Guide to Purchasing Upholstery Tacks

Last Updated on Friday, 26 February 2010 15:51 Written by Daniel Whitney Friday, 26 February 2010 13:36

Decorative Upholstery Nails, Decorative Nail Heads, Decorative Upholstery Tacks, Upholstery Decorative Brass Tacks, Leather Furniture Tacks, Decorator Nail Heads, Antique Furniture Brass Tacks, Designer Nail Heads, French Natural Upholstery Nails, Dome Heads, Clavos, Oxford Hammered, Upholstery Tacks, Nail Heads, Brads, Leather Fasteners, Brass Tack Nail Head Trim, Brass Upholstery Tacks.

These are all terms I have heard used to call these decorative upholstery nails. Please email me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you have a term for decorative upholstery tacks that is not listed. "Clavos" is Spanish for nails. Also please send us a email if your are looking for upholstery supplies that you are not finding on this site.

Decorative upholstery tacks can be special ordered with the following shank styles:

Standard Smooth, Serrated, Double Prong, Button Loop Back, Serrated with Spring Prong Washer. However these brass tacks do require a minimum order to purchase for our upholstery supplies department. Many of these speciality upholstery supplies are available only on a minimum purchase basis. Call or email us about the details of your upholstery tack requirements.

Brandt and Whitney Furniture upholstery supplies stocks over 200 styles, finishes, sizes and shank length choices of decorative upholstery brass tacks in our upholstery supply department! Just about every style of decorative nail heads has some variation in finish options available. Some of the latest innovations in upholstery brass tacks are very exciting. We try to stay up with the most innovative upholstery supplies available in our upholstery supply department.

French Natural and Oxford Hammered is the most commonly seen decorative upholstery nail, but that does not even scratch the surface in the world of upholstery supplies and upholstery nails. For special order upholstery tacks we do have some interesting options available. The new Brandt and Whitney Xtreme hardware fasteners will give you the option of:

nail / shank, screw back, cap back, rivet back, button eye, pin back, 2 - 3 or 4 prongs back, clutch back or a wood screw adapter.  NOTE:  There is a minimum order of 25,000 nails with these different backings.

All our decorative upholstery nails are made by the best quality furniture upholstery stud manufacturers in the USA and Germany.  All of are upholstery tacks are solid steel construction with decorative electro-plated plated finishes applied. Decorative nail heads are now available in many finishes including silver upholstery tack finishes.

Not every upholstery tack is available in all finishes.  But the finishes of upholstery nails we offer include: # 16 Oxidized, # 17 Old Copper, #18 Copper Plated, #19 Brass Plated, #20 Old Brass Spotted, #21 French Natural, #22 Pearl Gray, #23 Zinc Plated, #24 Old Nickel, #25 Old Gold 0, #26 French Natural. 23, #27 Old Brass No. 4, #28 French Natural No. 106, #29 Old Gold Spotted, #30 Old Gold Spotted Reddish, #31 Shiny Black, #32 Black Nickel, #33 Old Gold Spotted, Brown No. 2, #34 Black Brown Finish, #35 Old Gold Spotted, Brown No. 1, #36 French Natural No. 107, #37 Natural No. 1, #38 Old Gold Spotted "IT", #39 Platinum, #40 Flat Black, #41 Pewter No. 2, #42 Old Gold Spotted, Z No.1, #43 Old Gold Spotted R, #44 Black Nickel No. 1, #45 French Natural No. 4, #46 Old Gold Spotted Z No. 3, #47 Yellow Zinc, #48 Tin Plated, #49 Nickel Oxford, #50 Old Zinc Spotted IT, #51 Pewter No. 3, #52 Copper Oxford, #53 Light Oxidized, #54 Black Nickel No. 6, #55 Silver Black, #56 Brown Black, and #57 Brass Black.

The most common dome head nails are available in up to about twenty finishes. Many of the designer furniture nails only come in one or two finishes. If you require a special order run for a custom upholstery nail head finish that is not currently available, we require a minimum order of one-hundred-thousand (100,000) designer tacks.

The shank or nail length of our decorative nail heads varies in length from 3/8" up to 1". Smaller decorative upholstery nails have smaller shanks.  A few of our decorative upholstery nails are actually offered in two different shank lengths. The tack head sizes of our decorative furniture upholstery nails vary from 5/32" in diameter up to 1 3/16" in diameter.

