The world of fabrics can be a tricky place to navigate!  With damasks, scrolls, jacquards and trails, it’s sometimes hard to keep track of what means what.  So today I wanted to shed some light one of our most popular fabric styles: the Jacquard.

Originally named after French inventor, Joseph Marie Jacquard in1801, a Jacquard fabric consists of an intricately woven pattern that is raised from the background as opposed to simply printed on. A true jacquard fabric is made using a special Jacquard loom, but the jacquard style or effect can be created in other ways too, giving the same raised look as the jacquard.

This style is great for adding texture and interest to your home textiles.  Let’s explore a few of our top Jacquard style fabrics that could add that something special to your home…

A TRUE Jacquard fabric, Belgravia Garden has a subtle floral design which brings texture to the neutral fabric.  Indulge in the luxury of this fabric by teaming with sumptuous golds.

The jacquard style used on this fabric helps to strengthen the contrast between the elaborate design and the background – making for a striking focal point.

A traditional floral incorporating the jacquard style, this tapestry like fabric looks sophisticated and grand.  Perfect for the more traditional home.

Other Jacquard-style fabrics from Plumbs

We have 33 Jacquard style fabric designs in a number of colourways, and 5 true jacquard fabrics for that extra added luxury feel.

Which is your favourite?

I don’t know about you, but I get tongue tied even talking about Art Deco and Art Nouveau.  Both were popular early 20th Century movements which became popular interior design trends that have slowly made a come back over recent years.  But what’s the difference?  Can you tell your Klimt from your Erte?

The number one rule to remember is Art Nouveau is fancy and decorative, Art Deco is sleek and clean….

Art Nouveau

A popular movement ranging from 1880 to before World War I, Art Nouveau was the aesthetic answer to Europe’s new industrial age.  Adopting geometric shapes such as arcs and semi-circles, design is elaborately stylised.

Inspiration was taken from insects and mythical woodland, with Tiffany Lamp Fairies epitomising the trend.

Bring Art Nouveau style into your 21^st century home with intricate, curved lines and natural woodland features like ivy and twigs.  Take inspiration from the Tiffany colour palette, or add finishing touches with beautifully crafted mythical figurines.

Art Deco

In its prime throughout the 1920’s and 30’s, Art Deco challenged the intricacy of Art Nouveau design, opting for sleeker, streamlined shapes and geometric patterns.  The movement saw more zigzags and sunbursts shapes as a result.  Paying attention to more modern materials like chrome, stainless steel and inlaid wood, the movement used natural materials more sparingly, with Zebra skins and fern leaves as popular choices.

Elements of Art Deco can look wonderful in today’s interiors with the use of sleek lines, and a monochrome palette.  Popular designers from the age such as Erte and Mackintosh can still be called upon for inspiration.

The home decorating market is saturated with people only too willing to help your vision become a reality in your home.  But amongst the design consultants, interior designers, decorators and architects, how do we know whom to turn to?

Architects are easy – they’re the building guys!  Effectively they can lay out the plans for the skeleton of your home, the structure.  Designers and decorators are a little harder to define, with many of us using the terms interchangeably.  In reality the two professions are markedly different…

Interior Designer

An interior Designer will take into account the space and intended function of a room.  Their primary concern is efficiency and functionality.  A good interior designer will also take into account acoustics and sound transmission.  They are responsible for creating a user-friendly layout primarily, and will go on to choose appropriate furnishings and lighting to maximise the functionality of a room or space.

Interior Decorator

Decorators are not concerned with structure or layout.  Their main focus is to choose furnishings, fixtures, and colour schemes that will best reflect the personality of the homeowner, including their likes and interests

If you are looking for help and advise for your loose covers or reupholstery needs, you could request a free visit from one of our Home Consultants.  They will visit you in your own home and show you a range of fabric options.  They are on hand to give help and advise where necessary.  Click here to arrange your free visit now.

Whichever professional you choose to consult during your home design, be sure that they understand what you want to get out of the final result.

How would you describe this look?

Some of you may say modern, others will say contemporary, but which is technically correct?  Like many of you, I find it difficult to distinguish between the two design terms, so we’ve put together a quick guide for getting your design lingo the right way round!

Common Features

One of the main reasons why it’s so hard to tell apart what’s ‘modern’ and what’s ‘contemporary’ is that they do share some common features. Clean, straight lines with industrial materials and a neutral palette can be found in both design movements.

Key Features of ‘Modern’ Home Design

‘Modern’ design originated in the 1920’s and sought to transform the more detailed shapes of earlier design periods into simpler, abstract pieces.  A key aim of modern design is to highlight simple form and function, meaning streamlined, uncomplicated furniture.

In keeping with the simpler design idea, ‘Modern’ interiors often come with large bare walls, creating the ideal backdrop for showcasing vibrant artwork and accessories.  Geometric patterns in textiles, and natural materials such as leather and teak woods, feature heavily in ‘Modern’ design.

Key Features of ‘Contemporary’ Design

Unlike ‘Modern’ design, ‘Contemporary’ design is an ever-changing movement, depending on what’s current.  At the moment, ‘Contemporary’ design is interested in reinterpreting more conventional styles, again opting for more linear, cleaner designs.

It is in ‘Contemporary’ design where you are likely to find more minimalist interiors, concentrating on the bar essentials needed for that room.  ‘Contemporary’ design often combines calm palettes and sleek finishes with edgier textures and pops of bright accents colours.  Polished marble, chrome and gloss surfaces are present in current ‘Contemporary’ homes.

In summary, ‘Modern’ design emanates a retro feel, whereas ‘Contemporary’ design can seem more futuristic in its styling.  So, looking again at our original image – is this modern or contemporary?  We’ll let you decide.