Fabric & Wall Covering

Alexa Yablonski -- Interior Design, 5/31/2002 12:00:00 AM

Anzea: The Getting Green collection reveals the company's interest in getting serious about environmentally conscious design. Among the stylish standouts: Spiny Pines, reinterpreted from a Ruth Adler Schnee original and rendered in Climatex Lifecycle fibers, and Laughing Cow, the first synthetic leather that is green. (It's biodegradable and 99 percent solvent-free.) 2810 White Settlement Road, Fort Worth, TX 76107; 817-336-2310. circle 250

Gretchen Bellinger: While Flash and Dash delivers glamour, this chenille woven in polyester and viscose also provides durability for commercial or hospitality applications. Available in a 55-inch width. 31 Ontario Street, P.O. Box 64, Cohoes, NY 12047; 518-235-2828. circle 251

Schumacher: Sometimes traditional does the trick, as with the handsome Chinoiserie Paisley 171632. Printed on cotton, the fabric measures 55 inches wide. 79 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016; 800-988-7775. circle 252

Matteo: We're smitten with the simple—yet striking—graphics of Cubica and Etch. Both patterns are on a reversible cotton-linen blend and available by the yard or as finished bedding. 912 East 3rd Street, 105-107, Los Angeles, CA 90013; 800-628-8361. circle 253

Tapestria: The Wild Silk collection's fabrics are luxurious but a bit rough around the edges. 1 Parkway and Route 17 South, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458; 866-482-7378. circle 254

Maharam: Pebble Wool Multi is a beautifully textured wool produced on a small isle off the coast of Scotland. Centuries-old weaving and finishing methods result in a lovingly crafted textile rich in history, color, and texture. Available in neutrals and bold hues such as Tabasco and Tutti. 45 Rasons Court, Hauppauge, NY 11788; 800-645-3943. circle 255

ClassicCloth: A selection of the company's sophisticated options for spring are shown here. While we liked the subtle stripes of the Ritz worsted wool (bottom), we were most impressed with Silk Denim (second from top). Inspired by a similar fabric seen on Gucci's runway, this luxurious take on the classic left us lusting for yardage. 308 West Mill, Plainville, KS 67663; 785-434-2777. circle 256

Cortina Leathers: Some trends ripped from the runways and adapted for the home work especially well, including embossed leathers. We loved Cortina's Embossed Rustico collection of fashion-forward patterns such as Italian Ostrich, Baby Alligator, and—our favorite—Paisley, perfect for the haute hippie look. These aniline-dyed, two-tone distressed leathers are suitable for upholstery and wall applications. 15 West 20th Street, New York, NY 10011; 800-338-6229. circle 257

Rodolph: New to the Mélange collection is Passages, a rayon-polyester with undulating pattern. Available in eight colors and a 48-inch width. 999 West Spain Street, P.O. Box 1249, Sonoma, CA 95476; 707-935-0316. circle 258

Souveran: The company's Vintage Velvet 459 has already found a fan in the Rockwell Group. The firm used this cotton-rayon blend for the recently opened offices of McCann Erickson in New York. 1133 Broadway, New York, NY 10010; 800-366-2506. circle 259

Jim Thompson: Polka dots have a certain panache, especially when woven into a silk blend as luxurious as the one used for Contemplation. Also shown: Thai Silk. 1694 Chantilly Drive, Atlanta, GA 30324; 800-262-0336. circle 260

KnollTextiles: Cozy up with the soft, tactile textures of Cuddle Stripe and Cuddle Cloth. Both take advantage of a bouclé novelty yarn originally used in apparel. The fabrics have a wonderfully soft hand and, thanks to an innovative construction, notable durability. 105 Wooster Street, New York, NY 10012; 800-343-5665. circle 261

Kravet: With summer right around the bend, we couldn't help but think of vacation houses, garden rooms (and the fabric with which to outfit them). The recently introduced Raffia collection—with over 70 patterns including chevron, basket, and plain weaves—serves as a rich resource. 225 Central Avenue South, Bethpage, NY 11714; 516-293-2000. circle 262

TylerGraphic: The hand screen-printed Rose du Roi is pretty without being prissy. It's shown here in tan on a silk-on-cotton blend. Available in eight standard colors and linen, cotton, or silk grounds. Ellen Ford, 232 East 59th Street, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10022; 212-759-4420. circle 263