When shopping for decorative antique upholstery nails you first need to figure out how many decorative upholstery tacks you will need. You do that by first determining the diameter of the decorative upholstery nail head you wish to use. Second, you need to measure the total length of the area that is to be trimmed. With those two numbers you can figure how many nails you need. If this sounds like one of those high school algebra word problems and you feel like you could use a second opinion on how many decorative nail heads to order, feel free to post to our message board for a second opinion.  Always order at least 10% more upholstery tacks than what you think you are going to need. Look for a vendor who distributes the decorative upholstery tacks in quantities that best matches your needs.

Quality is important! That is why all our upholstery tacks are American and European made. Fine manufactures like Massasoit Tack Band, Heico Fasteners, and Turner & Seymour make the best quality upholstery tack nails. We do not buy our upholstery nails from D.A.D.S. or sometimes called Dads upholstery tacks. We do not distribute the decorative nail heads from China. The quality is not to our standards. I do see some of these Chinese manufactured upholstery decorative nails available on the internet and you can tell from the photos that they are not the same quality.

Installing decorative upholstery nails requires patience and a few good furniture upholstery tools. All the tools mentioned in this paragraph are distributed through our decorative upholstery tack store. A nylon-tipped magnetic hammer No. 36 by C.S. Osborneis a must have. The nylon tip will keep you from nicking the plated finish on the decorative upholstery brass tacks. The other tip on this hammer is magnetic and is useful in the picking up and setting the decorative upholstery nail into your project.

Another tool many upholsters find helpful is the C. S. Osborne Quick Nailer No. 777. This tool will keep you from giving blood while trying to install your decorative upholstery brass tacks. It will conveniently hold up to 5 nails in place at a time while you hammer them in--no bloody or bruised fingers. Even and exact spacing every time!  Load the large end of the Quick Nailer with your upholstery tacks, making sure the decorative upholstery nails are perpendicular to each other and the nail shanks are flush with the base of the tool. Position the tunneled section of the tool over last nail driven and begin setting decorative upholstery brass tacks. Also the C. S. Osborne Magnetic Nail Holder No. 631 is a very helpful tool, especially if you are installing brass head nails in tight areas where the hammer head will not reach.

If you are installing a lot of brass upholstery nails, you might consider using a nail gun.  We have two decorative upholstery tack nail guns that we stock which will easily automate the job of upholstery tack installation. For high volume and manufacturing of items requiring installation of thousands of decorator upholstery brass tacks. I recommend the Design Tool Inc. DTI 7000. Its features are easy to maneuver, very accurate and the light-weight operation reduces operator fatigue. The unique barrel design will drive your decorative nail heads straight in to your project every time. The barrel is designed to drive furniture upholstery tacks in any direction.  The nail head gun will not damage tacks or harm fabric cloth, leather, vinyl, etc. The driving power is adjustable for varying hardness of frame material.  The machine will not waste brass head nails. This upholstery nail head gun speeds up production.  One upholsterer can install the same amount of decorative upholstery tacks as four upholsters manually installing brass furniture tacks. Modifications can be made to accommodate various size brass head nails. This pneumatic upholstery nail gun requires minimum maintenance.

If you are a custom craft shop and would like to increase the installation productivity of leather furniture upholstery tacks, I recommend the Pneumatic Power Nail Gun KZ-312. This specialty pneumatic upholstery nails head gun features a pneumatic power nailer compact design and special purpose decorator nail gun head attachments for the most widely used head sizes and shapes of decorative upholstery nails. It is safe, durable, practical, portable, straight forward, easy to handle, flexible, and fast. This Power Tool will reduce production cost. The nose piece design of the gun easily allows for easy setting all decorative nail sizes, from a diameter of 7/16" nail head up to a diameter of 1 1/8" nail head, including round brass tack heads, square upholstery copper tack heads, oval decorative brass tack heads and conical furniture upholstery brass tack heads & nails. Through a quick connect coupler, the gun is directly connected to your air supply. The controlled pneumatic operation of the Setting Tool assures a consistent nail set. The "front loader" concept is as simple as it is effective. Just drop a nail into the mouthpiece. A magnet in the center will hold the nail in place and allows for horizontal and vertical operation. The gun is exceptionally robust and reliable in operation.

Often when installing brass tacks especially when installing upholstery tacks in antique upholstered furniture, the upholstery tacks are installed over the top of Gimp Trim. Commonly referred to as chair braid or upholstery gimp trim, it is a small 5/8" woven tape. It actually comes in a variety of patterns the two most common are scroll gimp and french braid gimp. We stock over 500 colors of gimp trim, chair braid. We are happy to work with you to help you with your selection of gimp. You can email or snail mail us a color picture of your fabric you are trying to match. You can order cutting of our inventory we will send you up to 10 small cuttings for 1.00 postage.

