Tag: upholstery cape town

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What are the benefits of fabric upholstery?

Shopping for furniture is very confusing because there is so much to consider. Your quest for choosing the right upholstery will not just rely on your budget and designs. Among the considerations will be: modern or classic? Low or high back? Detachable or fixed cushions? With this, another question is essential: leather or fabric?

The benefits of having fabric for upholstery

Upholsteries come in different styles and varieties, so there are many options to choose that will fit your home style. Compared to leathered types of furniture, with the fabric types, you can experience the following benefits:

Comfort

The feel in fabric upholsteries depends on the material of the textile and the support system (the frame and cushions). Regardless, the comfort you can experience is something you can always savour and experience. The fabric’s softness and warmth offer you calm and relaxation, easing all your stress away. Moreover, its softness can provide cosiness no matter the season, unlike leathered types that bring sticky and hot feelings in summer and more coolness every winter.

Despite this undeniable comfort, its suppleness should be something that is not too much, to the point that the furniture will not get wrinkled or sag easily. It should keep its shape every time you get up.

Care

The fabric upholsteries’ wear and tear quality depend on the fabric grade. As expected, high-quality fabrics tend to endure weariness better. Moreover, because of its material type, it is easier to clean and maintain. Since most fabric furniture is made with stain-resistant finishes, it can be easily cleaned up when spills happen. A handheld steam cleaner or certain specialty products can do the trick. Also, unlike leathered upholsteries, the fabric ones cannot be scratched or have any unpleasant markings. Especially if you have pets cosying around your home, the fabric ones will be perfect for you.

Colour and Pattern Choices

Another advantage of choosing fabric types in upholstery is its unlimited textures, colours, and patterns. There is undoubtedly a particular colour and style that will surely match the over-all design of your home. It can be an excellent opportunity to express you and your family’s style and personality: either you go for bright colours or bold patterns that grab your guests’ attention or you will choose something neutral and calming style that will be perfect for your home’s decorative pieces.

Costing

If you are concerned about your budget, yet you still want the best, the fabric type will suit both of these goals. Better quality fabrics mean higher prices, yet this is even more affordable than purchasing the leather types.

Tips in choosing the best upholstered fabric

Most of the time, colour, and design are the first things to mind when buying fabric upholstered furniture. While this is also essential to consider, several factors are equally important too and CA Interiors can assist you.

Durability

The robustness of the fabric should depend on the piece of furniture, what area it will be used in, and personal attributes at home, such as the presence of children and pets. If the furniture is something that is used daily, opt for more durable fabric types.

Style

In considering the fabric style, always choose something that will complement not only the furniture but the interior design and feature of your home.

Colour

Another crucial factor in selecting upholstered fabric is the colour. With lots of colours and combinations to check on, always ensure choosing something that has a significant impact on the furniture, especially when the furniture is a large one like sofas and tables.

Benefits Of Using Fabric For Upholstery Guide

If you are undecided about the fabric colours and designs for your upholstery, contact Sue Hamilton at CA Interiors to get exceptional fabrics for your furniture. With lots of choices you can check on, you will definitely never go wrong in having the fabric type that will bring out the best in your upholstery!

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Ways to make your home look eligant on a budget

Having a high-end looking home can be difficult, especially if you have a tight decorating budget. Fortunately, there are ways – even on a budget – that you can get the high-end look you dream of.Interior designers have shared a few secrets over the years that have given homeowners some insight on how they can make their home look elegant without breaking the bank. From adding pillows and a fresh coat of paint to window treatments and hardwood floors, these are simple solutions you need to know about.

Here, you will discover some of the simplest and least expensive ways to make your home look elegant. Take the time to keep reading – you just might be surprised at these simple tricks to fooling your guests into thinking you live a high-end life.

Crown Molding – Details Matter

It’s all in the details. When it comes to decorating your home to look high-end and custom-made, details are key.  In this instance, the detail is crown molding.

Crown molding has a way of making a room look complete or finished; it brings the ceiling and the walls together, giving them an elegant appearance. Without this finishing touch, rooms tend to look cheap or unfinished.