Duralee: The company is celebrating its 50th anniversary with the introduction of the Golden Jubilee collection. These fabrics feature design elements culled from Duralee's archive, reinterpreted as new prints, patterns, and textures that resonate with today's sense of style. We were particularly charmed by Kioko, a playful print of geisha girls on pima cotton sateen. 1775 Fifth Avenue, P.O. Box 9179, Bay Shore, NY 11706; 800-275-3872. circle 264

Edelman Leather: Red leather makes an unmistakable statement, whether used in a sumptuous dining room, a classic brasserie, or a naughty boudoir. Lucky for us, Edelman has just introduced over 40 fantastic selections. 80 Pickett District Road, New Milford, CT 06776; 860-350-9600. circle 265

Chilewich: Leave it to Sandy Chilewich to modernize lace, probably the most stodgy fabric around. Her Vynylace is far more daring (and durable) than grandma's dainty doilies. Now available by the yard. A.M. Collections, 584 Broadway, New York, NY 10012; 212-625-2616. circle 266

Marimekko: Originally designed by Maija Isola in 1965, Albatross is being reissued. Available in three colorways. Textile Arts, 888-343-7285. circle 267

Great Plains: Though its name suggests the contrary, Fast Track linen is the ultimate in understated elegance. Available in a selection of colors. 801 West Adams Street, Suite 400, Chicago, IL 60607; 312-329-5999. circle 268

Architex International: Sockittome and Laugh In are two vibrant new additions to the Liz Jordan-Hill budget collection. Both of these sharp geometrics are available in eight colorways. 3333 Commercial Avenue, Northbrook, IL 60062; 800-621-0827. circle 269

HBF Textiles: Coco Bop, an assortment of synthetic suedes, is definitely not for the color-shy. Go bold with six brights that are suitable for panels and upholstery. P.O. Box 8, Hickory, NC 28603; 828-328-2064. circle 270

Pallas Textiles: Lori Weitzner endows her two latest upholstery fabrics for Pallas with substantial style. Metro is a modern stripe with chenille-yarn construction. Savoy is an épingle in New Zealand wool. Both are available in a number of fashion-forward colorways. 1330 Bellevue Street, Green Bay, WI 54320; 800-472-5527. circle 271

Yoma: Inspired by a Japanese screen print of wheat fields, Hataki features a swirling abstract pattern. This woven polyester is available with a Crypton finish and suitable for corporate, hospitality, and health-care applications. 580 Broadway, Suite 1209, New York, NY 10012; 212-431-4794. circle 272

Designtex: Drawing Straws is part of the Playground collection of trendsetting fabrics for the hospitality sector. Woven in Crypton, this sassy stripe can perform: It exceeds 100,000 cycles on the Wyzenbeek. Available in 12 colors. 200 Varick Street, New York, NY 10014. circle 273

Ann Gish: Tashkent Rose is an appealing mix of art deco and op art. This graphic pattern is woven in machine-washable upholstery-quality polyester and available in five colorways. 3529 Old Conejo Road, Suite 117, Newbury Park, CA 91320; 805-498-4447. circle 274

Laura Lienhard: This yarn-dyed Belgian linen features a remarkably fine hand and subtle color variation. Available in seven colorways, the fabric is suitable for light upholstery, window treatments, and bedding. 187 South Winooski Avenue, Burlington, VT 05401; 802-660-8528. circle 275

J. Robert Scott: The All-Wool Contract Textile collection includes a selection of lightweight wools in 10 patterns and five colorways. 500 North Oak Street, Inglewood, CA 90302; 877-207-5130. circle 276

Hinson & Company: Woven in Switzerland, Aire is fashioned from two fabric layers. Made of flameproof Trevira CS polyester, this sophisticated sheer is available in a double width of 118 inches. 27-35 Jackson Avenue, Long Island City, NY 11101-2917; 718-482-1100. circle 277

Donghia: The company presents two fabulously fresh silk-and-polyamide blends for spring. Butterfly Wings is a delicate moiré with a bit of shimmer. The coordinating pattern, Truffula, is a modern interpretation of a woven damask. 485 Broadway, New York, NY 10013; 800-366-4442. circle 278

