My couch has several fabrics and I just love it. I like #1 and #3.

I would choose #4

#3 & 4 to go with the chosen one. I think #1 is too large and 1960s-ish.

Love your main choice and think 1 or 2 would go with it nicely.
Can't wait to see how it comes out.

1 and 3

It all depends how you lay them out.

Love the paisley.

This post was edited by snookums2 on Mon, Jan 28, 13 at 9:25

Paisley is a very traditional print and I think color #1 is way too funky to blend with your choice. #3 and 4 are more country casual so I choose number 2 of your choices. If it were my room, I'd use single shades from the main fabric you like and try to find pillows with varying textures and weaves. Textures always make pillows more appealing.

Boop, ya know I love you and your unique style! I like many of the fabrics you've picked, but mostly on their own. Mixing fabrics needs a balance of scale and pattern, but you just seem to be picking stuff you like and not necessarily stuff that will look great together.

I've had my issues with my Interior designer, but I still think they can offer a valuable service. It might be worth it to pay for a few hours of a designers time. Or a step before that, take your main fabric to Calico Corner or a large fabric shop and have the ladies/gents who work there pull out a bunch of fabrics that they think will complement your main fabric. Ask them to explain why they picked certain fabrics and why they think it works.

I also think it is hard to help online, unless you see the samples right next to each other, you really can't judge the scale or how accurate the colors are.

I like 2 and 4.

think the paisley is adorable! And piped in that little check ! Not crazy about adding the others...

Nancy

I like #1 because the flowers are the same as the flower in the paisley (look at the shape in the upper left quadrant, the center of it has the red flower)

Sorry I am at work so have to be brief. I will respond more later. thank you all for your input! I realized I should have given a bit more info.

Lazygardens I had not noticed that, but #1 is from the same manufacturer in the same colorway. that is why I had it in the running. I am torn on it so I think I need a sample to see the scale.

#2 is from the same manufacturer as well, not the same colorway I don't think, but the colors look similar to me and I liked it.

#3 is probably my least favorite, but it seemed to match, and I think I would like to mix a plaid (or stripe or floral :) ) in.

#4 - I thought the olive check would work with the green in the fabric and that it would be nice to bring out another color. I think it also matches a green in the fabric in my drapes. It might be too small though in scale.

I like the direction of geometrics, a houndstooth or a plaid, but I would look for an opener tattersall. More open ground would relieve and emphasize the wonderful paisley.

Hmmm I could see how # 3 might be country. I don't know that I ever thought of houndstooth as country.

Opener tattersall. I am guessing what that means, and I think I agree. But I have to look that up. :)

it is hard to tell as we cannot see the fabrics in situ. Size of checks, flowers, stripes, etc., makes a difference when combining. It must be right proportions or it will not work. The #1 fabric will work with #3 regardless of size, but there are probably others, but I am not privy to seeing up close and in person.

#1 reminds me of the 60's Mod look, and even back then I hated it. lol.

If I had to choose, I'd go with #3, but I also agree with Chispa. I'd take the fabric somewhere and get a perfect match, and I also think a smaller check with a cream/white background along with solid lines is what would look best.

UGH. You and Chispa are wearing me down. I HATE going to calico corners. They are so snobby. I am not sure if there is a large fabric store around here but I guess there must be.

I did order a sample I found cheap of the mod fabric :)

What about a stripe ???

Sorry Boop, but we are doing it for your own good ;-). I know what you mean about CC, I think snobby is a trait they look for in their employees! You are a smart high level exec ... you should have no problem dealing with CC.

We had an incredible, old time fabric store near Boston. Here in LA we have a Design Center. There has to be something similar in the tri-state area.

Yes, go to several places with your main fabric in hand and start shopping.

I do like the thought of a stripe too Janice. I was kind of going for that with #2. - But obviously not a clear stripe. :)

Well I just got an email of a clearance sale at Calico Corners and there is one 5 minutes from my office next to my favorite organic cafe. So I guess I have to suck it up and bring in my fabrics this week.

Thing to remember when mixing fabric is that you should not use the same scale on all fabrics--
you need something that is large format, some that is small, and a central color theme...
the paisley and #1 might work depending on how they are used and the type of furniture in the room
you can't just look at the colors

Paisley and stripes and/or checks--always work well together if the scale is right
check out Houzz for similar photos
search paisley bedding or paisley and plaid

I think you have too much color in all those samples--
get something with a less busy color field and a featured design
something in the color you prefer as main color or contrast accent with more simple design to give some openness to the look...

and check out Sarah Richardson's web sites
she is designer in Canada with shows on HGTV who is great with fabric
always does mix/match with different designs that usually look great together
she doesn't use expensive fabric either--not too snobby to go to the remnant table...

The thought of having to go to Calico Corners got me thinking....

Perhaps we have set up a false rule. The fabric in homemade quilts did not originally follow the rules of color and scale. A quilt was made of scraps. Period.

Maybe we should put less emphasis on trying to follow the rules.

You can't disregard the fabric strength issue, though. You don't want one fabric tearing because it takes all the strain.

