Great mid-century design fabrics to use for upholstery and draperies – from Maharam

by Pam Kueber on October 5, 2007

This fabric collection from Maharam — called Textiles of the 20th Century — is fabulous! It features vintage design fabrics for upholstery and draperies taken from original design classics from mid century designers (and their early 1900s European forefathers) including:

Gunnar Aagaard Andersen, Anni Albers, Charles and Ray Eames, Alexander Girard, Josef Hoffmann, Arne Jacobsen, Koloman Moser, George Nelson, Verner Panton, Dagobert Peche, and Gio Ponti.

This stuff is expensive — and you must get it from a designer or fabric showrooms — but it is incredible, really well made, and well worth the investment. If you’re on a budget, consider it for some dining room chairs, for example. Or, upholster just one perfectly curved chair for real punch.

Maharam’s website very good, it makes it easy and fun to look at the fabrics. Go straight to the “Textiles of the 20th Century” binder.

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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }

Femme1 January 6, 2009 at 9:01 pm

I’ve bought discounted Maharam fabrics on eBay for cheap.

puddletown February 1, 2009 at 10:43 am

J & O Fabric Store is a site that has lots of reproduction midcentury fabrics including several of the above mentioned designers. Check it out.

puddletown February 1, 2009 at 10:44 am

Oops! Heres J & O’s address. http://www.jandofabrics.com/index.htm

Pam Kueber February 1, 2009 at 1:30 pm

Puddletown, thanks for the recommendation – it’s a good one. I know about J&O but keep forgetting to do a post. Yes, they have a big selection, for example – check out all the barkcloth!

Jeanne February 1, 2009 at 2:43 pm

Another great site I found for barkcloth is: http://www.hawaiifabricmart.com/

Prices are very reasonable and they have a large variety of the Hawaiin print.

Pam Kueber February 1, 2009 at 2:54 pm

Thanks, Jeanne. I need to do a post for sure!

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