The Brunschwig & Fils floral chintz in the classic Campanula pattern on a period chair in the living room at Fox Hall. I introduced a solid blue chintz as a ¼” contrast welt and a 1 1/2” flat welt to edge the skirt.
Mummy always said, “To get your house in order, host a party or invite house guests.” It is amazing what one can get done with that incentive! Look around; a charming slipcover can be THE perfect remedy for tired or stained upholstery.
Slipcovers, aka ‘loose covers’ in the UK, are a charming way to spruce up a tired piece of upholstery by covering it temporarily. In England, loose covers are just that… slightly loose. In America, they tend to be more snug and fitted.
A slipcover is a custom-made cover that can dress up an upholstered piece and be removed for cleaning. They can be made with just about any fabric, but traditionally, they are made of cotton, chintz, linen, damask, or even white muslin. Slipcovers can be changed for the seasons and used to protect furniture from dust and sun.
The historic Governor's Palace in Williamsburg, Virginia, features simple, checkered cotton slipcovers with a loose fit. They always capture my attention as a timeless and sensible element that protects many upholstered pieces in the Palace.
Ways to embellish a slipcover:
~ I like to incorporate a contrasting welt (the piping that adorns the seams) for a patterned fabric. Then, the welt is in a solid-colored fabric, which serves to complement a color within the overall fabric design.
~To accent a slipcover made with a plain colored fabric, I specify a multi-colored ¼” cord with tape. Then, the cord becomes the decorative detail.
~If there is a skirt, I often trim it with a flat, ¼” welt along the edging, in a complementary solid-colored fabric.
Even though the fireside chair in the Hunt Room at Fox Hall is not slipcovered, it serves as an example of how a contrast welt works well as an accent and a tailored detail. The Ralph Lauren hunt-print fabric (now discontinued) has a burgundy, solid-colored chintz, which I used for the contrast welt, the edging, and the buttons.
Zippers and sometimes buttons are applied to a seam on the side or backside to remove a slipcover so they are less noticeable.
While filming with Lady Carnarvon at Highclere Castle (aka Downton Abbey) in the “Morning Room,” I was enchanted to discover that the pretty English floral patterned chintz loose covers did not have zippers. Instead, they had the sweetest row of ‘‘hooks-and-eyes” along the back corner seam!
Grandmillennial Tips:
Slipcovers on dining chairs are a sensible way to protect the underneath upholstery from children and their sticky hands.
Dining Room chairs are perfect candidates for slipcovers. The scalloped skirt adds a touch of whimsy.
Slipcovers can also be laminated, depending on the fabric, preferably a non-textured fabric. This technique offers brilliant cleanability, especially in the kitchen!
Be clever and order two sets of slipcovers for the seasons: one for summer in a cool cotton, linen, or chintz fabric, and one for winter in a soft wool or cotton velvet to give warmth and texture. Depending on the other decorative aspects in the room, consider a happy floral design for the summer and a handsome wool or tartan for the winter.
Slipcovers continue to be a tailored, old-school touch found in the most distinguished houses. My first design book, The Pretty and Proper Living Room, features many more examples!
Xx Holly
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