Tag: ca interiors

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Creative ways to decorate with ornaments

Maybe you have an extra set of ornaments you’ve been keeping in storage. Maybe you don’t have space for a full tree—looking at you, city-dwellers—but still want to give your home a spirited update for the season. Or maybe you’re simply looking for some fresh holiday inspiration. Whatever the reason, this roundup of our favorite off-the-wall (or rather, off-the-tree) ornament ideas is sure to get your creativity flowing. Happy decorating!

SET UP SPARKLING PLACE CARDS

Low effort and high impact, this simple place-card upgrade is sure to delight your holiday dinner guests. First choose one ornament per guest: Go with a matched set for a classic look, or pick individual designs you know each person will love. Write each guest’s name on a tag, tie it to the ornament with a sprig of greenery, and you’ve got a sweet yet simple way to elevate your seasonal table. A bonus: The place cards can double as festive favors.

HIGHLIGHT A COLLECTION

Have a set of vintage ornaments too delicate to hang? Place them in a shallow bowl or footed vessel instead, where you can admire their shimmering details up close. This zero-effort display makes a stunning centerpiece (just keep the container on the low side to avoid blocking sight lines) or a gorgeous accent for an unexpected spot—such as the kitchen counter or a hallway table.

CREATE A WHIMSICAL DISPLAY

Any open vessel can be turned into a festive holiday display—it just takes a little creative thinking. Look around the house for worthy candidates: Here, a vintage birdcage gets a touch of holiday cheer with a tumble of brilliant golden ornaments. You can achieve a similar effect by filling a clear glass cloche, a tall hurricane, or a wire basket.

ADD A LITTLE EXTRA BRILLIANCE

A touch of greenery makes any spot in the home feel more festive—especially when festooned with ornaments. To give your dining room an easy seasonal update, wrap your chandelier with a garland of greenery and berries, then trim it with a set of mini ornaments. We love how the ornaments’ golden tones complement the chandelier’s brass details, giving the arrangement a spirited yet sophisticated glow.

MAKE PRESENTS POP

Because presentation is half of the fun of gift-giving, why not finish your presents with a sparkling ornament topper? This is a perfect way to make use of lone ornaments or mismatched pieces (and a great excuse to invest in a new set for your tree!), plus the recipient gets a little extra something special.

FASHION A STATEMENT PIECE

This impressive ornament display is a true showstopper—and it’s easier to achieve than it looks. Gather a grouping of ornaments in a tight color scheme, such as the blues and smoky grays here, along with ribbons to match. Then suspend them from a hanging light fixture, making sure to vary the lengths of the ribbons so that the ornaments form cloudlike clusters. (You’ll want to do this over a table or in a space with high ceilings, so guests don’t bump into your handiwork.) Now just wait for the oohs and aahs to roll in.

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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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Classic Christmas decorating ideas for the Festive Season

Whether your home is traditional, contemporary, or eclectic, these Christmas decorating ideas will inspire a simply perfect holiday style.

BEACHFRONT BEAUTY

Let your furniture play a supporting role in your Christmas decor. Adding small wreaths (these are made from princess-pine greenery) to a cabinet with breakfront doors makes the whole piece — and all of its contents — shine during the holidays.

RIBBON GARLAND

Instead of greenery, embellish your stair rail with ribbons and wreaths this year. Attach small winterberry wreaths to the railing with wire. Then drape the railing with lengths of ribbon, threading them through the wreath wires to create a swag.

SIMPLY STUNNING

Let this simple vignette shine by grouping silver tea service pieces and topping them with crystal garland and a snowflake ornament. They’ll look extra special when arranged on a white cake platter and topped with a cloche.

QUICK THINKING

Need a last-minute table decoration? Snip greenery from your tree and bind the ends together with raffia bows, then place inside clear glasses filled with an inch of water.

GRAND ENTRANCE

Impress your guests with ribbon cascading from a chandelier. Gather lengths of ribbon and tie in a bow around the base of your light fixture. Spread the ribbons out (a la maypole) and tuck into place settings between a dinner plate and salad plate. Once the meal gets started, release the ribbons from the plates and either let them float to the center of the table or tie them in a loose knot to keep them out of the way.

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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.