I was watching Sarah Richardson (Sarah 101) the other night (thanks DVR) and she mentioned that at the end of a makeover she has usually used around 10-14 fabric textiles in each room that she does.
And as the title of this post suggests, it totally surprised me. Doesn’t that sound like a lot? Of course she’s an expert when it comes to layering prints and patterns, but I couldn’t imagine a “regular Joe” going into a fabric store and walking out with 10-14 swatches that they were going to combine. But then I realized that she was counting the upholstery fabric on chairs and sofas and headboards along with curtains and a ton of accent pillows. So while vegging in the living room at 11pm while watching that very show, I looked around and counted all of the fabrics going on…
Karl The Sectional’s dark gray fabric (he’s from Ikea) = 1
The faux leather seat of our desk chair (from Target four years ago) = 2
The curtains (from Ikea in April) = 3
The linen-like fabric on the ottoman (from Marshall’s) = 4
The faux sheepskin draped over the ottoman (from Ikea last year) = 5
The green zebra pillows (from West Elm about a month ago) = 6
The printed pillows that I tea stained (from this etsy shop) = 7
The textured felt pillows (from Crate & Barrel last year) = 8
The branch pillow (from Ikea a while ago) = 9
The faux cow pillow (from Ikea a while ago) = 10
The shag mohair pillow (from Target a few months back) = 11
The soft champagne-y metallic pillows (from Bed Bath & Beyond years ago) = 12
Twelve! Who knew? Granted a lot of those fabrics are more tone on tone/textured than brightly patterned (thanks to the colorful rug and art going on). But it’s really interesting to think that we sort of subconsciously mixed all those materials together (although we didn’t exactly have things upholstered and tailored for us a la Sarah Richardson).
So it got me wondering how many fabrics you guys have going on in your living space. Is it in that 10-14 range? Way lower? Way higher? For some strange reason I’m dying to know how things stack up at everyone else’s house.
Tell me, tell me! Also, doesn’t Sarah have awesome blazers and what appears to be very glossy and perfect hair? The woman has style for days.
The Doggie should count at #13…
Haha- it’s true. He adds texture and personality.
xo,
s
Idk my answer because I’m at work right now, but I love Sarah so much. That woman has taste and style FOR DAYS. She combines color and pattern so expertly.
Amen- she can layer fabric like no other!
xo,
s
Hahaha, wow, I just now saw the little part at the end of the post – and realized my comment was pretty much your last sentence verbatim. I almost wrote something about her cute blazers too (which I read Tommy Smyth’s sister designs!).
Haha- great minds think alike!
xo,
s
As much enjoyment as I have gotten out of decorating every space I’ve lived in, I would JUMP UP AND DOWN AND POSSIBLY (most definitely) SQUEAL if given the chance to just hand it all over to Sarah Richardson and say, “go, just do whatever you think is best”. I can’t think of another designer where I wouldn’t want a little input. But, Sarah? She’s knows, man. She just knows.
Love Sarah! I’m way behind on the count as I only have 4-6 at any given time. I have actually been spending more time at the fabric store and looking at fabrics online, which is an accomplishment since I don’t even sew! I only wish I could afford to recover a few things like she does.
so interesting i never thought to count before. i definitely need more, my living room is way too boring.
random question sort of related to textiles but not the decorating kind… what are your favorite places to buy clothes for Clara? She seriously has some of the cutest dresses/outfits I’ve ever seen!
We get a lot of hand-me-downs thanks to the fact that she’s the fifth baby born within a year in our family. But we also get a few things (like the jumper in this morning’s post and the heart dress in the pic of her standing in the hallway from yesterday) from Old Navy on clearance.
xo,
s
1) That took me far too long to count in my head.
2)We have about 9 fabrics, but that’s not including blankets we keep tucked away.
3) Now that I’m thinking about this, I want to add some new textures and patterns into our new living room… Sherry, you may have gotten me in trouble!
Big fan of Sarah here, too. The fabric I chose for our kitchen curtains was inspired by one of her rooms.
