PARK YOUR BUTT, but choose wisely. Part 3- Viscose, Wool, & Silk
Viscose-
This is the point in the series where I’m waving a big red flag in one hand and holding up a gorgeous fabric with a silk-like sheen in the other—one I’d love to use for a rug but never will. When viscose first gained popularity, it was glossy and attractive, so I made the mistake of specifying a stunning off-white viscose rug for a client—who, thankfully, does not despise me. Salespeople don’t always tell you what they should, and that rug… ugh. Lesson learned: viscose is ruined by moisture.
I had another client with a viscose carpet in her bedroom (chosen, fortunately, by the designer before me). Since her bedroom was right next to the master bath, she often stepped onto the carpet with damp feet after showering. By the time she showed me her pricey, relatively new rug, it was destroyed. She loves the new carpet I recommended—it’s polyester. It can handle moisture. Now, I only specify viscose for window treatments and decorative pillows.
Oh, and don’t fall for something called “bamboo silk.” It’s just viscose. A clever rebranding by salespeople, but the same terrible issue. Yes, it’s still viscose.
Wool-
Wool is definitely one of my go-tos. Personally, I don’t find it all that comfortable for a sofa since it can be a bit itchy. But I have glamorous clients who absolutely love their mohair sofas—mohair being a luxurious type of wool. And I get it—mohair is stunning.
When it comes to rugs, wool is one of the best materials out there. A high-quality wool rug shouldn’t pill and is relatively easy to clean. Fred and Ella can manage to wreak havoc on just about any rug, but wool and polyester give me the best chance of survival.
Silk-
If you’re after Greta Garbo-level glamour, nothing compares to the look of luxurious silk. For my very first design project, I created a room drenched in passionate sunset-hued silks—burnt orange, golden yellow, and turquoise. Absolutely stunning, because silk offers a depth and richness of color that few other fibers can match.
It’s a dream—unless you have cats, who love to claw it. As a window treatment, silk is unparalleled, provided it’s lined and kept out of direct sunlight. And here, you can see a sumptuous silk velvet on this luxurious settee. While most silks are prone to fading, some claim to be fade-resistant. There are poly alternatives that mimic silk’s glam appeal, but I totally respect the purist who knows the difference.
