As lovers and users of fabric, don’t you wish there were an easily-searchable one-stop decor and furniture textile guide where you could get all of the information you need to know about any given textile that you might find in the home? Well, us too! The Kuotes has created for you this list of our favorite textiles. In addition to being a blog post, this page will be easily accessible from our Designer Handbook. Of course, our Design Team can also always give you the run down if you book a consult with them.
Maybe you’re a designer and you just can’t put your finger on what fabric is missing from your design. Maybe your client has a question about product care and you want a reliable resource to recommend to them. Whatever the case may be, this textile guide quickly answers everything you need to know about any type of fabric.
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What is chenille?
Using our grade school knowledge of the French language (Enchanté, Mademoiselle. Où est la bibliothèque?), we know that chenille is actually the French word for caterpillar. This is because its appearance is similar to a caterpillar with fuzzy pile projecting from all sides. Chenille is typically a textile that has a velvety surface and is blended with silk for an incredibly light and soft touch.
When to use chenille:
After a lot of thought, is the Kuotes advice. Chenille is absolutely perfect for creating a space with ambiance or adding in a vintage, “grandpa-chic” vibe to your design. We love chenille for rustic, such as this Rustic Lodge grey knit sofa, or for coastal like the couch and pillows featured above. When done right, it can be an unexpected touch to complete a look. That said, make sure to add texture and other fabric selections to your design if using chenille. An all-chenille design could easily look tired or dated if not done properly.
How to care for chenille:
Chenille can pick up dirt easily, so to keep the fabric nice and clean, you should use an upholstery brush and/or regularly vacuum with an upholstery brush attachment along the direction of the nap. For a chenille pillow or rug, dry-cleaning is the best option. In the case of spills or stains, treat immediately and spot clean with a mixture of water and mild soap, using only the suds on the stained area with a clean, dry sponge.
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What is damask?
Damask is a woven fabric made of silk, cotton, or linen that comes from Damascus, Syria (meaning that technically the word should be pronounced [da-mask], but the Kuotes and a majority of others pronounce it [dam-uhsk]). This fabric traditionally has an opaque background with a shiny patterned forefront, usually floral or arabesque in nature.
When to use damask:
Damask is great because it’s such a versatile fabric and pattern. For us at the Kuotes, it works best for traditional homes, offering a demure yet seductive appeal. Damask works wonders as a wallpaper, and it can pair with stripes, solids, florals, and… pretty much anything that’s not another damask of the same scale. You’ll hear over and over again how much we love the layered look, and damask definitely brings the visual texture we live for. Best of all, damask truly works in any room, from the living room to the bedroom to the bathroom (like the image featured above—look at those breathtaking blues!).
How to care for damask:
Similar to chintz, damask is more commonly used as a pattern than it is as a fabric. Actual damask material can be cleaned by hand with a damp cloth and a mild detergent, but if you do have actual damask fabric, it’s probably easier to just take it to the dry cleaners or get it professionally cleaned.
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What is jute?
If jute sounds to you like a good name for a protein shake company, it might be because jute is the muscleman of textiles—a strong natural fabric made from vegetable fibers.
When to use jute:
We love jute here at the Kuotes as a strong and durable fabric perfect for contemporary rustic settings. Because it’s such a versatile textile, you’ll come across it in many of KKH’s collections, including Rustic Lodge, French Country, and Coastal Beach. Add jute to a chair, light fixture, or serving tray to introduce a natural, grainy nuance to a space. Jute is the perfect material for nautical design and beach homes, but it also adds that outdoorsy feel to a Rustic Lodge styled space.
How to care for jute:
Jute, especially jute rugs, should be vacuumed regularly even though dust and particles are typically not as visible on jute compared to other materials. Other than that, jute is a very low maintenance textile and will last a long time—even with exposure to sun!
One thing to remember: make sure your jute never gets wet. Do not use any cleaners on jute. If there is a spill, treat immediately or the moisture will quickly absorb into the fibrous material and cause the jute to expand and wear: Clean with a cloth dampened with club soda or a mild soap, and blow dry immediately after.
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What is linen?
You may associate linen with clothing—the easy-breezy fabric of your summer blouse or romper. So then, why not dress our furniture in the same fabric we love against our skin? If we had to pick the essential furnishing textile, there’s a good chance that it would be linen. Linen is a natural fabric produced from flax fibers, and in interior design, its strength and durability paired with its rich texture, cool touch, and color versatility makes it perfect for upholstering furniture.
When to use linen:
Whether it’s a linen accent chair from our Modern Classic collection or a French Country tufted bed, you can use linen to add character and softness to your home. We love linen in the living room, as it provides cool, comfortable seating with a timeless style that’s treasured today. Linen’s textural richness also pairs nicely with natural elements like wood or stone, so use linen to add organic elegance to a rustic or industrial styled room.
How to care for linen:
Concerning product care, linen can be one of the trickier fabrics to work with. Although strong and durable, linen can soil and wrinkle easily. Your best route for cleaning is to hire a professional upholstery cleaner, but if an emergency arises, grease stains can be lifted with a small amount of petrol or trichloroethylene.
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What is muslin?
Time for a short history lesson: muslin’s name derives from the Indian port town of Masulipatnum, near modern day Bangladesh, where cotton fabric would be handwoven from delicate hand-spun yarn. In 1298, muslin was brought to the Western world when Marco Polo discovered it in Mosul, Iraq. Most muslins nowadays are 100% cotton, however some are blended with synthetic fiber.
When to use muslin:
At Kathy Kuo Home, you’ll see muslin used as upholstery to provide a light, comfortable material for seating. Its tight weaves trap air and create a cushy place to sit. Another reason to consider muslin is because it can come in various weights, which is perfect for creating a soft and airy space.
How to care for muslin:
Care for muslin is simple and low maintenance. Regular vacuuming with an upholstery brush attachment will do the trick. Avoid putting muslin upholstery (…or any upholstery really) in direct sunlight, and if you feel the need, a very occasional professional upholstery cleaning should suffice to keep your muslin looking magnificent.
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What is velvet?
Velvet is opulent and sensual. It is a woven tufted fabric made from many different fibers, and there are several different types from lightweight chiffons to crushed and embossed velvets. We have all heard the expression “smooth as velvet.” The fabric gets its luxurious reputation from being woven on a special loom that weaves multiple thicknesses of fabric simultaneously to create the lush pile effect that feels so good to the touch.
When to use velvet:
At the Kuotes, we love velvet incorporated into a classic Hollywood Regency look: a piece of velvet furniture is majestic and can add the regal flare you need to complete your space. The plush texture and rich colors of velvet gracefully compliment the neoclassical lines, glossy surfaces, and glamorous decor you’ll find in the Hollywood Regency home. In short, use velvet when you want to feel like Norma Desmond walking down her elegant spiral staircase at the end of Sunset Boulevard—“Alright, Mr. DeMille, I’m ready for my close-up.”
That being said, don’t curtail your creativity! A velvet chair can serve as an unexpected statement piece in an industrial loft or a nod to your boho personality in a Global Bazaar styled room.
3 thoughts on “The Kathy Kuo Home Ultimate Fabric & Textile Guide”
Thanks for your post, and I learned a lot from it!
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A wonderful, simple, yet descriptive and helpful article. A nice resource for designers, thank you!