And the realistic chihuahua skin is Lucky #13…
Haha- Burger definitely adds texture! Every room needs a little chihuahua in it.
xo,
s
I totally expected Sherry to count Burger with that last picture!! :-)
Our living room is currently not yet furnished… so #1- carpet. yay, done!
I have almost none. But my friends just had their entire house top to toe decorated by Sarah Richardson. I just about died.
Woah- that’s so fabulous. Take pics for us if you ever can!
xo,
s
SO JEALOUS! I want to see pics, too!
I just counted my back living room and there’s 13 in here. I felt weird counting pillows though you know? Other rooms (like my dining room and kitchen) have almost none.
Yup! In our bedroom we have a few pillows, a comforter, and curtains. Haha. And in bathrooms, uh… a shower curtain. That’s it. Haha.
xo,
s
…but if you’re custom tailoring each pillow, like she does, each one really does count.
I was going to ask about the rug, too! I guess someone beat me to it!
Sherry, wouldn’t your green rug count as #13? It’s fabric-ish!
I wasn’t sure if she meant rugs so I left it out of my count. Rugs are def. textiles I think, but fabric textiles might be a bit of a stretch. Hmm…
xo
s
Annnnnnd my comment was meant for this thread! Not the one above… oops!
Haha- no worries! I do that too.
xo,
s
I’m not even sure that I can count the two that I have, considering the blanket that sits on the couch is just a slightly lighter tan brown than the couch itself! I promise I’m going to work on that, soon! Just as soon as I complete my sewing station downstairs… :/
Sarah Richardson is the bomb! Seriously she is one of the best designers on HGTV. Sarah’s cottage…OMG! She uses a lot of fabric. Not just different textures but fabrics with patterns that I look at and thing would never even go together. Then she created this amazing room. I love her. Her sidekick Tommy is pretty awesome too.
That bit of info blew my mind too! It was one of those things that my husband and I simultaneously repeated in disbelief. She is crazy talented with fabric. Wonder how many different fabrics/textiles were in your old living room and/or den?
Ooh that’s a fun activity. I’m gonna go look at the House Tour pics and count.
xo,
s
As Canadians we are so proud of Sarah, her work is amazing. She often uses a different fabric for piping as well as the body of a pillow or upholstery project. Many of her blazers are from Smythe (one partner of Smythe is a brother of Sarah’s design partner Thomas Smythe) Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, wore one lately while visiting Canada and they sold out in 30 min. http://smythelesvestes.com/
Yay, Canadian design.
oops sister of Thomas…
Haha- you’re a die hard fan, huh? Love it.
xo,
s
I’m in the low end of 5-8 right now. However, I’ve been planning on adding more texture and interest with some window treatments and other textiles.
Does the carpet count? Ah well, either way I’m still in the 4 and under category. I’m currently rocking a bedsheet as a curtain. Yeah I’m klassy…
I left out the rug since it might be a stretch to call it a “fabric textile” although it’s definitely a textile without the whole fabric word in front of it!
xo,
s
Klassy with a “k”…rock on!!
Haha- it’s the little things, right Elizabeth?
xo,
s
I like how you have lightened up a dark couch with the light pillows. We have two black leather couches and I felt stuck with the manliness of them but this inspires me. Now I just need a pillow budget. :)
Julie
ilikebeerandbabies.blogspot.com
How did I not know there was another Sarah show out there? I LOVE Her shows, love watching the reruns of Design Inc. and Sarah’s House. Why does HGTV not promote her more or better? I missed a whole month of this new show! :(
I didn’t know about it for a while either! So glad someone passed it along!
xo,
s
Doesn’t the nubbly green carpet count as a “textile”? (it sure adds texture!)
I didn’t know if “fabric textiles” counted rugs, so I left it out just in case.
xo,
s
I meant to add, THANKS for passing on the link! DVR is now set!