Manuel Canovas: The Fontanes collection, woven entirely in Trevira CS fibers, features eight elegant designs and a surprisingly soft hand. We fancied the candy-colored chevron weaves the most. 19/23 Grosvenor Hill, London W1X 9HG; 44-20-7318-6000. circle 279

Pollack: Chockablock is a dynamic mohair with cotton ground. The manipulation of pile direction results in the fabric's unique graphic effect. Available in eight colorways. 150 Varick Street, New York, NY 10013; 212-627-7766. circle 280

Sina Pearson: Three patterns—each with its own distinctly retro vibe—make up the Decades collection. The Fifties features a solid texture in such colors as Beatnik Grey, Tiki Lime, and Earth Brown. We liked the neo-geo Sixties as well as the Seventies's cool color combinations. 150 Varick Street, New York, NY 10013; 212-366-1146. circle 281

Muraspec: Inspired by intricate metal craftsmanship, Splendor and Splendor Stripe offer a subtly luminescent wall treatment. These coordinating type II vinyl wall coverings from Genon are available in a 54-inch width. 67 Pacella Park Drive, Randolph, MA 02368; 800-679-5120. circle 282

Gilford: Ecoscape I is a collection of 120 environmentally friendly wall coverings. These biodegradable products, available in a 36-inch width, are class A fire-rated. 3001 Hamburg Pike, Jeffersonville, IN 47130; 800-852-5454. circle 283

Paul Montgomery Studio: The Texture and Light series features a selection of sophisticated wallpapers—some with hand-applied glazes or screen printing. These subtly elegant products utilizing a nonwoven substrate are class A rated and can be custom colored. P.O. Box 976, Churchville, VA 24421; 540-324-1183. circle 284

Ria Moran: Ria Moran's abstract murals add drama to any setting. Made with a fiberglass-cellulose paper and acrylic paint, these wall coverings are protected with a matte polymer coating. 1045 Pearl Street, Boulder, CO 80302; 303-717-5496. circle 285

Stark Wallcovering: Studio Textures is a collection of 26 paper weaves featuring subtle geometric patterns with a natural color palette, ranging from warm spicy tones to pale neutrals. 979 Third Avenue, Suite 1002, New York, NY 10022; 212-752-9000. circle 286

Versa Wallcovering: A good option for enduring elegance in the hospitality sector is Châteaux, a vinyl-embossed damask with a large-scale design and stately color palette. 4700 Robards Lane, Louisville, KY 40218; 502-458-2614. circle 287

York Contract: These forward-looking vinyl wallpapers are part of the latest collection from York, Design Works IV. 750 Linden Avenue, P.O. Box 5166, York, PA 17405; 800-375-9675. circle 288

Maya Romanoff: Created in collaboration with a manufacturer of women's handbags, Leathered Weaves offers the luxe look of leather without the high price. Shown in camel. 1730 West Greenleaf, Chicago, IL 60626; 773-465-6909. circle 289

Wolf-Gordon: The company tapped the ever innovative designer Karim Rashid to create Digital Nature, a line of contract wall coverings that debuted at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair. Of the five computer-generated patterns, we liked the X-ray quality of Replicant the best. 33-00 47th Avenue, Long Island City, New York 11101; 800-347-0550. circle 290

Jocelyn Warner: With the Kew series of wallpapers, London designer Jocelyn Warner proves that scribbles can, in fact, be sophisticated. Besides the delightfully free-form patterns, we were wowed by wonderful color combinations such as chocolate brown paired with robin's-egg blue. Blumenthal, 979 Third Avenue, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10022; 212-752-2535. circle 291

Carnegie: Tuscany is the first pattern in the company's brand-new Alternative Walls series, devoted to environmentally sound products that offer a rich aesthetic at an affordable price. Tuscany, with its nonwoven base of polyester and viscose, is PVC- and chlorine-free and available in a saturated color palette with metallic sheen. 110 North Centre Avenue, Rockville Centre, NY 11570; 516-678-6770. circle 292

Blumenthal: The distinctiveness of white birch bark inspired Blumenthal's latest Duraprene-based offering. Birch Bark utilizes a four-color printing technique, reminiscent of a lithograph, to produce a layered pattern balances architectural and organic elements. Available in 11 colors. 2002 Orville Drive North, Ronkonkama, NY 11779; 800-367-8885. circle 293