Wednesday 4 February 2009

How to develop design fatigue

1. Buy a chair you see in a charity shop window, and which you think would be a perfect candidate for reupholstery. The chair would go in this position, in my kitchen, but further back, beside the window. The fire is not in use.

2. Spend three consecutive afternoons looking through fabric books (and wallpapaper - but that's another story) at a local interior design shop.

3. Go against your natural instincts, decide to be more adventurous and look at various pattern options.

4. Make sure that all the samples you choose are the most expensive in the shop.




Most of these fabrics are from a fabulous range called Mokum, an Australian-based brand. I really loved their patterns, which is why I took so many samples home.

5. Devise a preliminary shortlist.

There were a few patterns which came in a texture like this. I really love the cross-stitch quality of the fabric.

6. Decide that I am really not into pattern and that the below is actually my favourite, except that it may look a little bland against the colour of the walls.


7. Decide that I really like the yellow colour in this fabric (is it called persimmon?) and go back to the shop to look through the same range for more fabrics in this colour.

8. Take more samples home.

I really liked the one on the left above. The weave was like denim but I thought the colour was a little dull and insipid. If it had been brighter, I think this would be my first choice.

9. Conclude that my favourite is actually the velvet, because I love the colour, and it works really well with the colour in the kitchen.

10. Not convinced that velvet would work well in a kitchen, so go back to the shop again and look for other fabrics (different manufacturers) in the exact same colour.

11. Take more samples home.


12. Decide that my favourites are still the yellow velvet (below left) and the tweed-effect (below right.)

13. Try to return the samples to the shop, but find it is closed due to adverse weather conditions.

14. Find it too difficult and exhausting to decide between the two finalists.

15. Start to wonder if I actually like my chair, or whether it is too bulky for the kitchen and something lower would work better.

16. Consider selling the chair on eBay, confident that I can at least get what I paid for it.

NB: Help me out - vote in this poll at Apartment Therapy.

19 comments:

Michelle Parks McCourt said...

hilarious.
ps love the balloons post!

Tara @ Aquamarine Art said...

Love that chair! I say go for something textured. I'm sure this will help loads.

Rachel said...

I am tired just reading this! No wonder you're ready to give up. But the chair is lovely. And I like that large print you had picked out at first. The cross stitch like one. It's wonderful.

inkWELL Press said...

This post really gave me the giggles - I love that you like to over think things (just like I do!). My husband is constantly telling me to narrow the choices... no more adding. But I keep adding anyway!

I think the chair would be fabulous recovered! All of those fabrics are great; you can't go wrong with any of them! I personally like the cross stitch one.

Brittany | the Home Ground said...

I have developed design fatigue just reading this! I really like this chair and hope you come to a decision you're happy with! Maybe you need to just let it rest there for a while and something will come?

Amanda said...

Oh, what a tough choice. Mokum have a fabulous range don't they?

I actually love the cross stitch like pattern. Good luck! x

Vanya Wilkinson said...

Life is difficult! ;)

Anonymous said...

I could have, SHOULD have written this post. Sometimes things are better (or at least less exhausting) in our imagination.

Anonymous said...

You crack me up Lynne! I totally feel your pain when it comes to decorating indecision.

But I think the velvet is just lovely and not at all wrong for a kitchen! It brings a touch of luxe into the space but because it's a solid it won't feel over the top opulent. i say go for it!

alternatively, I like the cross stitch pattern in blue...it pops beautifully against your walls.

Abby said...

Love this! New reader to your blog and this post is just too funny. How many of us have done this in some form or another. My personal weakness is tacking paint chips all over my walls.

Muskatt og kardemomme-Kjersti said...

Hello,
dropped by you from Norway.
A lot of inspiration to find here!
I can see that you love tea-shops.
I have just found a place that I love.
I would like to recommend it to you.
It is a tea-club,but you can also buy tea without beeing a member.
They have so many fun teas.
Hug to you from Kjersti

Muskatt og kardemomme-Kjersti said...

Oooops,the adress is:teklubben.no :o)

Here, There, Elsewhere... and more said...

Great fun post..!
I can so, so relate to your dilemna..:)

Anonymous said...

Bounced over from Coco+Kelley...and loved this post! I had the exact same experience two weekends ago: most expensive and time-consuming $50 chair I have ever purchased...

You Are My Fave said...

This sounds exactly like something I would do. I'm super indecisive when it comes to little things like that.

Miss | A said...

I am having tough fabric choices too this week! If only someone else could just pick it eh?! the chair is great. texture is good. cross stitch my choice too!

KELLY said...

i just stumbled here...and your post made me smile. don't sell the chair!! it is wonderful. i love the yellow velvet...but i like the prints too. totally indesicive and having my own "chair moment" for about 2 months now. mine are sitting un-upholstered and must be hating me for the shame of nakedness i'm putting them through!

Anonymous said...

Maybe the problem is the pink; its distracting. Why go to all that expense and work for boring? Besides it's a retro chair. I like anything you've got there in that olivey yellowy green color.

evencleveland said...

I like the yellow velvet, but ! love that blue cross stitch.

It's a great chair and looks perfect for that spot!