Fortunately, crown molding is relatively inexpensive (especially the plastic, paintable versions), making it affordable on almost any budget. There are many widths to choose from, but if you want a greater impact, chose the widest trim that your budget will allow.  For the ultimate in glamour, try adding all types on molding to your home, i.e. crown, high baseboard, ceiling beams, columns, ceiling medallions, chair rails etc…

Paint – Color Matters

Paint color is perhaps one of the most difficult decisions to make when decorating a room, especially when the remaining décor will be based off the color palette. However, if elegance is what you are after, there are certain colors that add instant glamour to your home.

Choose one of these two color options—bold and dramatic OR soft, understated hues. These hues allow you to add instant elegance to your home. It simply depends on your color personality in terms of which option you choose.

Painting interior doors black is another great idea. It automatically creates an expensive feeling, without causing much damage to your wallet. If you choose this option, however, be sure to add some black accessories to the space to tie the overall design together.

Pillows – Comfort & Elegance

Pillows throughout your home serve two purposes. One, if they are chosen correctly, they can really punch-up the elegance factor. Two, they provide your guests with a little extra comfort on the couch, and offer a cozy, layered feeling to your rooms.

The comfort aspect speaks for itself, that is, if you choose pillows that are large enough to rest on, and soft. Speaking of size, you want to avoid the standard 12 to 18 inches for a throw pillow. Instead, choose something larger, such as a 22-inch pillow cover stuffed with 24-inch inserts.

Large, overstuffed pillows create a very plush, elegant appearance—and don’t skimp on the pillow inserts, down-filled is the only way to go.

Window Treatments – A Must-Have Accessory

It’s simple—a home without window treatmentswill look unfinished and cheap. Fortunately, window treatments are one of the most budget-friendly ways to add some elegance to your home, as well as much-needed privacy.

When selecting window treatments you want to make smart choices. For instance, choosing unlined flimsy materials look terribly cheap, even if they are the least expensive option. It is recommended that you avoid see-through materials. This does not mean that you can’t buy off-the-rack curtains. A lot of chain stores offer lined draperies that appear elegant and expensive —even though the price is right.When it comes to window treatments stick with elegant materials such as natural silk, linen and cotton (polyester or man-made fabrics usually look cheap). If draperies are not for you, then try woven bamboo shades or wood blinds. Just be sure to dress your windows—they ensure your home looks elegant and well-designed.

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Picking upholstery fabrics

If you are new to the world of upholstery, choosing the right fabric may seem like an arduous process. With all the fabrics (not to mention the colors and designs) available, how do you choose the one which is right for you? Here is some information on various fabric to help you select the right fabric for your furniture.

Durability

If you are planning to upholster something that will experience everyday wear and tear, durability is important to consider. Upholstery fabric’s durability is determined by how it rates on the manufacturer-administered double rub test, which is a back and forth motion that mimics the wear and tear of someone sitting on an upholstered seat over time. The higher the number of double rubs, (for example 100,000 vs 10,000) the better the indicator of quality and durability. In addition to higher double rubs, look for upholstery fabrics treated for performance, like stain resistance, water repellant, or UV resistance.

For upholstery projects that will not be used every day, like decorative or heirloom pieces, performance characteristics might not be as important, which opens up a wider variety including silk, wool, linen, cotton duck, embellished fabrics and more! Just look for home décor fabrics in the medium to very heavyweight range.

Fabric Care

Upholstery fabric is often not suitable for traditional washing or dry cleaning once applied to furniture; therefore, you must follow the manufacturer’s instructions and look for stain repellent fabrics for heavier-use pieces. Our recommendation for dry-cleaning is intended prior to upholstering, if cleaning before use is desired. Once upholstered, use spot cleaners intended for upholstery fabric, or upholstery cleaning services. Using a fabric protectant spray over your finished furniture is highly recommended.

Fabric Types

These common, upholstery fabrics come in a variety of weights, colors, fibers, and treatments to ensure you get the fabric you need for your project.