I had more than I expected too! 12 — 13 if you count a textured hot pink basket. Although interestingly, I have recently decided that I’m completely over my throw pillows (which I patchworked together from fabric scraps) and am gravitating towards a few big squishy linen or feedsack-esque ones. (We have an armchair upholstered in vintage feedsacks, so it’s a bit of a theme…) So that may bring my fabric count down — or up, if I keep a few of the smaller patchwork ones around as accents, I guess.
I have 16, but that includes two throws and several fabric swatches on the wall that I framed. Does that count? If I didn’t include those, then it would be more like…7-9ish.
Oh yeah – those sound like they should count!
xo,
s
When I saw ‘Kinda Blew My Mind’ & that pic of Sarah come up I got all excited thinking maybe she was at your house or something! ;) Don’t get me wrong the post was FUN too!
Rebecca
Haha- oh man, I can now see how mundane this discussion is by comparison to a visit from Sarah in the flesh. But my brain might explode if that happened and I’d no longer be able to blog. Haha.
xo,
s
Love Sarah! I always dug her blazers, but covet her wellie collection even more (from Sarah’s House or Cottage?).
Oh yes- that was the best season because it was all muddy and rainy so she wore them all the time. Haha.
xo,
s
I’ve watched every episode of Room Service, Design inc, Sarah’s House (many times), Sarah’s Cottage and the entire season of Sarah 101 is amazing (I’ve already watched the season twice(I think we got it a year early in Canada). On hgtv.ca (and I assume on the US version too)she actually tells you where she gets her fabrics and provides the links! So easy to order similar color palettes/fabrics for inspiration …
Another great thing about her is that my husband actually enjoys watching her too !!!! Guilty pleasure :)
I WISH!! No, I guess maybe bccause they are Canadian locations? Anyway, I haven’t seen any. Boo.
We only have 4 now, but that’s because we just moved in 2 months ago and are not nearly “done” decorating. So, I guess “4 and counting” would be more appropriate :o)
Our living room is kind of boring and only has 4 (couch, rug, curtains, pillows). It is certainly not my ideal room but it’s stuff that has been free (rug and curtains) or cheap (couch with matching pillows) and we haven’t gotten around to redoing it at all. Our couch is a tan/brown woven microfiber that I like but I’m having a hard time with branching out on the color scheme with it. I need help.
Interesting… mine varies by room but I can see this being true.
My current family room has 4 but I have yet to convert my coffee table to an upholstered ottoman and I still need to find a chair for the corner, a few more throw pillows (I only have 2 at the moment) and a throw to drape over the couch. In the end I can easily see getting up to 10-12 in there.
Our bedroom has a duvet, sheets, a blanket, square pillow shams, regular pillow shams, a throw pillow, curtains, and an upholstered bench at the foot of the bed. That’s 8 and we plan to add a chair in the corner, most likely with a throw and pillow – so we’ll probably end up at 11 in there too.
Thinking about rooms like the master bath though, there will be none – no windows so no curtains and a glass shower surround, so unless I count towels and rugs, I’m at zero.
Haha, we’re at one with a shower curtain in our bathrooms. Haha. Although I guess towels should count- they’re like the pillow equivalent in a bathroom. Haha.
xo,
s
i picked up Better Homes and Garden’s DIY publication for the first time last night and was so excited to flip it open to find a section titled, “Ask John & Sherry.” like, in a “they’re my friends” type of way. blogging can be a crazy, creepy thing sometimes.
Haha- aw you’re sweet. We love that little column of ours! We actually solicit all of the questions for it through our Facebook page, so they’re actually from YHL readers!
xo,
s
This was fun! Love the blazers and the casual pants look – tried it myself and got a few blazers, but don’t feel comfortable at my desk all day…She’s got a wicked shoe collection as well.
I saw that same episode and was amazed by her number. Sarah Richardson is a fabric genius!
Our living room has 5… *hangs head in shame*
we have 6. but we dont have curtains, just super dark bamboo shades. we also have a baby living room because of the awkward shape of it! two cushion couch, one chair from ikea and a little leather foot stool that we use for feet perching and extra seating. thats all we got!
