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The New Adventures of Old Walls Are your walls begging for a face-lift? Lift their spirits with fabric and creativity 
Recall that fabric you once used for pillow coverings? Why not use the leftovers, or buy just a bit more, to reinvent any wall of your home. Yes, giving a room a new look is that simple. Walls that once cried for glossy paint now want to be draped in velvet or linen. Fabric offers greater room for creativity and delivers more patterns and textures. “A plain painted wall can be boring, and people are becoming more aware of the environmental effects of paint,” says Jonathan Fong, a Los Angeles interior decorator and author. Lori Reagle, art director at wallpaper and fabric firm, Thibaut Inc., says even printed fabric wallpaper is definitely coming back. The Newark, N.J., company sells matching fabric and wallpaper in woven patterns to accentuate an area throughout a room, on just one wall or as paneling for wall art. “It really adds interest to the walls without overdoing it,” she says. Thibaut’s recently unveiled its first collection of printed and woven fabrics ideal for accentuating indoor and outdoor living, which Reagle says offers a nature-inspired mix of bright and neutrals in stain-resistant fabrics. Fong says if you’re interested in playing with fabric wall treatment, first try creating a fabric panel. 1. Determine the size of the panel. 2. Find a foam core that will serve as the foundation of each panel. 3. Cut your fabric so that it’s about an inch wider on every side than the batting. 4. Staple the edges with a staple gun and then cover the edges with some trim. You could also wrap the fabric around the batting and foam core. 5. Use Velcro to attach the panels to the wall to allow for ease of movement. Fong says he’s also created fabric panels by having digital photographs printed onto fabric. He took a picture of magnolias, with petals that look like angel wings, printed it onto fabric and upholstered it to the walls of the Greystone Mansion design showcase in Beverly Hills. “You get a striking, one-of-a-kind look with fabric that way. It’s so much better than a large photograph or painted mural on a wall because it's soft, tactile, luxurious and totally unexpected,” Fong says. The best part: People can’t believe it’s made of simple fabric. © CTW Features |
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