Our IKEA Cottage

In some ways, this little cottage is like a blank canvas. Granted, there are restrictions – such as where the windows and doors are placed and the size of each room – that determine what fits where… but as far as color schemes go… the sky’s the limit. But Kevin’s budget will bring my decorating plans back down to Earth.

In trying to determine what color schemes for each room, I’ll have to find affordable textiles… rugs, upholstery fabric, and duvets. Window treatments can be determined after the big three textiles. As I mentioned in a previous post, it’s hard to find affordable rugs in bright cottage colors. So that will have a lot to do with determining the color schemes of each room. But – in addition to finding affordable rugs – I need to find affordable upholstery fabric. I love IKEA’s Ektorp series for its price but I don’t like the colors of the slipcovers. I could use Bemz for some of the slipcovers but a.) they’re a bit pricey and b.) I am not crazy about their colors either.

I like their Classic Ruta Eggshell Blue fabric and I like their Daiquiri Green fabric but I’m not sure that I want to do the living room in eggshell blue. If I went with Daiquiri Green for the Ektorp sofa bed, I’d want other patterns for the Jennylund chairs and the Bromma footstool. But Bemz doesn’t carry any other patterns that I like to go with their Daiquiri Green fabric.

Should anyone happen upon this blog that can offer some advice, I’m looking for affordable upholstery fabric in bright cottage colors. If at all possible, I’d like to find vintage fabrics or vintage reproduction fabrics. And I’d like them to be washable. But I need the fabrics to be sturdy enough to hold up on a couch. Any comments on where to find fabrics would be greatly appreciated. (I love Heather Baily’s Freshcuts™ fabrics but I’m not sure if they can be used as upholstery fabric.)