It is worth mentioning that chain link decorator trim and matching tacks are available in a variety of sizes and finishes. This is about the easiest installation of all. Every forth or fifth brad is an actual real upholstery brass tack. The other three or four in the row are just the furniture tack heads and they are all connected. This flexible connection that allows you to trim around curves as well as compound curves with the tack strip. Your leather furniture nail head project will trim quickly and easily. It is not an exact substitute for the individual stud look, but the trade off is it is more cost effective and quicker for very large areas. Some of our connected nails are available on the roll, some or our French Natural trims are available on the strips about 39" each.

What I find more interesting than any of the above mentioned is all the different projects people buy and use these decorative brass upholstery studs for. The obvious is, of course, furniture upholstery and leather upholstery. Our customers use these decorative nail heads to trim wall upholstery, staircases and back-splashes and to decorate antique trunks, foot lockers, cases, jewelry boxes, musician cases, music boxes, clocks, leather crafts, saddles and clothing. I find it amazing to see all the different application these basic upholstery tacks are used for.

Dress Up Your Home Decor with upholstery Nail head Trim

Nailhead trim is a decorative accent that is used to embellish upholstered furniture. The upholstery tacks detail gives furniture a sophisticated look. Decorative nail heads can accentuate the style of the piece, and it is usually used on arms and rails. You'll find it commonly used with leather-upholstered furniture, particularly leather sofas, chairs and ottomans.

History of upholstery Nails

Upholstery nail head tacks dates back to the period of 1560-1643 and the advent of French Country Style during the reign of Louis XIII. The best-known innovation from this period is the Os de Mouton chair. That piece marked the introduction of upholstery tacks as well as upholstered backs and seats with the popular flame stitch pattern.

Uses with Re-upholstering Furniture

You can also use nail head detail when re-upholstering your own furniture to add a finished look and to hide staples or imperfections. Decorative nails come in many designs and finishes. From plain to ornate, polished brass to brushed nickel, you can find a nail head trim to coordinate with your home's decor and existing sofas and chairs. Check hardware stores and home centers for a selection of decorative nail heads.

Individual decorative nail heads must be hammered in one by one. You can get a nail spacer that helps you space upholstery tacks neatly and evenly along the fabric edge. Alternatively, you can purchase a continuous designer nail head trim strip that looks like many decorative nail heads joined together, and you can hammer in every few upholstery tacks instead of each one. To prevent damage to the decorative nail head when you are installing, use a lightweight tack hammer with a nylon tip.

Our in stock selection of over 200 styles sizes and finishes of decorative upholstery nails and tacks are all on our decorative upholstery nail head tack store. If you don't see the decorative upholstery tack or brass nail head you are looking for feel free to call us toll free at 1-(866) 528-4170.

This web site has a message board / blog you can join in the conversation or just get answers to all your decorative upholstery brass nail head questions.

Brandt and Whitney Buys Great Western Furniture Manufacturing

Last Updated on Wednesday, 24 February 2010 16:26 Written by Sam Behling Thursday, 08 January 2009 11:13

Brandt and Whitney, Inc. is very proud to announce the acquisition of Great Western Furniture Manufacturing, Inc. Great Western Furniture Manufacturing, in business since 1954, builds custom furniture guaranteed for lifetime.  The quality and craftsmanship is so excellent that these pieces can be passed down to your children and grandchildren.  Great Western Furniture Manufacturing has always sold only to the trade (designers), but with the acquisition of this company by Brandt and Whitney, Inc., we are now able to offer these custom made furniture pieces to the general public.

Currently, the Great Western facility show room will be by appointment only.  Call (303) 780-9040 to book a time.  We apologize for this temporary inconvenience.  For made-to-order and custom or “knock off” items, please visit our Englewood store.

Designer Closeout Fabrics at Brandt and Whitney

Last Updated on Friday, 23 January 2009 05:03 Written by Administrator Thursday, 13 November 2008 10:21

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Did you know that Brandt and Whitney has a Designer Fabric close out section right in our Denver store location? This is certainly one of the things that most people do not know about Brandt and Whitney. It is surprising how many customers think about using that one of a kind fabric, but are unable to bring themselves to have the upholstery job done as they think, "I simply cannot afford the final price tag." 

