SOLUTIONS
SLIPPING NTO SLIPCOVERS By Deborah Cohen
Tight budgets and casual lifestyles
have brought them back in vogue.
Consider these sources for easy
cover-ups.
Fabrique in Birmingham has a wide selection of fabrics for slipcovers.
admit, I was raised sans slipcovers.
Straight lines and geometry ruled the
home furnishings of my childhood. I've
no memories of spring cleaning and lov-
ingly coveting furniture with chintz and
linen. Fabric coverings always seemed
to say "stay off." But, I've discovered that slip-
covers — once the ultimate symbol of grand-
mother furniture — offer the opportunity to
exercise self-expression and creativity. And,
depending whom you talk to, they're a prac-
tical way to revamp a tired room or to repli-
cate the traditions of New England charm.
Hardly an American invention, variations
of the slipcover were used by the French and
English since the Middle Ages. The English
used them in large manor houses to protect
fine upholstery and to mark the change of the
seasons with grandeur.
In the United States,
slipcovers really emerged
on the scene in the '40s
and remained popular into
the '70s. Much of the cred-
it for making them de-
signer chic goes to the late
Billy Baldwin, a well-
known interior designer
and one-time darling of
New York society ma-
trons.
During his decorating
reign, Baldwin lavishly
slipcovered furnishings in
elegant town homes and
sleek penthouses, often
choosing blue or white
canvas for summer and
vivid paisleys for winter.
Now, slipcovers are
back with a look that is
coming into its own. A
tight economy has
brought them back in
vogue, especially on the
East Coast. They are no longer just for sum-
mer cottages or the change of seasons. While
the trend isn't as strong here in the Midwest,
this coastal tradition is an excellent alterna-
tive for those who crave splash and style but
are tempered by a strict budget.
"Slipcovers are perfect for the early-base-
ment, early-attic look of young manieds," says
Lynda Mvi, of interior design firm Nvi-Dean.
"They are a practical way to update furniture
passed on by parents or grandparents," she