I will cut to the chase with this decision: I will be using Knoll upholstery fabric — Rivington in Palm — on the sectional I am having built for my Mahalo Lounge.
Earlier, I tantalized you by showing the final choices I was considering for a burnt orange sectional. I had always thought I’d go orange.
But once all my draperies were up… and I had a bit of time to viscerally absorb the dominance of the greens in the large expanse of fabric… I pretty much knew that green, not orange, was the way to go. I ordered a bunch of green upholstery options pronto, and once they arrived, I knew it was the right way to go.
A green sectional will anchor the room much better and ensure eyes moves all around the space. An orange sofa would be okay… but would stop your eye too much… I’ll use lots of orange in accents instead.
To search out the just-right green, I collected samples from the same companies I wrote about in my orange upholstery roundup.
I also knew my choice for green upholstery fabric the minute the sample arrived at my door: Knoll’s Rivington in Palm.
Several friends who have seen the fabric in the room including with the draperies are up were gobsmacked at how beautiful this fabric was in the space. It was a no-brainer.
The Knoll Rivington in Palm has a chunky woven weave that includes greens in a few colors and definitive pops of blues, too. It will look great given the Polynesian Pop style of the room — hey, it’s named “Palm” for goodness’ sake. The chunky weave also gives the fabric some motion, which I like in a large piece of furniture; I was concerned about using a solid color, afraid that all-solid would read like a big blob. I almost always prefer tone-on-tone patterns to solids when I am covering a large expanse — be it countertops, walls, windows or furniture.
I also think the rich green upholstery will look fabulous with all my faux bois wood trim surrounding it and with the leopard print rug planned for underneath.
Last week, the furniture maker who is building the sofa for me came for a visit. He assessed yardage needed, and is sending me a contract letter. Once that is in hand, I will be ordering the fabric, mailing in the deposit, and then … waiting with baited breath to get my new sofa.
I’ll be visiting the furniture maker during the process to take photos — and I’ll reveal who it is then. The company has been in business making furniture for more than 50 years. They’ll be making my sectional the old-fashioned way — with eight-way tied springs, etc. I’m very excited to have found it!
Most of my room is being put together very affordably (wait ’til I write about my $10 bar hack). That said, the sectional is one of three significant expenses that I bit the bullet and decided to spend on; the other two are the faux bois painting, and the pinch pleat draperies. While I “could” have done the faux painting and made the draperies myself and saved some money there, I was not game to try and build a sofa sectional from scratch; duh. This will be the most money I will surely ever pay for a piece of furniture in my life. I have a feeling that I also may being researching plastic slipcovers soon.
karin says
Very cool Knoll fabric. They really know their stuff. I love the subtle color variations. It reminds me of the green grasscloth I saw in a wallpaper sample book a while ago. I guess that’s why it’s called Palm.
Great choice, can’t wait to see the couch.
Vic says
I really like the green over any of the oranges (I had an orange room as a teen in the 70s)
Also if you are determined on the leopard rug the green will cool it off a bit.
Carol says
This is like your boomerang laminate only you didn’t have to design the colorways………..Perfection. With the new faux woodwork this will pop not blend. The new orange sectional would have blended. Isn’t it funny how things evolve as more gets done. I’m so in love with that fabric I can’t stand it! I’m really holding my breath for the finished Mahalo Lounge now.
Cynthia says
Beautiful choice, Pam. I know you love orange, however, to me you will already have a lot of faux bois wood which reads like a dark burnt sienna, to my eye. So the cooing relief of the green shot through with light blue to pick up the bit of blue in the draperies – genius.
lynda says
Perfect color and texture. You worked hard to find the right fabric and you certainly found it. I think it will be a calming color in the room.
Tracy says
love it much more than orange. I can’t wait for the unveiling.
Melinda says
Love your fabric choice! I’m so happy you changed to green. I feel like green is easier to live with for a longer time than orange.
Now, about those plastic slip covers…
Mary Elizabeth says
Love that fabric! I think the orange accessories will do the trick. A sectional is a big piece of furniture, so all orange (which would look lovely on a chair) might be too much.
I am enjoying the process of the redo so much, Pam. Look forward to reading about the visits with the furniture maker.
Jane / MulchMaid says
That’s a gorgeous mid-mod fabric for your Mahalo Lounge. Knoll makes some of the very best upholstery fabrics around; I’m sure it will wear like iron, too. Great color!
Barbara says
Good morning politician Pamela!
ABSOLUTELY…perfect!! I give it a 10!
Your tiki project will be the talk of the town!
I love the Knoll fabric. It brings out several colors that we can play with to the table.
My 1968 Airstream will have the Knoll, “Saffron” color face lift on my couch , beds and chairs. My curtain material that I bought at a garage sale, oh, only 20 years ago, has bright oranges, yellows, lime greens, sage and light brown here and there. They look amazing together!
My wall color is tricky, since I’m working in a small area. This will take some time finding the color that fits. And, I’m all in!!
Pamela, speaking of Kentucky, I also have kin in Frankfort, Owenton and a place I can’t mention. We’re close to the Kentucky Derby! An uncle is still there, but, retired from horse racing 10 years ago. So…,a big smile from me-to-you Kentucky girl!
You practicing the balancing act is working. Kentucky was a great choice.
Barbara
p.s. Thanks so much for your daily retro info. You are the right person for this job!