New Homes & Lifestyles
Animal Prints Spring to Windows in '08 - by Lisa Sinatra
Animal prints are no longer the mark of fashion’s wild side. For spring 2008, the call of the wild sounded more like a primal scream on the catwalks. Animal prints are back with a vengeance, not that they ever strayed far.
A perennial favorite emerging in some degree every autumn in designer clothing fashion since the mid ’90s, animal prints have leapt into our homes and onto our windows. For spring/summer 2008, the formally rebellious look is being modified to add sophistication to drapery. In 2007, animal prints could often be seen on luxurious chairs and as an accent on modern sofas, but for 2008 it’s time for window treatments to receive their bold update.
The trend for animal prints on custom drapery was first seen on the West Coast before gradually making its way east. Zebra stripes are more popular than the big cat prints such as cheetah or leopard on drapery. Although when the cat prints are used on drapes, they are used with different colors. The West Coast prefers animal print drapes infused with bronze, chocolate, and earth tones, while Easterners lean toward metallics and bolder colors.
Taming Influence
An animal print on a window treatment can act like a neutral that fades into the background. The coupling of animal prints with a metallic overlay reflects a taming urban-influence on a typically “wild” or natural design. The use of a colored animal print expands the drapes usage—the room reflects the inhabitant’s bold confidence while the color retains a level of sophistication without looking punk. (Punk rock was the catalyst for animal prints jumping onto clothing decades ago).
Black and white is one of the most fashionable designs for the home in spring/summer 2008, and the tremendous popularity of the zebra-striped drapes echoes this trend.
Draperies are one of the easiest and most dramatic ways to change the mood and tone of a room. While the animal pattern on the drape is important, so is the fabric choice. Silk, linen and cotton drapery can all carry an updated animal print with different results.
Opulent silk drapes featuring an animal print will become a focal point of any room—like couture for windows. Animal prints on linen have a classic appeal and the natural variations in the fabric add character and richness.
The use of outdoor draperies is a hot trend in warmer climates this spring and summer. The “Sunbrella” brand of fabrics carries a line of zebra prints for outdoor use. These extremely durable fabrics are UV resistant, water repellent, and will resist fading for at least 500 light hours in direct sun.
Try giving your room a modern, clean and simple update with animal print drapes—whether meshed within metallic, bronze, chocolate, black and white, or a bolder color—it’s what’s new for 2008.
Lisa Sinatra is creative director of Newport Beach, Calif.- based DrapeStyle, which designs and manufacturers custom silk and linen drapes. Every drapery panel is created in the California studio. The company can accommodate unique or original requests and ideas, including any width or length and fabric.
INFO LINK
www.Drapestyle.com
