Color me fabric

Jill Zarin
Zarin Fabric and Home Furnishings
www.zarinfabrics.com

As The Real Housewives of New York City takes a hiatus, my time will be spent between relaxing in the Hamptons and assisting the clients of Zarin Fabric and Home Furnishings with freshening up the seasonal colors in their homes.

Before the fun in the sun begins, I look forward to reviewing the color palettes that will be blooming in the coming season. As the weather heats up, the colors of fabric for summer 2009 cool down.

Long gone are the rich, warm winter tones. Expect to see gray cast neutrals, cement, clay, recycled paper and slate color tones accented by grating flashy colors such as electric blue, flashy vibrant green, purple, pink, blue, fuchsia, zesty lemon and lime.

Textures will be fine and compact with smooth cotton, weaves, silky twills and iridescent and pearly surfaces. I like to point out to my clients that many of the colors you will find in drapery and upholstery fabric share a symbiotic relationship with the colors seen in fashion. In fact, this is not a new trend. Fabric textures and colors for your hotel and wardrobe have always shared an artistic bond that celebrates the season.

During my summer in the Hamptons, I often attend events at local hotels such as Sunset Beach, East Hampton Point and The Capri. One of my favorite things to do is check out the rooms and lobbies to see how they have freshened up their décor for the summer. In years past, I have noticed a range of changes from reupholstered sofas to new artwork and little touches such as new or reupholstered throw pillows. Even the smallest changes such as fresh flowers that reflect the season can make a big difference.

In fact, freshening up the look of your lobby does not have to be an expensive endeavor. For a simple and easy update, simply rearrange the furniture, add some new colorful accent pieces—such as a new piece of artwork—that can rotate with your current pieces and finish off with an assortment of fresh flowers in colors that reflect the season.

I love spending summers with my family building relationships and creating memories while reveling in the beautiful colors of nature. I look forward to visiting several hotels to find what has inspired their changes for the season. I love noticing the updates and have found that even the smallest changes to any décor can make a big difference.  

(Clockwise from top left)

• light dimming
  As a part of Fabricut Contract’s FR-One line, the Solar Stripe is an insulated satin that blocks 97 percent of light.
  fabricut.com
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• nature-inspired
  Silverstate’s Winds of Change collection is inspired by natural elements of earth, fire, wind, sounds and leaves.
  silverstatefabrics.com
• beauty rest
  The Living Fresh bedding collection from Valley Forge includes duvet covers, shams, bedskirts and pillows.
  valleyforge.com
• diverse patterns
  Genesis Fabrics by Fabtex have the look and feel of fine Italian textiles without the premium price.
  fabtex.com