Go Fashion Forward at Home With Dressmaker Details
Focus on sartorial-style fine points with your textiles to give a room tailored grace and a high-end look
Houzz Contributor. Fresh out of journalism school, I fell into decorating media and immediately discovered a new passion. An Atlanta native, I spent several years as an editor for Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles magazine before making the leap to national publications and websites such as Houzz, Better Homes and Gardens and Southern Accents. I live in Birmingham, Alabama, with my husband and son, who’ve gotten used to coming home and finding the furniture rearranged. When I'm not dragging case goods across the floor, I enjoy good food and wine, college football, music of all kinds, and traveling.
Houzz Contributor. Fresh out of journalism school, I fell into decorating... More »
| Share: |
|
I remember being charmed by the term "dressmaker details" the first time I heard an interior designer mention it, way back in the Stone Age of my early career. Like toast points and diamond studs, these fashion-inspired finishing touches to upholstery, window treatments and other textiles have an innate grace and delicacy.
Although they may not register when you enter a room, you'll instantly sense the subtle air of polish and poise these details add. They're also an effective and affordable way to make over mass-market furniture, linens and accessories with a custom look.
Take a peek at the lush look that detailing lends to these interiors. What dressmaker details appear in your home? Tell us in the Comments!
Although they may not register when you enter a room, you'll instantly sense the subtle air of polish and poise these details add. They're also an effective and affordable way to make over mass-market furniture, linens and accessories with a custom look.
Take a peek at the lush look that detailing lends to these interiors. What dressmaker details appear in your home? Tell us in the Comments!
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| Button tufting adds an aura of richness and comfort to seating, headboards, walls and other surfaces. Throw a little sparkle into the mix for a touch of glamour that evokes bejeweled buttons on a well-cut blouse. |
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
How sweet are the tiny lilac bows on these curtain flanges? Details such as these are the reason that well-crafted interiors feel rich with life and grounded in warmth.
|
by Lauren Mikus
»
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| Scallops on the twin ottomans and bed pillows, paired with box pleats on the window valances, play up the feminine feel of this space. On the flip side, straight edges would have made them more masculine. |
Banded closures and kick pleats on the chair slipcovers, plus pinch pleats at the tops of the draperies, add exquisite top notes to this dining room.
|
by Shari Misturak
»
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| These slipcovers take a more casual approach, with floppy bow ties and a relaxed fit. I could see them fitting right in with a cottage or a beach house. |
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
Here's a genius trick borrowed from clothing design: Line the inside of a kick pleat with a contrasting fabric. The peekaboo color makes for a delightful surprise. This valance is capped with a fanciful scrolled trim.
| Contrasting welting on this trio of pillows helps to crisp up the edges and underscore the palette. |
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| A ruffled skirt lends flirty flair to this ottoman. |
by Caitlin Wilson
»
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
Pin tucks down the center of this bedspread give it the tailored feel of a tuxedo shirt.
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
I love this updated twist on classic nailhead trim. The strip of matching fabric and extra-wide nailhead spacing give it a slightly contemporary feel.
|
by Phoebe Howard
»
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| Grosgrain ribbon banding defines these upholstered walls and ties the room together. |
Velvet ribbon makes for elegant, impromptu curtain ties. You could use any material or color that appeals to you, from metal chain for an industrial space to torn strips of fabric if you want a more rustic effect.
Ideabook updated on Feb. 3, 2013.
Latest Ideabooks
People found the photos in this ideabook after searching for:
View over a million photos:
Find Local Pros by Category:
Architects & Designers · Carpet and Flooring · Closet & Home Storage Designers · Design-build Firms · Fireplaces · General Contractors · Home Media Design & Installation · Interior Designers & Decorators · Kitchen & Bath Designers · Landscape Architects & Designers · Landscape Contractors · Specialty Contractors · Tile, Stone & Countertops
Find Local Pros by Metro Area:
Atlanta · Austin · Baltimore · Boston · Chicago · Dallas · Dc Metro · Denver · Detroit · Hawaii · Houston · Las Vegas · Los Angeles · Miami · Minneapolis · Nashville · New Orleans · New York · Philadelphia · Phoenix · Portland · Salt Lake City · San Diego · San Francisco · Seattle · St Louis
You can be really creative and lots of fun with this.. it doesn't have to be an expensive option!
It's frustrating that good fabrics are SO expensive, and if you don't have sewing skills, having covers, curtains, etc, custom-made can become prohibitively expensive.