tweed curtains and cushions, opinions

[switchtvoffdosomelessboring]

After staying at a rather nice hotel I'm inspired to change my living room, but on a budget.

I've got an ikea corner sofa that I'm dyeing antique grey, and going to paint one wall grey (ish) and the others white. I'm going to have a carpet a bit like this but cheaper and darker, as I have four kids. I was going to buy some harris tweed and make cushions and curtains a bit like this.

Now I think it all sounds lovely, but when I was telling one of my collegues she made a face and said tweed was for old people.

Is it? what do you all think?

oh and has anyone seen a lamp like this that is as wonderful but a tenth of the price?

Ooh, I think it sounds lovely and cost. I'm thinking of covering some old chairs in harris tweed.

Your colleague either has no taste or no vision!!

Try dwell for a cheaper look a like lamp, although not quite a tenth of the pirice, less than half.

Cosy, not cost!!

Depends on the colours within the tweed - could look a bit sludgy unless the tweed has some really bright shades in it. Also, can it be used for curtains, would it fall correctly or be too thick to bunch up/hem etc? Might be better to have the sofa upholstered in the tweed and choose different cushions/curtains (in much brighter colours picked from the flecks within the tweed).

I really hate to sound like a design snob but those lamps were everywhere five years ago, they are a tiny bit of a cliche now. If you're really keen, there's someone flogging them on ebay for #160.

That sounds great!

this lamp is more vaguely similar than the same, but very cheap

more like it but nowhere near as nice

Ebay?

Tweed is fab, and stylish. It's quite itchy, so best if you put a softer fabric on the other side of the cushion so it can be turned over if it's against someone's skin.

Also, it's quite stiff, so look for a thinner tweed for the curtains so they drape properly.

The overall decor scheme sounds great - but could risk being quite cold feeling/masculine, so you could incorporate some warmer, softer fabrics as well - velvet, metallics, bits of hot pink maybe?

Agree about a splash of colour. I saw a tweed cushion in a magazine with a hot pink trim that looked really nice.

Phew, I'm relieve that you are not all thinking I'm mad! I really like this room. Was going to incorparate aubergine coloured fluffy cushions and throw for the sofa and the tweed cushions would be the 'show' cushions that you are not allowed to use!

I had looked at cheaper thinner material on ebay but thought I'd go for the real McCoy, but may reconsider as I hadn't really thought about how the curtains would drape.

I had looked at high street copies of that lamp (tesco also do one) but they are a bit, well they don't look expensive and if I'm not getting anything fabulous I'm as well getting a replacement shade for the ok ish lamp I have.

I did think of recovering the sofa, but as the tweed fabric is so expensive I'd be as well buying a new sofa altogether - particularly as my sowing skills will stretch to a pair of curtains but no way a whole sofa. There is a company benz that does replacement covers for my sofa, but they are all over £500 ! The dye cost new just over £60 and I have done it before with a different set of covers for the sofa and it worked really well.

Any advice of what I could get for my walls, I really don't want a big close up of a flower and already have more mirrors than, emm a mirror shop.

Harris tweed is beautiful and timeless and I love the idea of using it for soft furnishings. Subtle tartans and plaids would also look good. Have a look here for some reasonably priced fabrics

Regards the walls - I'd get something that subtly nodded to the "Scottishness" of the tweed: a poster from a classic Scottish film or a C R Mackintosh architectural print perhaps.

Sorry if I sounded a bit negative before - didn't mean to, I think tweed is gorgeous (I have tons of tweed clothes) but do think you need to throw a few colours into the mix whih you are doing .

Sounds lovely

Have a look on herewww.anta.co.uk/browse/WoolTweed_38_0_0_na.html for some more ideas.

What about antlers for you Walls. Taxidermy is really in at the moment and would be a bit of a nod to the Scottish influence.

If you don't fancy the real thing then snowhome, Graham and green and re-found have some quirky fake antlers.

Thanks, you lot have some great ideas. I love the antlers idea, had a look at graham and green they are fab. Also found one on m and s website here.

I also love the anta stuff, but am at the price. I've ordered a metre of grey harris tweed with a purple overcheck from ebay and I'll see how I get on with it, at the very least that will make two cushions.

Colourwise, my dyed sofa hasn't exactly gone to plan, it has dyed a lovely dark aubergine colour rather than the grey I had envisaged. Was a bit disappointed at first but think with the grey walls, floors and accessories it will tone in well.

I am hopefully painting this week so post some photos once its all done (as long as you all promise to say its lovely!)

Trixy also lovely stuff on that re-found website but it might just be me but its hard work guessing what section is what!

Just dont forget if your covering in pure wool it may not be washable, so searching for a wool mix of upholstry fabric may be a better idea.

www.melintregwynt.co.uk/journal/tag/hotels

I love these fabrics, I bought my DS1 two blankets many years ago.

I agree it is hard to find stuff on the re-found website. It is one of my favourites and just means I get to look at everything though!!

I did just look and the cardboard deer heads I was thinking of are all out of stock.

I found this for you to make your own, good if you are on a budget.

Thanks trixy, I'm going to give the deer head a go!