The fact of the matter is that with the types and variety of fabrics that we carry in that area, it would not be unheard of to locate just the right fabric from your chosen manufacturer at just the right price.

What is the right price? Well, let's try from $6.95 per yard to an amazing $4.00 dollars per yard. The most amazing thing about these prices is the merchandise that they represent. We have many of the top name designer fabrics in this area of our fabric showroom. Names like Robert Allen, Brunschwig and Fils, Scalamandre, Kravet Green House, Knedler Frachie and Boyd and Dryth, just to name a few. Now we are not trying to drop names, however, let's face it. If one needs a designer fabric and the full roll price is simply too much to bear, why not come and visit us? We will be happy to provide you with just what you are looking for.

In the ever changing quest for just the right upholstery fabric, you may be looking high and low to make the best choice for yourself and your project. It is the quest that is half the fun. However, if you have done the looking thing and been all over town, Joann Fabrics, Denver Fabrics, and Hancock Fabrics as well, and you just haven't been able to locate just the right thing, we would be happy to help you in your quest. 

We also carry a great number of upholstery fabrics from some of the biggest suppliers in the country. Some of these are, American Decorative Fabrics, Ameritex Home, Barston Fabrics, Belaire industries, Belagio Enterprises, Cone Decorative, Craftex Mills, Crestmount, Deleo, Doral, Edgar, Fabricut, KasLen Textiles and this is just to name but a few. And please keep in mind that if you find that you cannot locate the upholstery fabric that you are in need of, we carry all the lines above and more in our swatch gallery and will be happy to assist in your search. We also have a welcoming and pleasant staff that will be more than happy to assist you in finding the best upholstery fabric for your needs, budget and the project that you are trying to complete. 

Have you ever tried to find a silk fabric and begin your hunt only to be discouraged by the price? We have over four hundred outstanding examples of silks in our closeout department. Please keep in mind that the number of yards may be limited in these upholstery fabrics. Knowing the exact number of yards will assist in your search as well as make it easier to rule out the upholstery fabrics that do not have the correct amount of yardage to begin with. Once the yardage is decided upon and the type of upholstery fabric you want for your project is decided now all that needs to be done is to locate the upholstery fabric.

Designed Fabrics From Phifertex

Last Updated on Thursday, 20 November 2008 05:05 Thursday, 13 November 2008 04:24

Although our warm weather has literally gone south for the winter, it is never to early here at Brandt and Whitney to think about the coming warming trends. This is true with all of our products but not any more than with the Phifer family of designed fabrics.

The 2008-2009 stock line of the new designed fabrics keeps so much in mind with the trends that we are seeing in the industry today. We here at Brandt and Whitney are happy and pleased to be carrying a line that offers so much versatility for our customers as this line of outdoor designed fabrics does. 

These fabrics come in two very distinct styles. The first of these is the usable sling fabric.

These are fabrics that are used in frame patio and interior furniture. The fabric contains a combination of vinyl coated yarns with a soft yet durable inner Marquesa yarn. This yarn gives dimensional stability that is needed for the sling like application. The wonderful thing about these fabrics are that they work together to make the fabric as soft as possible to achieve the best look for this application. Some other wonderful attributes of this product are that it is both appropriate for the interior or the exterior. They are stain and fade resistant as well as durable and are antimicrobial and come in a variety of inspired colors that will work for almost any color pallet.

The next of these fabrics offered by Phifertex is the inspired line of cushion fabrics. The company called these fabric this because they are specifically designed to be used in the deep foam filled seating. The fabric has an inherent quality of stretch. This insures that the seating utilizing these fabrics stays uniform and ensures many years of service.

One may well ask what about the color selection for this companies fabrics. We understand that although the company has wide and varied selection of colors in their fabric line any custom combination created by a client can be applied to any type of fabric that the company carries. It really is not limited to anything but the customer's imagination.  

The next item that bears exploring is the green side of this designed fabric. It is our understanding that the company was the first manufacturer in the industry to achieve the Green Guard certification for its interior shading fabrics and outdoor seating fabrics. This is an extremely rigorous evaluation is voluntary by the company and ensures that the highest industry standards are being applied to maintain indoor air quality for the health and safety of building occupants. Phifer has no less than 20 branded products that will also assist any homeowner when it comes to reducing solar heat gain. This also assists in reducing the amount of energy used in a residence for heating and cooling. These screening products also allows for the preservation of the interior fabrics and surfaces that populate the average residence. 