We have 12, wow! Tons of different throw pillows, blankets plus the sectional and chairs will do that. And our living room/dining room is quite small!
Ooh. I love Sarah and I love Tommy. Like a previous poster, Sarah’s shows are the only ones my husband will watch on HGTV, which is weird, but whatever I don’t question. I usually laugh out loud at least once during her shows. I have gotten several PG-rated curse words from her too, which is invaluable for my kids … I use “CRUMBS!” all the time now thanks to Sarah.
Oh yes, I love “crumbs!” too. Haha.
xo,
s
What about your rug?
I didn’t count that since I thought “fabric textile” might not mean rugs. But it’s definitely a textile (minus the fabric part)!
xo,
s
I only counted 4 – and 2 are the same fabric in different colors. I didn’t include the area rug. Maybe that’s why I feel so “blah” about my living room. *sigh*
I think I have about eight in my living room. The couch, two different chairs, curtains, a throw that lives on one of the chairs, and three types of throw pillows (to make 5 pillows total). Nine if you count the throw that lives in the doored end table and only comes out as needed.
Twelve if you count my two bengal cats. ;)
Oops, I mean 11. Apparently I can’t count, hahaha.
How sad. We have one. Our couch, love seat, and chaise are all the same textile, and that’s it. I feel really boring now, lol.
11! This was a fun little exercise that has my mind going now about how to add more… uh oh! ;)
If you count the two shades of leather in the big seating pieces and the rug, then 13. And I’m planning on adding two more in the window seat area – cushions and curtains.
But this exercise made me think about WHERE and WHAT kind of textiles I have. Like you, most of them are textures (in my case instead of light neutrals, I have black and olive) not patterns per se.
So I’m thinking I need to get a couple more yards of the windowseat cushion fabric to bring that color and some pattern over into the space on the other side of the room where the main seating area is and take some of the solid black and olive over there in throw pillows or another afghan.
Great exercise!
I watched that episode, too, and thought the same thing–that the number of fabrics seems high–but yet, every room she designs looks absolutely fabulous. I need to find a way to incorporate more patterns/fabrics in our to little guy’s nursery!
I still dream about the laundry room she created in that one crumby basement…along with the perfectly coordinated blue utility closet next to it.
I do wish you would have inserted a faux Canadian accent when describing your living room textures. :)
Haha, I need to get more comfortable with my canadian accent before breaking it out, eh?
xo,
s
We only have 4 textile patterns (curtains, sofa, chair, rug), but we had to take out all the accessories since our dog eats anything stuffed (pillows, ottoman, afghan). And since I’m a quilter, the walls are covered with brightly colored (non-coordinating) fabric wall art, so I can handle no pillows (but it’s hard!)
I think the fabric wall art counts as textiles!
I wonder if it corresponds somewhat to the size of the room and how bold/busy the prints are. I only counted eight, but we currently live in a teeny tiny apartment where our living room also doubles as a dining area.
My style is vintage-y, so I like bold patterns, but I don’t think I go with any more textiles in this room to avoid overwhelming it!
I LOVE Sarah Richardson! After the season that she made over her cottage I’ve desperately tried to convince my husband that his grandmother’s summer cottage needs a “bunkie”!
We have 8 different fabrics in our most pulled together room (the living room/dining room). Does that mean I should reference Sarah when I suddenly return home with 2 or more new items?
Haha, yes. When in doubt, blame Sarah!
xo,
s
I totally tought you were going to count Burger as a textile! I definitely count my Labrador’s shedding as an added layer ;-)
Yes!! After growing up with German Shepherd’s who shed, I wanted short haired dogs. But my two fabulous short-haired mutts shed just as much, and constantly! I have a “patina” of dog hair over everything in the house and there’s nothing to do but live with it, and love the dogs even more. :)
Wow, we have 10. I love Sarahs style, she is even stylish while being super pregnant!(as seen in her Summer House series)