8 Wonderful Ways to Splurge With Silk
Silk's origins make for an enchanting history. As the story goes, a
Chinese empress was sipping tea under a mulberry tree when a silkworm's
cocoon fell into her cup and began to unravel into a beautiful
shimmering thread. Since then the Chinese have used silk fabric for
clothing, arts and decor.
The fabric has become a staple in the home for lampshades, rugs, draperies, upholstery, wallpaper, art, pillows and much more. The intensive production process makes this a treasured and expensive textile, although it has come down in price over the years. Today most silk averages $25 to $45 per yard.
See if any of these wonderful examples of silk in today's homes would work for you.
The fabric has become a staple in the home for lampshades, rugs, draperies, upholstery, wallpaper, art, pillows and much more. The intensive production process makes this a treasured and expensive textile, although it has come down in price over the years. Today most silk averages $25 to $45 per yard.
See if any of these wonderful examples of silk in today's homes would work for you.
Wall coverings. Silk wall coverings add elegance to any room — and often fall into the ecofriendly category as well. Wolf Gordon's silk is antimicrobial, antibacterial and rapidly renewable, plus it has a low carbon footprint and contains recycled content.
Window treatments. The look
of silk window treatments cannot be duplicated by imitation silks. To
achieve the luxurious effect shown here, the draperies need to be lined
with flannel. There are several reasons for lining: The draperies look
better and hang fuller, with a magnificent, rich and abundant look; the
lining protects the silk from the sun, making it last longer; and lining
also provides a good insulation layer.
See more about drapery linings
See more about drapery linings
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Lighting. A silk shade gives
this ceiling light a lovely glow. Pure silk shades are obviously much
more expensive than synthetic ones, but they add a layer of richness.
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Rugs. When silk is woven
into a wool rug, its unique sheen contrasts beautifully with the wool
and gives the rug a soft hand. Silk's prism-like fibers reflect light at
multiple angles.
Upholstery. Historically, French bergére chairs
were upholstered in silk. Silk can be delicate, so you may want to have
a backing applied when using it for upholstery. Silk also stains
easily, so don't use it in eating spaces or heavily used areas.
Silk velvet. Silk thread
woven into velvet was once so expensive, only royalty could afford it.
It is still expensive today, averaging $200 per yard. Silk velvet has a
lovely soft drape and a shimmering surface. The fabric is so soft that
the nap crushes easily, leaving a mark or impression — a feature that
identifies the velvet as being made of silk. For this reason, never iron
silk velvet, as it will crush the fibers and leave an imprint that
often cannot be removed.
Art. Silk's jewel-like
appearance works well for art and tapestries. Avoid hanging silk art
where the sun will hit it, because it will fade. For framing silk, use
museum glass to preserve the silk best.
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Pillows. Silk has a
luxurious, sensual feel that makes it a great fabric for pillows in the
living area or bedroom. It can be washed in cold water and air dried,
but it will fade, so dry cleaning is recommended. Some fabric protectant
sprays will prevent soil and stain penetration, but be sure to test the
spray on an inconspicuous area first.
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