By Carleton Varney
Friday, November 13, 2009
As Thanksgiving approaches, Palm Beach is stirring – and I hope the road work on South Dixie Highway across the bridge will be completed soon, so that Santa will be able to get his sleigh down Antique Row. And closer to home, I hope the improvements to Royal Poinciana Way won't deter you from visiting my favorite orange juice shop, Tropical Fruit, which has opened for the season.
There are many grand residences in the construction stage, as well, along South Ocean Boulevard, proof that Palm Beach is always a work in progress. It's hard to know if the economy will soon again be flourishing, but there are many very good real estate attractions on the island to consider. I always enjoy house- and apartment-looking – there's always so much to see!
There are, I have found in my tours of open houses, lots of folks who use gray as a background for living. Gray-painted walls can be soothing and feel surprisingly tropical, especially when the windows are treated with natural-finish or pale-stained plantation shutters. I recommend floors stained a deep ebony, perhaps accented by sisal rugs with a bright-colored banding – vivid scarlet red or rich palm tree green.
For the sofa upholstery in the gray room, I'd select white linen and, of course, some bright accent fabric – maybe palm-tree-green satin or a banana-colored satin. For lamps, white opaline vases with black opaque shades are always a great choice. For an additional soothing note in your room, cover club chairs in a rich green satin – very glamorous and early Hollywood. Who doesn't love Hollywood glamour?
Speaking of glamour, on Saturday I am chairing the Rita Hayworth Alzheimer's Ball in Dallas, Texas. The ball this year is focusing its design theme around the film "Gilda," one of Hayworth's most-watched films. Working with Princess Yasmin Aga Khan and with Laura Hunt of Dallas, we are encouraging Americans to be aware of the need for resources to fight this dreaded and debilitating disease. Many of us know the Rita Hayworth story, how the actress succumbed to Alzheimer's disease after first experiencing symptoms at the early age of 54. Rita's daughter, Yasmin, has devoted 17 years to increasing the world's awareness of the disease. Should any of my readers wish to donate to the cause of searching for the cure, please do so by contacting www.alz.org.
And while I'm taking a moment in this column to mention our fight for a cure for Alzheimer's, I am, at the same time, bringing to your attention the need for an awareness of the beautiful life we enjoy. Keeping the home beautiful is part – only part – of my messages each week.
Every so often when I am in the Palm Beaches, I come upon a place with an interior design that is unexpected. My newest discovery is downtown West Palm Beach's Dempsey's Cafe at 400 Clematis St., next to the Ultima Health Fitness Gym.
Dempsey's sports a color scheme of bright red and gold with a floor of big black and white squares – very much in keeping with the Rita Hayworth "Gilda" look. The squares even travel up one of the walls. The banquettes have big buttons accenting the upholstery for a fanciful harlequin look. Creative was the word of the day for this cafe, which boasts a menu of health-conscious food that the workout crews go for in a big way.
If you happen to be shopping on Clematis, perhaps for the best-of-the-best "bed and bath" items at Pioneer Linens, walk west and discover Dempsey's Cafe. The cafe does not offer table service, but there is a service bar where sandwiches – all healthful – are made fresh. There are a few words of wisdom on the wall under a photograph of the late actor James Dean. I'll pass these words on to you as a reminder:
"Dream as if you'll live forever,
And live as if you'll die today."
How to Choose an Upholstery Fabric
By Beth Larson,
Leather
Although leather is more expensive than other types of upholstery fabric it is extremely durable and can last for years. It also brings a certain elegance to a piece of furniture and helps it to look upscale and classic. Leather is one of the most popular choices in upholstery fabric because of its durability and simply because it looks beautiful.
Vinyl
Although vinyl upholstery fabric may seem like a good alternative to leather, it actually can be quite uncomfortable to sit on. Not only that but over time it has a tendency to crack as it ages which means it won't last nearly as long as many other types of upholstery fabric. The main benefit of choosing vinyl for your upholstery fabric is that it is easy to clean; however the uncomfortable texture and relatively short lifetime should be considered before choosing vinyl for your furniture.
Linen
Linen is probably not the best choice for upholstery fabric for most people. Linen wrinkles easily and also takes a lot of care to help keep it clean. The fibers in linen can have a tendency to stretch which means it will also require extra care to help keep its shape. When it comes to upholstery fabric there are much better choices than linen.
Denim or Heavy Cotton Fabric
Denim or heavy cotton fabrics are a great choice for upholstering a piece of furniture. Cotton fibers are durable and tough and stand up well to most types of cleaning solutions and to every day wear and tear. Look for cotton fabric or denim that is color fast for ease of cleaning. After you've upholstered the furniture consider treating the fabric with a stain resistant spray to help protect it.