A sofa in our Palm Beach apartment, Petite Fox, is upholstered with a pastel peach colored fabric on the front side and a soft white colored fabric on the backside. When you enter the apartment, you just see the white backside, so that your eyes go immediately to the lovely view of the ocean, and not to the sofa! Can you guess what the fabric is?
Friends and clients frequently ask me: What is a durable, yet soft and pretty, upholstery fabric, that can withstand children, dogs, and food stains, yet will assuredly relay an elegant, timeless aesthetic?
Easy answer! Without a doubt, it’s Ultrasuede. It was first invented in 1970 as a synthetic ultra-microfiber, and now, some consider it passé. I think it is anything but… it is fabulous! I have specified it for a breakfast room banquet, club chairs in a library, living room chairs on yachts, an English Chesterfield sofa in a well-used telly room, and even for curtain panels for a living room in Bermuda.
I had our antique George III sofa reupholstered in two colors of Ultrasuede for our Palm Beach apartment. It’s divinely soft and allows a serious piece of “brown furniture” to have a whimsical and refreshed appearance. I don’t have to worry about grandchildren sitting on it with damp bathing suits or our Jack Russell hopping up on it with dirty paws; I can easily clean it off with a damp sponge and just a touch of laundry detergent. It is high-performance (400,000 double rubs!) and excellent for humid climates.
Recently, we checked into Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons in Oxfordshire, in the Cotswolds countryside, just an hour outside of London, and dined that evening at their Michelin 2-Star restaurant. When seated, I immediately admired the handsome dining room chairs covered in camel-colored Ultrasuede. Every detailed element at the magnificent hotel is sheer perfection… affirming my theory that Ultrasuede continues to be a classic choice!
GrandMillennial Tips: Ultrasuede Upholstery Ideas
For piping, use a contrasting yet complementary color to the overall upholstery color.
Note the white piping on the backside, yet the front side I have white piping to contrast with the peachy-pink. The top photo shows the contrast piping on the throw pillows.
If there are decorative throw pillows for a sofa or chair, use a medley of colors for the pillows to enhance the overall color used on the piece, as well as the colors in the room. Ultrasuede offers sumptuous choices of colors, from pastels to jewel tones.
Think about designing a sofa or chair with full-width, horizontal stripes or vertical stripes, alternating two colors for the stripes. I did this for curtain panels, alternating pink and green, and it was darling!
Using Ultrasuede in a light color, even white, to upholster a piece that will be well-used, is not so scary because it cleans up so easily. Additional cleaning tips can be found on the internet. Vacuuming and sweeping the Ultrasuede with an occasional soft brush will keep it looking happily inviting!
Xx,
Holly
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