Use this guide as a workbook take notes, add to your mood boards what you find inspirational, and try these ideas to drive your revenue growth

Use this guide as a workbook take notes, add to your mood boards what you find inspirational, and try these ideas to drive your revenue growth

Contents 3 5 6 7 8 12 18 Introduction Velvet: Production & Origin History Lesson Design Details Color Inspiration What Does Velvet Go With? Thurston Reed s Resources 2

Introduction T reasured for its luster, elegance, and resiliency, velvet has been popular for centuries. This gorgeous textile can easily add a sense of luxury to any space. However, it can come off as a little challenging. You might feel that it s too extravagant, or caring for it is too difficult, or using velvet for certain styles can be tricky. In this guide, we d love to bust some of these myths and show you what makes velvet one of our favorite fabrics. Inside you will find a quick insight into its historical roots, an overview of the production process, design details, ideas for color inspiration, and more. Let s dive in, shall we? Happy reading, Nicholas Reed and Sarah Thurston Co-Founders Thurston Reed Follow us on Instagram @thurstonreed 3

It s So Versatile. Glamorous, luxurious - and surprisingly relaxed 4

Production & Origin The term velvet does not refer to a specific type of fiber. Instead, it refers to a particular type of weave, whereby an extra stitch and step is added during the weaving process.. The result is a type of pile fabric that is thick in the center and smooth on the outside. The center part of the fabric is then cut, creating two separate pieces that are solid and soft on one side and textured and plush on the other. Visible rows indicate worse quality, while tighter weaves with less notable rows come as a sign of a better quality. How is it made? Velvet can be made from any fiber. The most expensive of velvets are produced from the finest silk fibers. The cheapest ones can be made of cotton, rayon, nylon, polyester, and acetate. However, even velvets labeled as silk velvet can often be silk pile yarns on a woven rayon base. Try checking the label for fiber content percentages: you ll find a pile or face fiber listed on the showroom tag first, and ground fiber second. Bending velvet on the diagonal can also help you to gauge quality as it illustrates how tightly it s woven. 5

History Lesson Velvet has its roots in ancient Middle Eastern and Egyptian culture. Most often it s believed to be originated in the Kashmir region around the 14th century. From its inception, velvet was made from silk and required extraordinary skill and time to be produced. That denoted it as an expensive fabric that only the royalty and nobility could afford. However, when weavers began experimenting. with mohair fiber from angora goats in the 16th century, velvet became less expensive.. From Royal to Affordable With the invention of mechanized looms, velvet became accessible to the middle class. The cost of velvet became lower with the invention of cheaper synthetic fibers. With its regal good looks and unsurpassed softness, it s hard not to love it. Royal Roots & Long History 6

Design Details Today, velvet offers more versatility than our aristocratic ancestors could have imagined. It is found widely across the worlds of fashion and interiors. Dresses, shoes, furniture, pillows, and curtains - velvet makes any item look just a little more sumptuous. Most velvets are now produced from rayon and synthetic. However, silk velvet still boasts to be the finest one, for its signature sheen and soft texture that is immediately recognized as luxurious. At Thurston Reed, we love velvet for its elegant and cozy feel. Its rich history is transmitted into every interior and décor detail. Each of our pillows is manufactured at a small factory in India using deep pile silk velvet, 100% silk and 100% raw silk, and soft linens and cottons - all hand-dyed to meet our color specifications. Here, our ideas for color inspiration and décor. 7

Color Inspiration Which colors to choose for velvet items? The answer is, you can get your velvet décor items and furniture pieces in any color you like. However, we suggest keeping in mind that velvet has perfect color intensity and is able to add even more depth to any shade. Richer Colors, Bolder Accents Velvet is dyed after it s been woven, and the pile of its fibers accepts dye very well, making the colors richer in comparison with other fabrics. That s why we d recommend using vibrant, medium-todark hues. Dark blues, reds, and greys are our favorites. IDEA: Vibrant, medium-to-dark hues work best. Think: dark blues, reds, and greys IMAGE SOURCE: IDEALISTA.FI 8

Dark Blue IDEA: sofa upholstery in deep blue is a great alternative if you prefer a little more drama Velvet is a perfect fabric to pair with deep navy blue. Its subtle sheen reveals highlights and lowlights of the color, which gives it more character and depth. We especially love it for accent décor pillows and sofas 9

Dark Red & Purple The extra color-richness that velvet delivers makes dark red or purple another great choice when you re considering a bold color. In velvet, this tone creates a gradient full of nuances, even when used for large sections, like head board below. IDEA: Soft and shiny light grape purple is perfect for vintage furnishings and drapes 10

Neutrals IDEA: Neutralhued velvets work well when mixed with bold color accents and patterns Neutral-hued velvets work just as well, especially when mixed with bold accents and patterns. We love mid-to-dark-toned grays. They have a timeless elegant and charming vibe. Taupe, light pink, blush, pewter, grey, beige - going natural is anything but boring 11

What Does Velvet Go With? Masculine Spaces One of the tried-and-proven ideas is to add some softness to a space with lots of masculine textures, such as wood, leather, and brick. The softness of velvet will provide a sophisticated backdrop for the rest of the room, playing off the contrast between textures 12

Contrasting Fabrics Try contrasting velvet and non-velvet upholstery of different colors and textures. To achieve a balanced look and feel, use matching decorative pillows. 13

Extravagant Shapes IDEA: combine velvet with retro shapes and modern clear-line furniture for a sophisticated yet laid back look Are you a fan of modern furniture and extravagant shapes? Velvet will be an excellent choice for contemporary pieces (and especially great for tufted designs). Its texture will highlight the curves and silhouettes. 14

Patterns With its soft pleasant-to-touch texture, velvet works well when mixed with patterns. We love the way it looks when covered with patterns and applique itself. Velvet sofas in deep vibrant hues look beautifully dramatic placed in front of mustered wallpaper or decorated with patterned pillows. The contrast between patterns and texture makes a statement 15

Pillows While decorating velvet sofas, we suggest looking for pillows in highly textured fabric. Mixing in some pale hues and some contrast colors will add some joy and freshness to the look of your sofa and overall feel of interior. A few white-based print pillows or oversized fluffy ones would be a nice way to tone down your sofa s color if you ve chosen a too extravagant shade. 16

Care Challenges Velvet is known to be more difficult to clean and maintain than most fabrics. Plus, velvet acts like a magnet for hair, fur, dust, and crumbs, so it needs to be cleaned on a regular basis.. Cleaning Velvet shouldn t be cleaned with water or water-based cleaners, because they can flatten the fibers and change their look. Velvet upholstery needs to be cleaned with a solvent-based cleaner by a professional cleaning company. Care Instructions Different types of fibers will pose different care instructions. Rayon and silk fibers are weakened when saturated. Velvet made out of these should be dry cleaned to preserve color, prevent dye transfer and warping or sizing issues. These velvets are also very susceptible to erosion from perspiration or repeated abrasion from excessive rubbing. Cotton, polyester, or nylon velvets can be wet cleaned, but should not be exposed to high heat. NOTE: refer to the care instructions on your item. It doesn t hurt to request cleaning testimonials, too 17

V I E W T H E C A T A L O G U E J O I N M E M B E R S H I P P R O G R A M B R O W S E O N L I N E S H O P 18