pieces of furniture are constructed with the finest materials both inside and out, especially if you have invested thousands of dollars in the piece, but this is not the case in most situations.  Fabrics and Frames Furniture is a manufacturer in the furniture industry, and because of this we specialize in furniture construction and repairs.  Over the 30+ years that we have been in buisness, we have deconstructed and reconstructed  many pieces of furniture to find particle board and cardboard holding the insides of the furniture together. There are many ways to construct a piece of furniture, but by paying attention to the small details you can distinguish a well-made piece of furniture from a low end piece of furniture. Price does not necessarily determine the quality!

When you take apart a piece of furniture that was built in the early 1900′s, you will notice many unique characteristics of the style of upholstery and construction.  A older piece will show that the person or company that originally created the piece designed it with functionality meant to last for many decades.  Generally older furniture will be constructed with hardwoods, joint details that give strength to the piece, and structure details that screams out “Form Follows Function.”.

The majority of today’s furniture is constructed to last maybe 5-10 years before it starts to breakdown. One of the first areas to go are the cushions followed by the frame.  Older peices would normally have some sort of spring system built into the structure of the piece.  Today many furniture frames are constructed with a webbing systems inside of them.  (Note: there are some companies out there still offering spring systems to support their furniture, but the average furniture won’t have it incorporated into the design.)  Having a webbing system incorporated into your design instead of a spring system will ultimately end up with you eventually falling through your sofa.  Webbing is a rubber product that has elasticity…over time (5-10years) the webbing will start to stretch and wear out.  As time goes on, you may eventually start to sink into your sofa.  When this begins to happen, many people think that it is just the foam in the cushions breaking down, and that is why they are starting to have trouble getting out of thier furniture, but in reality it is often their webbing system is stretching and breaking down.

Most furniture sold these days comes from China, regardless of whose brand name is attached to it.  When shopping for a new piece that you expect to last for years, ask these questions:

1. Is it made in the U.S.A.?

Furniture that is constructed in the U.S. mainly comes from North Carolina.  Many name-brand companies are buying overseas and getting pre-upholstered furniture shipped into the U.S.  This is problem for many reasons because (A) it takes away American jobs and (B) you lose the quality aspect that comes from experienced upholsterers. You can end up with mis-shaped furniture, and poorly matched pattern repeats. I have seen fabrics put on upside down because people are not taking the time to pay attention to simple detail. (C) Non-Consistant Furniture Product.  What you see at the store is not what you always get in your home.  Dye-lot colors and patterns on the fabric being off in tone and texture are common problems.  After waiting for 12 weeks or more for a custom-ordered piece and not getting what you ordered at the store is not a fun experience. Often you get stuck with something you don’t really like because once you sign on delivery you are unable to return it.  With these many problems with mass produced furniture today it should  make you question: “Is it worth buying cheaper?”

Striped Pattern Matched Sofa

Stripes are not pattern matched.

2. What type of wood is the furniture frame constructed out of?

The only acceptable type of wood for furniture frames is hardwoods. Softer woods and particle board is a big no-no because they don’t have the strength necessary to support the frame.

3.What type of seating system does it have?

Webbed or Spring? Spring systems are superior in all areas no matter what a salesperson tries to tell you.

4.Am I looking for a piece to keep for a long time, or do I want a disposable piece of furniture?

Many of today’s younger generation like the option of cheaper furniture because it allows them to change every couple of years.  The disadvantage to this way of thinking is that economically you are spending more money overtime.  Instead of buying a better quality sofa  which will allow you to abuse your furniture and it structurally be able to withstand the impact over the next 20years, the younger consumer will buy inexpensive sofas every 3-5 years that will break down and may even structurally fall apart.  When purchasing an inexpensive piece of furniture, you are risking buying a piece that is constructed out of particle board and cardboard.  What is wrong with this style of construction is that particle board is compressed thin layers of wood, allowing it to be weaker that hardwoods, and eventually snapping and breaking in half.  Some common places where breakage occurs is in the middle of the frame, the arm falling off, and legs breaking off.  If you are looking for a piece of furniture to fill a spot in your home and it will never be used, then go with a cheap piece of furniture.  But if you are looking for a piece of furniture to really use such as in your living room or den spend a little more and buy quality.  Another benefit of buying quality is that you will not have to bother with the headache of the upkeep on an inexpensive piece that will need extra TLC.

Broken Arm Sofa

Broken Base SofaBroken Arm Sofa

When thinking about new furniture, think about the functionality of the piece, and how are you going use this particular furniture piece and how often?  Times are hard economically for most of us right now…shouldn’t we analyze our expenses so that we get the most out of our purchase? If you are now discouraged from buying new…Then think Reupholstery!  Reupholstering is not always the most inexpensive way to go, but if you have a unique quality frame, or one of sentimental value, then it may be structurally better than the pieces coming out of China and most certainly will cost a little less than buying a comparable new piece.

For more information about designing or where to get custom looks like these please visit our website:

www.fabricsandframes.com

We are currently located at 5322 Alpha Rd, Dallas, Texas 75240. 972-385-4097.  Please contact us if you have any questions about this blog at andy@fabricsandframes.com, and or follow us on Facebook!http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fabrics-and-Frames-Furniture/156825517684205

Writen By: Erica Guajardo

Edited By: Linda Decuir

How Does the Pantone Color of the Season Affect the Design Industry?

How does the Pantone color affect the design industry?