All of these items should always figure into what fabrics and finishes are chosen when one decides what should be used in their homes. The availability of green interior furnishing items should always be considered first before looking at any other viable resources.

Companies like Phifer are looking into the next 100 year and beyond and offer the residential design customer a huge number of choices when it come to what is chosen for the home. We are proud to carry this brand here at Brandt and Whitney.  

Do Fabrics Stand the Test of Time?

Last Updated on Friday, 16 January 2009 11:45 Written by Administrator Wednesday, 12 November 2008 09:41

Here at Brandt and Whitney it is important for us to make sure that our customers have the finest selection of designer and designed upholstery fabrics in all price points and types of fabrics. Whether you are looking for a great deal on that fabric for kitchen curtains or whether you are in need of that special designer fabric that will finally pull together that whole space we have what you are looking for. Selection is but one of the many points of importance that comes when choosing a fabric for even the simplest of projects. 

Some of the other factors include the wearability, the durability and the design. Let's look first at the wearability. As a designer textile customer, it is important to have the selection to make the most informed choice and the most comfortable. There is nothing worse than having to make one's choice out of only a few fabrics. This is why we here at Brandt and Whitney like to make sure that we have the latest in what is hot in the market today.

It seems that after our research on what is the newest and best we keep wanting to move back to the tried and true. I guess this means that we are wanting to make a move back to the classics. This seems to be an appropriate work to use as we move ahead into the fall of 2008. With the changes we have seen in our world and the changes in our economic climate it seems that our customer base is moving to what can only be termed the classics.

The fabrics for this fall and winter season are design debuting that seem to have ageless quality and ones that also transcend the image of traditional patterns as being considered old fashioned and stuffy. It seems that the more ethnic patterns in designer fabrics are becoming the new classics. Designs from Hawaii, the Philippines and even from the farthest reaches of the planet to tribes and peoples that have yet to be named these, are becoming the new classics. 

In our shop and showroom in Denver we see some of the most classic pieces in for reupholstery, refinishing and repair. The features of these pieces of furniture are often the finest of the their time periods. From a rolled arm on an art deco sofa to the lacy crest on a Victorian chair. These are the hallmarks of these pieces of furniture. So when it comes time to choose a fine designer upholstery fabric for these furniture pieces is one stuck, so to speak, with the usual selections or can their possibly be more? It seems that today we are given a choice that is still going to the traditional or classic but with a twist. It seems that the tried and true patterns are being reinvented with a twist in beautiful, fresh colorways. 

The organic and geometric prints with textures are allowing a polished look to emerge that mingles the old with the new. This is being seen in an almost uncanny way with a look back to patterns that were poplar in the 1970s, paired with  fresh color ways that allow the patterns to pop! Designs are clean with a soft edge. What the customer wants is a fresh look that they are familiar with. As funny as a statement like that seems the customers wants to feel at ease in their environment again. With all of the turmoil in the work today homes are becoming a haven away from a world that is increasing difficult.

The corporation of Robert Allen knows this and has presented a brand new line of soft very usable upholstery fabric designed with the customer's home in mind. The line is called Robert Allen@home. The designs reach back to a time that most of the customers who are now purchasing these high end fabrics remember with some amount of fondness. The upholstery fabrics are rich in texture and and color and are utilizing patterns that are both ethnic and traditional. The hand of most of these upholstery fabrics is soft and very inviting with Batik prints, fine wovens, and even the traditional stripes.

In the home fashions industry the buzz word is green! Natural fibers and the ecology movement are important this season. Many companies like Robert Allen, Kravet, Scalamandre and even Donghia as well as many other premier fabric manufactures are emphasizing the cleanliness of their manufacturing processes. Take Fabricut's manufacturing process for instance. This is, by the way, a company that Brandt and Whitney carries. All of the fabrics manufactured in the environment plus line are done so under the most stringent manufacturing procedures. They are passing the Oeko-tex standard 100 rest and the MBDC'S Cradle to Cradle that certifies that products manufactured under these standards are proven safe for the health of the human being and and the environment. 

There is also the use of multi fibers in the newest and most fashionable of upholstery fabrics this season. They are combining bamboo, raffia and organic grown cottons into the fabrics for this season. Decorative touches such as flocking, and embroidery can be seen in some of these newest lines from almost all of the premier  manufactures. 

Another line that is being presented this season will be leather and leather look lines. These fabrics are becoming more interesting than ever.  

