apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I love the moorish tile in beige

I say the green velvet all the way. It's kind of surprising for a kitchen. The neutral is too neutral and teh tweed is fun but expected.

It may be a little bulky for the space but no great crime if it is.....

I like it exactly the way it is - Why change it?

i love the moorish beige, but i'd take the moorish blue/green

i agree w/ bepsf. it's nice.

I'd personally keep it pink, it's so unexpected.

But the velvet you chose is beautiful too. Go for it.

I too like the way it is (and the upholstery looks nice too). Just make a wide green velvet pillow and you're done.

I had voted for the green velvet, but now that others mention it, I think it does look great the way it is as well. I'm a little jealous now that I think of it, as it would be perfect for my dressing area/bathroom.

http://someoneelsehaslmcwethy.blogspot.com/2008/12/attack-of-pink-tile.html

I'm not sure about the chair... but if anything I'd go for the moorish beige or blue. The kitchen is quite neutral it can take it!

Just stayed in a hotel in Santa Monica where they used that pattern a lot. Looked great!

The chair needs a bolder fabric.
All the choices you gave us are uninteresting and too safe for no reason. It's a chair in a corner, let it be a fascinating and interesting chair in the corner.

Because the chair has a simple silhouette, I would go with the bolder prints, I like the canvas geometric print in the sample book.

You will regret making the safe choice!

Thanks for the comments so far! The current fabric is actually quite stained, I think it needs recovered.

I add to the chorus of people who like the pink. And, if you're going to change it, I vastly prefer the prints you have laid out to the choices in the survey. It's a very serene space, it can afford a little pop of visual interest. With a bright color or pattern, the chair would attract they eye (and remind people to come sit down!).

I voted for the green velvet because, if that's what you like the best, then go for it! But if it were my chair I'd go with a bold geometric pattern in blue.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pinklovesbrown/2544151416/
Look at this chairs fabric to see how it can transform.
It's like the perfect dress on the prettiest girl in the room!

That corner is begging for a bold statement fabric!

that is the tiniest, most adorable fireplace ever.
if you love the green velvet, then do it! rock that green velvet. when it comes to style, if you do something risky keep it small and balance it with something more conservative. your kitchen looks pretty empty so you can definitely afford to add some risky velvet. I wouldn't recommend it for your dinning table though.

Thanks for all the comments! By the way, it is quite bare at the minute but I do intend to inject quite a lot more colour - with prints or plates on the fireplace wall, and some kind of open shelving on the left hand side wall, displaying brightly coloured crockery.

Oooh the pink is adorable. So sweet. Just look for a lovely throw pillow that compliments the pink, or a throw for the back.

That rooms needs some color, and my favorite is the blue/green tile motif pattern on the chair in the first picture. But the green is nice too. Plus, you've got to consider how it goes with your other things (both the decorative items you plan on jazzing the place up with and your other furniture, as it might fins a home elsewhere in the future).

"The current fabric is actually quite stained, I think it needs recovered."

Then have it cleaned - far cheaper and easier than recovering (and cost seems to be an issue...)

Of your finalists, I'd go with the green velvet, but what really pops out is the fabric in the upper left of the first photo -- what I assume is the Moorish tile design that others noted ... in turquoise with green. Do a kidney pillow in the green, with blue piping.

I would personally shy away from Velvet... I don't know about you, but I'm a fairly messy cook, and I would NOT want to have to keep that chair clean if it's covered in a fabric that is known for picking up EVERYTHING that comes near it. I think it would look great, but not for long.

That said, I like the grid pattern green that is showing in the sample book on the chair, rather than the solid. I agree that the room could use some pop, but also, patterns hide stains better.

I realize you will add color and whatnot to the room with other decorative elements, but don't miss out on the opportunity to give that chair some oomph in the corner.


We all seem so drawn to the choices you have not considered, the patterned swatches.

Pink looks beautiful with the wall color, especially if you add some bright colored pillows -- green or brown. You can all tie in together with black shelves. You can even think about keeping the pink and painting the wooden parts to black to emphasize pink.

I'm going to put in one more vote for those 'moorish' patterns, because I think you should rethink it.
I like the green tweed too. But the chair WOULD look great in a bright poppy fabric.

I really like the patterned fabrics as well: the blue or the green pattern on the upper left side of the chair back.

I second Deliriumsama: Velvet picks up everything, and it will get dirty quickly. There's so much grease and smoke in the air in a kitchen.

I know you love your fabrics, but have you tried an on-line discount house, like Iluvfabrix.com? Horrible cheezy name, but they do have lovely things at very reasonable prices, they provide swatches and they ship globally.

I agree with the pink-sayers. I looove it just the way it is! Have it cleaned and make a pillow out of the green velvet. Maybe get a cool small footrest to cover in the green velvet also.

sorry, foot-stool, not foot-rest

I personally think that everyone is gravitating towards the printed fabrics because they mesh well with current trends. I like the velvet because, once paired with lighter wood, it will have a nice mix of clean and cozy. Others have commented that you will regret going with a "safe" choice, but I say you will regret going with an unsafe one. Keep the chair neutral and it will be a piece that stays in your home as your decor evolves.

I also like the pink. But as you need to reupholster, I would go with either the tweed or the velvet. Well, instead of velvet, I would find a micro-fiber. It will be more easily cleaned. Let's face it, a chair in the Kitchen is bound to get something spilled on it. I do think, the classic simple line would look best with a classic, simple fabric. I love the chair.

I agree that keeping the pink is the best solution, but if it can't be washed, here is a more practical option than velvet: a very hard-working chenille by Designers Guild.

It is very durable and fully washable, as well as velvety-soft. Plus, it is a fabric that suits the vintage and style of your chair.

http://www.designersguild.com/all-collections/ribera/ribera/

My first choice would be turquoise, but if that seems too bold for you, how about acqua, grass green or moss? (just click on the picture for a closer look at the fabric).

This fabric is just a suggestion -- I think you haven't cast your net wide enough to find the right fabric. There are many more options.

For what it is worth, I think you should refrain from refinishing the wood -- it is lovely as it is. The signs of wear on the arms make it a beautiful piece.

Only use velvet if it's a coated/protected fabric. And be prepared to reapply protectant about once a year.

That said, I think velvet in the dining area is marvelous. Of your choices, I vote for the green velvet.

Though I too prefer moorish tile print at the top. I'd look for this print in a green or tile blue or some other bold color. Even brown.

If you love the velvet, recover it in velvet. Seems like an obvious choice! :)

Currently, the microfiber came up with the Velvet texture, but it is 100% polyster and it has a plastic backing to the fabric. It has higher abrasion rubs and it feels just like velvet. The best thing is you can spot clean it in case someone made a mess on it. Use a towel with some fabric cleaner then you can take out the stain most of the time (even pen ink also). And with the plastic backing, then it slows down the liquid to go through and damage the foam underneath.

Definitely check the material of the fabric, you go something man-made like polyster, nylon, acrylic for maintain issue

Go with what you love! :)