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Category: Textiles
Pene Panalver – New Collection 2023
Picking the Right Fabric
Picking the right fabric is one of the best parts of my job. As a self-proclaimed managing director of Rainbow, it’s not every day that I get to spend time in the sample showroom. At least that’s what I like to call myself this week. My real title is “daughter of the boss – do whatever is necessary to get the job done”.
I am most often walking from table to table in the sewing room, answering design & timeline questions with clients, working on the business creating efficiencies, and documenting systems, meeting with reps, planning workshops, and social media. The list goes on and on, but when given the challenge I like to think that creating design solutions is where I thrive.
The Key is listening to the client
The key is listening to the client first and establishing what the main objective is, I love getting to the bottom of the feelings. “What do you want the space to feel like when all is said and done” I listen for words like “Calm and clean” “beautiful and timeless” or “dark and functional”. Colour and texture will always surprise you, it’s a clue but not necessarily the final solution.
I find most of the time when selecting a fabric it will actually go on a journey, twists and turns will be taken as one fabric leads to the next. Performance attributes and fabric limitations like widths and content will help navigate. But I find it all comes down to that gut feeling.
Because of the nature of my job, there to support and serve and not often there to pick the final solution, I love to get intentional with the library sampling. Over the years we have grown to become one of the nicest resource centers in Edmonton. My goal with the showroom is to bring unique and exclusive lines to the design industry. Something you can’t find in the local upholstery shop. No offense upholsterers, I just want specific drapery options. They are different fabrics after all. Multipurpose is not always a good drapery option.
Like I said earlier, I am led by that gut feeling. You know the one that speaks to me, a collection that makes me want to create something is one I want in the resource center.
Consider Pene Panalver
Check out this one by Pene Panalver.
“With more than four decades of experience, Pepe Peñalver is without a doubt one of the benchmark Spanish textile brands. Inspired by the latest fashion trends, the label offers original, avant-garde proposals, in a fresh and very up-to-date style, without losing the classical essences that define their collections and are noted as much for their floral motifs, prints, and jacquards, as for their richness of texture and unmistakable colour range.” Taken from the LinkedIn page of Pene Penalver
For me, it’s the hand, the colour, the texture, the scale, the mood, the everything! It all has to fall into the right place to be the right fabric. It has to have the “yes that’s the one”. Fabrics have the ability to speak, surprise, and lift spirits. For the love of fabrics, one of my favorite places to be is in the resource center.
That loving feeling
When it gets approved and then goes into production and becomes a real thing, there is such pride and honour in the process. Every step along the way gets a pull from the heartstrings and the effort goes a long way into making sure the end result is as good as it can be.
Now I can’t teach “that loving feeling”, but I can help navigate through the properties, performance, limitations, and go-to’s are super helpful in picking the right fabric.
I love being involved, offering an opinion, and cheering on the process. I hope you take me up on these services, I have put a lot of heart into the exclusive collections at Rainbow like this one by Pene Panalver.
It has beautiful tones, colour combinations, and organic materials and that pull on the heartstrings. A collection like this is worth the investment, a stand out just like you.
Contact Me
If you would love to connect over the love of fabric contact me directly at:
kim@rainbowdraperies.ca
780-478-4919
Rainbow Draperies
12724 St. Albert Trail NW
Edmonton, Alberta, T5L4S5
Wall Coverings – A quick review
Hi Friends!
Remember that workshop we did on wall coverings? Well I thought I would do a quick follow up for those that were not able to attend last November.
Wall coverings is one of the easiest and quickest ways to transform a room.
Do you have a client that doesn’t have the money tree to change everything but they would really like a refresh?
Time to think wall coverings! A statement paper can transform an entire room, and depending on how far you want to take the design look it can be used on almost all kinds of surfaces, walls, ceilings, inside closets for that peak a boo statement. In case you’re wondering how far you can push the limits check out this hate-it or love-it room by House of Hackney!
House of Hackney Taste aside let’s get down to business; on average a feature wall, or a small powder room it will retail between $1200 – $3500 including installation. We encourage you to throw out those numbers when talking scope of work with your client. Of course like custom drapery we suggest sending in your dimensions and desired product and we can build an estimate that is more accurate for when you get into the nitty gritty of the budget. Wall coverings are sold by the double roll – 11 yards of material and range between 22 – 24″ widths on average. Of course like all things design there are widths that are different but that’s a safe average. An average minimum we see at Rainbow is 3 – 6 double rolls priced at retail between $250 – $850 a double roll. Phew okay, so now you know some numbers let’s keep going.
All our coverings are quality hand crafted papers that are designed to make a statement. Unparalleled textures, patterns and quality you can count on.
I’m wondering was that room above too much for you? Well that’s the beauty of being a decorator/designer you get to decide what looks good. We will provide options that range from pushing the bold boundaries, to creating calm and serene environments. Most importantly we carry textures, patterns and colours that get your clients excited about their spaces.
Not to mention, it won’t stress your installers out. QUALITY QUALITY QUALITY. We have wall paper installers praising us for the quality of papers we show clients because they know it’s going to go up smooth and last for a long time.
Let’s be honest, keeping our installers happy with smooth installs is a huge part of customer experience. Usually install is a make-or-break moment for whether that next referral is coming your way. Don’t underestimate the power of the experience. We live in a time where people would rather buy what makes them feel good than something that is cheaper. People want to be taken care of, and know that they are special, they want quality that matches that. At least in my opinion that’s the case in the higher end luxury market, which is where the interior design industry plays.
Maxwell Fabrics Want to see what actually goes into the making of the coverings?
Check out this digital lookbook by JFFabrics . There are a few short videos that show the behind the scenes process, so fascinating! It’s all hand crafted, and so very different than a digital printed peel and stick.
Lastly, another huge PRO for wall coverings is the quick turn around time. In a world where we are looking at 12 – 18 months for furniture and almost 2 years to build a custom house… wall coverings come in 2 – 3 weeks and can usually be installed the week after. So you can give your clients a completely different feel in less than a month! Not many elements in design can make such an impact in such a short time. It’s also a lovely add on to those huge renovations that make the overall design stand apart from the neighbor down the street. Easy to spec, easy to order. Wall coverings are one of the smoothest ways to quickly change a space, and in a world of so many difficult details you deserve easy every once in awhile!
On that note I will leave you with these gorgeous images by Romo Fabrics to get you all inspired for your next project!
Contact us today to find out more, now taking in studio appointments
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