  • Chenille – Excellent fabric choice for home usage, primarily heavier use pieces. Similar to velvet, it has a cut pile that aids in abrasion resistance and comfort.

Faux suede / Microfiber / Ultrasuede – Typically a polyester multi-weave fabric with a surface abrasion treatment giving it a fuzzy, sueded pile to mimic suede, this fabric is an excellent choice for heavy-use family rooms and pets. It’s very strong, abrasion resistant and easy to clean.

Velvet – Velvet has a dense cut pile, making it luxuriously soft with a sheen. Velvet can stand up to heavy usage, and is an attractive choice for most homes. Cleans best when spill or stain is tended to immediately.

Basketweave / Tweed – These textured woven fabrics hide stains and wear well, and can be used in any upholstery application depending on their double rub rating. Higher double rubs will reduce pilling and fabric pulls.

Faux Leather – Easy to clean and makes a great choice for children’s furniture and other high-usage pieces. Clean and condition appropriately to reduce risk of cracking.

Color

Your color choice is also dependent upon the type of use your furniture will see. A natural beige color is a popular choice for hiding dirt as well as being a neutral that can go with many different décor styles.

Consider lighter solid colors to create an airy, inviting mood in a space. Darker colors or patterns are better for hiding dirt and wear. Or you can always select a bright color or a fun, bold pattern to make a statement in your space!

For more details on our upholstery service, click here.

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Check out the new outdoor fabric collection of Hertex

Featuring on-trend botanical and geometric jacquards, this collection leads a new generation of functional and beautiful outdoor upholstery collections. Spring Break is stain and water resistant, has 30 000 Martindale rubs and offers the highest grade of sun resistance. It’s suitable for indoor and outdoor use.

Spring Break Collection of Hertex

Contact Sue on 082 950 3142 or email sue@cainteriors.co.za to view the collection.

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How to clean your outdoor fabrics

After a long, hot summer, even tough outdoor fabrics need a reboot. Our favorite patterns and prints look great on the patio, but when they weather—well, the weather—every day, they can end up looking dingy and dirty before we know it. We have some expert tips below on how to keep your favorite outdoor fabrics looking great!

MAINTAIN

To keep your patio set looking fresh for every day entertaining, brush off any loose dirt to prevent it from penetrating the fabric.

If a little more cleaning is necessary, do a gentle cleaning of these fabrics to prevent set-in stains or discoloration. Dissolve a gentle detergent pac into a gallon of warm water and mix well. Scrub gently all over with a soft-bristled brush, and rinse thoroughly. Air-dry fabric, and stretch fabrics like seat or umbrella covers, etc. back over their corresponding frame to avoid shrinking.

SPOT-CLEAN

Sometimes backyard entertaining can get a little bit messy. Don’t stress over a little spill—we have you covered!

If the stain is fresh, blot the area gently with a clean cloth or a paper towel until all of the excess is soaked up.  

If it is an oil-based stain, apply baking soda directly onto the stain and scrub the area with a soft-bristled brush. The baking soda will ball up when it soaks up the excess oil, so you can easily brush off the remnants.

If possible, remove the cover from its frame and run cold water on the back of the stain to push it back through the fabric. If the fabric is unable to be removed, rinse with cold water and sponge the area gently.

Apply a solution of mild dish soap and water onto the stain, scrub gently with a sponge or soft-bristled brush, and rinse thoroughly.

Soak up any excess moisture with a clean cloth, and let air-dry.

DEEP-CLEAN

You should always deep clean your outdoor fabrics when removing them from storage at the beginning of the season and when putting them back at the end. Proper cleaning and storage will ensure that they stay looking as new as the day you bought them!

Always check the fabric care labels before washing your outdoor fabrics, and hand wash if necessary. If there is any presence of mold on the fabric, soak in a solution of detergent, non-chlorine bleach, and warm water before washing to disinfect and prevent new growth. For machine-safe fabrics, wash in the hottest water safe for the fabric with your favorite detergent and a stain-fighting booster pac to knock out any set-in stains. Let air-dry.