Back to school – and back to fabrics
It’s the last full week of August – the tail-end of summer, with those long, slow dusks and cold drinks on the front stoop. I’ve always been fond of this time of year. The summer, with all that fun in the sun, is a wonderful time to express our energy and leap into the world – but it’s nice to take a breath, on the back end, and just enjoy the hum of cicadas, the little melodies of frogs and Carolina wrens, with the sky going purple behind the silhouettes of trees. That’s what August has always been, to me. Leaning into the humidity, just for a moment, and watching the last of the fireflies.
As a mom, this time of year has always had a second, and very special, significance: back to school. Right around now, my daughter and I – before the start of her new school year, from elementary all the way through college – would head on over to the Target, or the Staples, to pick out binders and spiral notebooks, folders and stacks of paper, crayons and craft supplies (for those early days). Kids can be such a joy. Through them, we get to relive all those wonderful experiences of being little, like picking out your new pack of pencils for the start of your new year.
When you’re designing your home with your kids in mind, you have to factor in a certain amount of youthful wear-and-tear when thinking about your furnishings – and the wear-and-tear from any beloved pets that might also be members of the family. But this doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice fashion in the name of function! In fact, there’s a whole line of high quality, ultra-durable, stylish fabrics, ready to meet your aesthetic – and your durability – needs.
Several of our Woodside Home vendors offer perfect solutions when it comes to adding endurance without losing good looks. Crypton, Sunbrella, and Revolution represent the standard of excellence for livable luxury.
Crypton fabrics are stain-repellent, odor-resistant, and highly durable, which makes their products ideal choices for kid-proof and pet-proof upholstery. Plus, they’re GREENGUARD Gold Certified for their excellent sustainability and low chemical emissions, and help the indoor air quality of your home higher. Crypton fabrics also include a liquid barrier to protect against both oil- and water-based stains!
Sunbrella, originally an outdoor furniture brand, has expanded their existing range into interior spaces, and offer the same top-quality endurance as they always have. Sunbrella fabrics are resistant to sun fading and chemical exposure, and promise long-lasting performance endurance. And more, these fabrics are water-repellent, which makes them doubly resistant to stains.
Revolution, equally durable, is also made from recycled fibers, and offers a lower carbon footprint, keeping your home furnishing eco-friendly. These fabrics are sun resistant, soft, strong, and easy to clean. Because their fibers are dyed before weaving, Revolution fabrics also offer a great deal of resistance to fading, so your patterns and colors stay fresh!
These fabrics all come in a broad range of colors and patterns – whether you want a neutral living room couch or a funky accent chair, these lines come backed with substance and style. And, if used as slipcovers for your furniture, these fabrics can go right in the wash! If someone spills some orange juice on your new loveseat, it’s just a matter of a spin cycle to clear that stain right up – and even without a pressing stain issue, periodic washing can keep your furniture looking as fresh as the day it came off the truck and into your home.
Outside of brand names, some fabric types – like microfibers, polys, and performance velvets – can give you the same function without losing out on looking spot-on. Whatever your home decor needs are, there’s a fabric out there that can meet them! If you’re ready to upgrade your decor to match your lifestyle – and the lifestyle of your kids and pets – shoot us an email so we can chat!
Even as the summer ends, something else is already beginning. I, for one, am looking forward to getting cozied up in my favorite sweaters and sipping a mug of hot cider. For those of you with kids headed off to school, here’s to the start of their next academic adventure! And here’s to the autumnal horizon!
In the meantime, though, I think I’ll bask in the tail end of summer just a little while longer.