In my case, I'd have to follow the rules, because eventually I would see the problems with scale or color. That's because I'm a person who's moving toward the norm, or the standard.

But if you love it, and you're someone who's growing daily more independent of "the rules" and will love it more in a few years, why follow the the rules?

Please bear with me.... I don't know how to post multiple photos in one thread:

another one

a blue:

Polka dot

Boop, can you take a pic of the room the fabric will go in?

I really like the first and last ones Janice! thank you so much for posting them.

I will post a pic of the room oakleyok. I was leaving it out because of Jamies point.

Thank you for making it Jamies and reminding me. :) I do like the non-standard. An inspiration room for me would be (note: I know there are pillows and some of the pattern is on the walls. I have cats and kids and can't have so much... stuff like pillows to throw on the floor and trip on at this point, and I am willing to take the risk and put the pattern on my furniture):

{{!gwi}}

Source: sbh-products.blogspot.co.uk via Boopadaboo on Pinterest

and a chair I love......

{{!gwi}}

Source: the189.com via Boopadaboo on Pinterest

I have two chairs that are the same that I would like to slipcover. One will be in the playroom and One will be in the family room. I do frequently move things around though so I am not to hung up on that. My main colors are orange, blue and green on the main floor of the house and red, blue and green on the bedroom floor of the house....

This is a picture of the chair in the playroom...

and with the fabric on it....

Your style is so much fun...
I love mixing patterns, colors and textures. (I'm currently re-doing my office and am deciding on fabric for a chair as well....)

If done properly, it can be spectacular - and you are totally on the right track.

LOVE your inspiration photo. Can't wait to see it when it's finished.

Your main fabric is wonderful. I'd never have the guts to use it but I can see that it's perfect for your spot. I like the idea of a stripe, but the one you picked up looks muddy to me. The stripes are so fine that the colors blur together and look brownish.

Something that's primarily the lighter blue in your fabric could be really pretty against the orange walls. Or the green! I'm with you. I really like fabric but can find fabric store people kind of off-putting sometimes. Good luck.

This is a friend of mine - her home was featured in Chicago Home magazine. Her style so reminds me of you:

Here is a link that might be useful: Jenny Sweeney Designs

Boopa, where I said tattersall above, I should have said windowpane.

I really like the oversized houndstooths that are in style now. They strike just the right andy warhol note to go with your 70's paisley. I know you wanted to bring in green with the houndstooth. I hope you do that.

But the one you picture is two shades of green, and the popular oversized ones I've seen a lot of are usually a contrasting color, like green and ivory.

Oh, that Suzi Stanford flamingo chair is a hoot!

Thank you Janice, I have to checkout that link And your thread.i am getting sleepy for tonight and will tomorrow.

I love that chair too deedee. I am a sucker for barkcloth.

Lazydaisynot - I think you are right,very helpful. It does read brown now that you mention it.

Jamies I think I might have found one that I love!

{{!gwi}}

Source: spoonflower.com via Boopadaboo on Pinterest

Or at least a good direction to look in. Thank you!

.

Getting there.

Didn't somebody once cover a sofa in fabric that her kids had painted?

Here is your paisley and houndstooth together.

The second fabric sample arrived. I really like it, but I am more confused then ever. Doesn't help I have that thread going on a CL sofa. :)

Here are pics in the two rooms the chairs will be for now (they might up in any room at any time though!)

In the family room I think I like the big floral on the back of the sofa.

In the playroom I like the opposite....

Maybe the big floral on the seat and skirt in the familyroom and the opposite in the playroom. Not sure How I would work in a third fabric.

Maybe time to finally visit the Upholsterer! :)

I also love that chair you posted on Tue, Jan 29, 13 at 11:27! The fabric looks as if it could be barkcloth (which I love) altho I wouldn't have thought that would be the best wearing fabric for upholstery.

Just an idea I'm throwing out for your own chairs - if you think you may use them in the same room you might use the paisley on one and the large floral on the other with the houndstooth on both in the same places. Perhaps also use the opposite larger scale fabric in a less obtrusive place on each to tie them together more. Perhaps choose a solid color for the 3rd fabric on each especially for welting. IMO the paisley and the large floral are too much the same scale so don't work as well together.

I think this is a case where there are so many choices it's difficult to decide which is best. What you might do is take a picture of the fabrics flat, print them out, also print out pics of the chairs, then cut out pieces like a jigsaw puzzle and try various combos to see which you like. Probably possible to do this on your computer but I'm not that computer savvy.

The patterns of those two do nothing for each other. It causes confusion to look at because the colors are so similar and the scale not different enough. You see the big bold floral first and then jagged edges at the top of the chair, what's that? I remember the paisley as being the one you love so much. It's really getting lost.

How about the flower power print for pillows on the new striped sofa?

The houses curtains will be changing?

I kind of like the idea of 1 of each! that means I will have to find a third fabric. Sigh. You are both right.

the curtains will not be changing.

Saw this chair last week and thought of you. It's from a website called It's Bout Time Upholstery.