Online - June 20, 2005

Material Girl

Amy Butler Fabric

The allure of chippy furniture and couches covered in overlarge slipcovers faded when you landed your first job with an expense account. The shabby thing just doesn’t feel chic anymore.

And yet … You’re not quite ready to go minimalist. (You have such a soft spot for those matching slipper chairs.)

A few swaths from fabric designer Amy Butler may just be enough to rescue you from a frumpy, whitewashed palette (and all the bad accessories that tend to go along with). Her SunBloom collection is all about unabashed florals, stripes, and paisleys (dig those saturated, spirit-lifting hues). The crisp colors and sharp retro-cool graphics in her Charm line flirt with nostalgia but also cut a provocative profile.

Go ahead, mix and match. Create a pillow or tablecloth. Cover that boring desk chair. Make yourself a handbag. (The site has loads of DIY inspiration; pillow and bag kits are coming soon.)

Butler calls her projects “life decor.”

You can just call them chintz-free lifesavers.

Available online at amybutlerdesign.com.