What does the Pantone color system mean? The Pantone Color Matching System is largely a standardized color reproduction system that changes yearly. By standardizing the colors, many manufacturers in different locations can all refer to the Pantone system to make sure their colors match without direct contact with one another. Using the Pantone system is the standard for the design industry.

Each year the company Pantone, comes out with an array of colours, that will be most trendy for each season.  The colour of the year, is usually picked depending on the mood of the social, economic, and cultural standards.  Although there are other considerations that may be involved with choosing the color of the year.  These standards will sway the judge’s decision.

Last year, Spring 2011, the “Color of the Year” was Honeysuckle:

The question is… What color is the “Color of the Year” for 2012?

Over the summer of 2011, we learned that “Ice Cream Colors” were going to be real trendy for 2011…”Ice Cream Colors” consisted of vibrant, intense colors that varied from cool colors to warm colors.  Some examples of these tones are viewed below.

Many fabric designers put out lines that consisted of these colors this year.  Some examples were Duralee’s Line of Fabrics by designer  Eileen Kathryn Boyd, Kravet’s Weaves Collection, which featured books such as Sorbet, and Greehouse Fabrics put out a book called Eclectic Essentials, which feature some of the trendiest pattern styles (such as IKATS, and geometrics) in vibrant colors.  To understand the intensity of the look for summer season 2011, I have provided pictures below:

Eileen Kathryn Boyd Fabrics for Duralee:

Kravet: Weaves collection Sorbet Edition

Greenhouse Fabrics: Eclectic Elements

Since 2012 has not come yet, we are unsure what colours are upcoming for 2012. But we have predictions!  We still have bright colors that will be introduced in this upcoming season’s line, but we see that they have a little twist…

2012 Predicted Pantone Colours:

Comparing the colors that were chosen for 2011 to the new ones coming for 2012, we see that the vibrant pastel colors of 2011 are being replaced with more vibrant warm colors, deep rich “sodalite” blue, and vibrant cool tones . Throughout 2011  we as designers have seen gray become the new neutral…meaning that it will either coincide with  or replace beige in the home.

As a designer, my predictions are that the average consumer will use these tones as a pop of color in the room, following more of a block coloring system within the interior make up.  Most of these colors are very vibrant, and will not give you a soothing, calming experience. This is not to say that there are not some combinations within the chosen colors that can create a more tranquil experience.  Remember at the beginning of this blog, I stated that colors are chosen for the season based on the economic, cultural state of the average consumer.  Whichever color you choose to use in your home should make you feel happy.  This will vary depending on your personal tastes.

To find out more about Pantone Colors, you can visit:

http://www.pantone.com/pages/pantone/index.aspx

or 

If you have any questions, or want to find the best solution for one of your furniture problems you can contact us at:

www.fabricsandframes.com

We are currently located at 5322 Alpha Rd, Dallas, Texas 75240. 972-385-4097.  Please contact us if you have any questions about this blog at andy@fabricsandframes.com, and or follow us on Facebook!http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fabrics-and-Frames-Furniture/156825517684205

 Written By: Erica Guajard
Edited By: Linda Decuir

How To Finish A Room???

Do you ever walk into a room, and wonder…”How do I make this room have a better ‘home feel’?”   A great way to do this is by adding accessories, such as: pillows, ottomans, lamps, paintings,etc.  When you incorporate these personal items, it gives the viewer a sense of who you are even if you are a person that may like a simple, tranquil room such as this Beige Room below.  You are still making a statement about yourself when choosing items that you place in the room even if the room is all neutral.

By adding simple, monochromatic touches to this tranquil room, you give it a cozy inviting touch.  When you have a room that has no personal items, this may suggest to the viewer a comment such as…”I just moved in…” or “I’m taking a minimalistic approach to design…”

At Fabrics and Frames we have heard many of our clients talk about how they have a stark, unfinished room and it is because they don’t know what accessories to add.  Most people are overwhelmed by this and are afraid they might choose the wrong item and make a mistake. They would perfer to just have someone else come in and pick the items for them.  The issue that comes up with having someone come into your home and choosing everything  in your home for you, is that it then becomes their room not yours.  You want your home to have a sense of who you are with your own personal style.   The truth is that when picking out something personal, such as a piece of art…You don’t have to buy or choose it because it matches perfectly.  You want to choose it because it makes you happy and is something that you enjoy looking at  day-after-day.  When choosing pillows or small ottomans, it is more important to have them coordinate with the larger pieces in the room, such as your sofas and chairs.  These are considered accents with in the room which means that you can live with them for a shorter period  of time, and if you notice in 3-5 years down the line that your style has changed, you can replace them without a huge investment.

Some other examples of rooms that are incorporating small accent pieces are shown below:

This site is to help you, our future customers and readers, with design tips that  may be looking for. We also want to educate you about the function and design of the furniture in your home. Here at Fabrics and Frames, a company that has been around for more than 30 years, we take pride in being very knowledgeable, and connecting personally with our current clients, when it comes to design.  Because we have such a passion for design and our goal is to make each customer feel at home in our showroom, we are able to pass this knowledge on to you…our future customers.  To learn more about our company please visit:

http://www.fabricsandframes.com/

We are currently located at 5322 Alpha Rd, Dallas, Texas 75240. 972-385-4097.  Please contact us if you have any questions about this blog at andy@fabricsandframes.com, and or follow us on facebook!http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fabrics-and-Frames-Furniture/156825517684205

Written by: Erica Guajardo

Edited by: Linda Decuir

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