Modern Fabric Trends: Tiger Velvet

Tiger, tiger, burning bright!

The obsession with all-white rooms in today’s design world, Instagram accounts, and blogosphere seems to never end. But when tiger velvet moves in, a cat-like grace takes over. Maybe it’s time to welcome the tiger into your home?

The gorgeous sofa that Real Housewives of New York Carole Radziwill inherited from her mother-in-law  Lee Radziwill (sister of Jackie Onassis) turned heads when viewers saw it—for good reason. Upholstered almost 50 years ago in Scalamandré silk tiger velvet, the sofa is still a knockout and utterly contemporary. 

Of course lavishing an exotic and eye-catching print on a large piece of furniture piece is not for everyone. In this eclectic contemporary sitting room, designer Jeffrey Bilhuber covers only the seat cushions in the tiger velvet, proving a little can go a long way.

In Tory Burch’s Manhattan living room, a touch of tiger velvet shows off its ability to bring a decadent edge to a richly traditional mix of antiques and vintage pieces. The tiger velvet lumbar pillow can be introduced into almost any decor for an injection of luxe whimsy. Both One Kings Lane and William-Sonoma carry a version of this cushion.

Fashion has decreed animal prints as a new form of neutral and in home interiors it’s no different. As designer Miles Redd shows here, slipper chairs neatly tailored in the Scalamandré fabric create a calm backdrop where the chinoiserie wallcoverings and lapis velvet sofa can shine.

Photos courtesy of: Laurel Home, Architectural Digest, Chinoiserie Chic, My Luscious Life, Decor Pad