Why Trim Is the Underrated Star of the Design World
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Loading... - Emma Gagnon
- 13 Apr 2022
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When designing a home, most people spend a lot of time thinking about the big things: rugs, sofas, appliances (and those are all important!). But there's one design detail that pulls more than its weight in making a statement: Trim, aka passementerie. An umbrella term used to describe everything from embroidered tapes to fringes, tassels, nailheads, and more, trim is any good designer's secret weapon—and with the right knowledge, it can be yours too. Trim takes anything from a blah chair to a cheap curtain and makes it instantly bespoke. For House Beautiful's Color Issue, Senior Style Director Robert Rufino set out to prove just how transformative a yard of tape, cord, or fringe can be. “Add trim to an inexpensive curtain or a high-end love seat," he advises. "It will enhance the richness of the colors and intensify the drama.” Read on for the proof.
1
Upgrade an Ottoman
These ottomans from Wayfair get a bespoke finish with a variety of trims: At left is the Aurora wide round storage ottoman in pink by Mercury Row with a Cecile trim in Rosewood from S. Harris hrough Fabricut and an Ensemble beaded border in pale gold by Lori Weitzner from Samuel & Sons. At right is the Keefer wide square cube ottoman by Ivy Bronx with Trianon Bauble from Osborne & Little and Yzma trim in Energy from Stroheim.
The round ottoman at back is vintage, with Labyrinth tape in chartreuse and Lattice Weave fabric in Burnished Brass from Jim Thompson Fabrics.
2
Deck out a Memory Board
Grab a simple corkboard from your local craft store or Amazon (or use this rusic design from Ballard!) and swath it in trim for a functional statement piece. Here's what Rufino used: Zelda trim by Travers and Grand Leaves fabric from Simmer & Rhode; Menagerie border in emerald and Julienne double welting trim in Tulip from Samuel & Sons; Woodblock fabric in Forest from Madeaux.
3
Add Interest to a Dining Chair
The Sebastian chair from Bunny Williams Home gets an extra kick with a Le Soir ikat border in Eventide from Samuel & Sons and red tape trim, which pops against the leopard upholstery. (A Lily Pad Pals pillow in orange from the Kit Kemp Collection for Annie Selke adds even more drama.)
4
Jazz Up Curtains
Here's your proof that trim works on luxury linens as well as discount curtains: Rufino added Sunrise embroidery tape in blue from Schumacher and an Aurelia double tassel tieback in sapphire from Samuel & Sons to Rayure Chinoise velvet in cobalt from Designer's Guild, then paired Schumacher's Knotted Trellis tape in crimson with a pink blackout curtain from Amazon.
5
Create a Charming Footrest
CR Laine's Bradstreet ottoman with hardwood legs in Sable becomes a work of art with Sanur tape in indigo, Tillandsia cord in Peacock, and Phuket Poms in Peacock from Kravet. Read More...
