Decorating Guides
Go Fashion Forward at Home With Dressmaker Details
Focus on sartorial-style fine points with your textiles to give a room tailored grace and a high-end look
I remember being charmed by the term "dressmaker details" the first time I heard an interior designer mention it, way back in the Stone Age of my early career. Like toast points and diamond studs, these fashion-inspired finishing touches to upholstery, window treatments and other textiles have an innate grace and delicacy.
Although they may not register when you enter a room, you'll instantly sense the subtle air of polish and poise these details add. They're also an effective and affordable way to make over mass-market furniture, linens and accessories with a custom look.
Take a peek at the lush look that detailing lends to these interiors. What dressmaker details appear in your home? Tell us in the Comments!
Although they may not register when you enter a room, you'll instantly sense the subtle air of polish and poise these details add. They're also an effective and affordable way to make over mass-market furniture, linens and accessories with a custom look.
Take a peek at the lush look that detailing lends to these interiors. What dressmaker details appear in your home? Tell us in the Comments!
Button tufting adds an aura of richness and comfort to seating, headboards, walls and other surfaces. Throw a little sparkle into the mix for a touch of glamour that evokes bejeweled buttons on a well-cut blouse.
How sweet are the tiny lilac bows on these curtain flanges? Details such as these are the reason that well-crafted interiors feel rich with life and grounded in warmth.
Scallops on the twin ottomans and bed pillows, paired with box pleats on the window valances, play up the feminine feel of this space. On the flip side, straight edges would have made them more masculine.
Banded closures and kick pleats on the chair slipcovers, plus pinch pleats at the tops of the draperies, add exquisite top notes to this dining room.
These slipcovers take a more casual approach, with floppy bow ties and a relaxed fit. I could see them fitting right in with a cottage or a beach house.
Here's a genius trick borrowed from clothing design: Line the inside of a kick pleat with a contrasting fabric. The peekaboo color makes for a delightful surprise. This valance is capped with a fanciful scrolled trim.
Contrasting welting on this trio of pillows helps to crisp up the edges and underscore the palette.
A ruffled skirt lends flirty flair to this ottoman.
Pin tucks down the center of this bedspread give it the tailored feel of a tuxedo shirt.
I love this updated twist on classic nailhead trim. The strip of matching fabric and extra-wide nailhead spacing give it a slightly contemporary feel.
Grosgrain ribbon banding defines these upholstered walls and ties the room together.
Velvet ribbon makes for elegant, impromptu curtain ties. You could use any material or color that appeals to you, from metal chain for an industrial space to torn strips of fabric if you want a more rustic effect.