It would be easier to say what I wouldn't use for upholstery fabric! :-D Burlap-like, Suzanis, bird motifs, animal prints, have all had their day IMO. However, unless you want to continue to reupholster furniture every year or every other year it's wise to use an upholstery material that is either classic or that you love enough to not care whether it's trendy or not. Stay away from anything you perceive to be trendy and we likely all have a different take on that. I would only use Suzanis in pillow covers if I loved them as they are currently overdone IMO. Some fabrics I like for seldom used furniture are quilted (think movers' quilts) or oversize thick knitted fabric as it's not been too overdone *maybe*. Unique woods are very big right now so a fabric printed to resemble woodgrain might be coming on trend. Artisan/organic is still trendy for next year altho if you google "trends for 2013" you'll see the usual wide range of CYA ideas including everything I've excluded above. One current trend I like are large scale florals which could be long lasting. Could you post a pic of the chair? Might help to get ideas as to what would be a good upholstery material for that style. I think single chairs are one of those pieces that can be a unique accent and can be done very differently from the rest of one's furniture. At least that's what I'm planning for my most recent acquisition chair. Some thoughts I've had for my chair are a zebra or cowhide pattern (I know, overdone!), a dark/rust red microfiber (I use red accents occasionally), or a patchwork with upholstery samples I already have in all my accent colors (at the moment the top choice). My chair will be painted so that's another consideration for me and so far I can't decide on the color. I'm also limited by cats who think upholstered furniture is their personal scratching post so there are only certain types of fabrics that are safe from them. However if you have fewer limitations than I do there are many choices. You could always "create your own fabric for something totally unique that may never seem out of style." Remember "if something isn't in style, it can't go out of style" - one of Magnaverde's rules.

Squirrel - I haven't given up on rattan or wicker-- I just won't start with a piece. The dining room has woven bamboo and rattan chairs-- so it would tie the two rooms together. I have been threatening to get the malabar chair from PB until I get chairs -- but that's a pretty big chair and would take the place of one of the other chairs. I do like it though. PC - yes, to antique a mirror properly, you have to oxidize the back. There are techniques you can do to the front though. I am not convinced that's the best look for the room.. but it is in my back pocket. I can definitely paint the lower half of the wall (it isn't clear in the photos but the staircase wall has a ledge part way up and then a wall that goes to the roof. I have height issues-- I couldn't do it myself. Greenthumb hahah.. well I don't know if its the rug or the mirror but SOMETHING is making my butt look big. I hadn't heard of mirror mate before you mentioned it here. I looked it up and wow, so cool. I like the idea but it's going to cost me a lot. I was thinking of getting some barnwood to make the frame-- but mirror mate is sure simple! Thanks for the idea.. I am going to mull it over. I go back to work next week (after a month off) so time is going to soon be more valuable than money so it may still be my best option. Thanks so much -- you have each given me such great ideas and encouragement. So what do you think? Keep the leather chair or return it? I do rather like it on the fireplace wall but I love the other chairs too. I am torn. (My 6 yo nephew told me I "better not" return the leather chair. He looooooves it ha)

walkin you couldn't find it because it was on a thread about my chairs! You could have looked forever! I'l put the original link below. This is Magnaverde's sofa and follow are the instructions he posted at BHG and Picturesworth a million year ago - I still have this saved because someday I'm bound to have a piece to use this technique. Here's the process, as I originally described it on the AOL Decorating Board last year, and where the original post was unearthed from the AOL archives by the lovely and talented HOST HOME DECOR. She's the best. ....................... Forget all that nonsense about teensy bottles of expensive paint medium from the crafts store. You don't need anything more than regular latex semi-gloss paint--and a lot of guts. I found a beautiful Baker Chippendale camelback sofa, with cool curved arms and a fat down cushion, but it was covereed in a hideous glazed chintz in the ugliest colors I ever saw. I found some great yellow wool damask to reupholster with, but it would have cost me $3OOO for the job, so I painted my sofa instead. Everyone freaked out when I told then the plan, but it worked. I was planning on painting my room dark green, so I decided to go with the red leather look. First, I painted the whole thing with bubblegum pink semigloss latex paint, using the widest foam brush I could find, and brushing it on in long strokes front-to-back and up + down. Think of that as the primer coat. I let it dry 2 days, and sanded it super lightly with fine-grade sandpaper to get rid of the burrs--there were a lot. When I couldn't feel any more sharp things, another coat of paint, spread thin. Dried and sanded again. Then spread--with my hands--a thin coat of raspberry red semi-gloss paint I had deadened a little with brown to make it a little less vivid. Because it was a deep color, there wasn't much white filler in the paint, and it was almost like a glaze or stain, instead of paint, which is just what I wanted anyway. I just smoothed it on, like suntan oil, and worked it into the pink paint. I let it build a little thicker at the back, on the inside of the arms and at the back edge of the loose cushion, so that the paler, thinner red took on an air of wear at the high points. I let it dry 2 days, then CAREFULLY sanded the few new sharp things, and touched up those spots with my fingers. I let it dry 2 days, then waxed the whole thing with regular paste wax. After it was dry, I polished with a soft cloth, then dusted with talcum, and vacuumed it all off. It was a little stiff the first few days, but now it not only looks like red leather, it feels like it. This worked great on glazed chintz, and probably would work on any smooth fabric, except that some may have more burrs and therefore require more sanding, but I wouldn't try it on anything with a heavy texture. And no, the paint doesn't come off. And it's not stiff, either. Think about it--it's latex paint, and essentially, that's what's in those little bottles of fabric medium. By the way if anyone finds this topic before he or she finds the picture that shows the finished results, it's over in the PicturesWorth album, probably at the bottom of the pile, in MAGNAVERDE'S SCRAPBOOK. Have fun. Magnaverde." ............. For those who STILL don't think you can do it and who need a little pep talk before you start, go to magnaverde.com and look for the link that says 'consult magnaverde'--and I'll talk you through it. It will cost you a few dollars, but of course, my advice is priceless. And besides, I'm cheaper than a new sofa. You can talk to me and then go out for coffee. Good luck. Here is a link that might be useful: Original Thread

I hope it's ok to say I like the current color. I do wonder whether the taupe is too similar to your upholstery. If you keep the walls neutral you could introduce color (just about any color or colors) through art or accessories; or keep it neutral but add interest with different textures and a variety of materials. The plant really brings life to the room. I'd introduce some green, but then I'd introduce green just about anywhere!