Read more: Do Fabrics Stand the Test of Time?

Beautiful Robert Allen Designer Fabrics

Last Updated on Thursday, 20 November 2008 04:56 Tuesday, 11 November 2008 08:54

We are sure by now that you are aware that Brandt and Whitney is able to get almost any fabric that you, as our customer, may need. But were you aware that we here at Brandt and Whitney could also show you these fabrics before and while you are busy making a decision?

Well we can! After more than 25 years in business our contacts through the designer upholstery and upholstery tools industries is, as one might imagine, rather extensive. And so it is the case with our ability to avail our customers of one of the finest designer upholstery, drapery, trim and designer fabric manufacturer in the world. Who, one may well ask is this company? None other than Robert Allen.

For over 70 years The Robert Allen Group has been the premier source for some of the world's finest fabrics and trims. The company has long been recognized as the vanguard of innovation. Robert Allen pioneered the broad distribution of fabric books which allows you, as a client of Brandt and Whitney, to have access to some of the worlds most innovative and beautiful designer fabrics in the design industry. With the renowned Robert Allen Color Library as well as its exceptionally effective method of organization by color, Robert Allen alone is one of the world class leaders in the Designer Fabric industry. 

Robert Allen is known for fabric designers that are inspired by all things that are intriguing and relevant. Whether art, nature, or architecture, their designers are always looking for a fresh approach that allows the end result to be original, stylish innovative and fresh. Today, each of the Robert Allen brands stands out as a leader in its respective market. This allows Robert Allen to provide the finest and most dramatic choices to you, our valued Brandt and Whitney customers . It goes without saying that these Robert Allen fabrics offer you, our valued client, the finest in Designer upholstery fabrics. 

It is very important that  we here at Brandt and Whitney give the widest array of fabrics in the upholstery and upholstery supply industry. We want to make sure that we are presenting the highest quality for the best value and we know that by carrying Robert Allen fabrics, we are giving to our customer base the most comprehensive collections of fabrics to choose from. It is also important that the companies we choose to have on our sales floors are reputable and offer the widest array of colors and style that can be located in the industry today.

So, let's look at some of the wide varieties of colors and styles that are offered by Robert Allen today. As was mentioned earlier, Robert Allen is famous for the pairings of colors as collections. These color collections not only decide what the collection will be, but also how it will look. This may seem to be an easy concept, but to work these collections into an entire line is an amazing feat. But Robert Allen seems to be doing this and doing it very well. We will be looking at many of the color and fabric lines that are carried by Robert Allen.

The first of these amazing color collections that we will be looking at is one called Cameo. The colors in this selection of fabrics is decidedly feminine. Subdued pinks and mauves are the dominate color schemes within this collection. The patterns are classic in their interpretation of what is decidedly feminine. Some of these examples include a pattern aptly named Marble House. This design is a wonderful historic example and pays homage to the fashionable newport Rhode Island summer residence of Alva Vanderbilt. It may not be common knowledge, but Mrs. Vanderbilt loved the color pink. Her entire bedroom suite was done in the color. The delicate interpretation of this pattern from Robert Allen is given a modern touch by the design team at Robert Allen as the the complimentary color choices all have that more than modern flair. Moss greens fades to gold and then turns to pink. It is this type of quality in design that Robert Allen is famous for. This collection also includes tapestries, satin weaves, chenilles and some novelty fabrics. One is called Lamps Alot. This fabric has a bevy of small table lamps woven into the fabric. It would be perfect for a study or that special ladies' retreat within your home. 

The wonderful thing about these color specific books by Robert Allen is that it is easy to find just the color that you need. There is no guess work. Simply go to the book and look up the color and there you have it. Even the coordinates are there should you need one. This is no accident. Robert Allen wants the customer to be able to locate and utilize the colors that are available in their lines.

Let look at another of the specific color books by Robert Allen! The next book is called Dresden. From the name one might have guessed that this is a book of blues. Well, you would be right! Robert Allen has taken the lightest blues and the mid color ways in the blue family and has created a wonderful collection of all that might be available in the blue color family. 

The very first of these fabrics is a wonderful quilted designer fabric. It has almost a dutch flair. Incorporating the tone on tone blue of the true Dresden pottery with an overlay woven in the pattern of a vine and leaf. This beautiful designer Robert Allen Fabric would be perfect as upholstery for that comfy bedroom chair or sofa and would be just as well utilized as the fabric for a roman shade. The weight and the hand, or how the fabric feels, is heavy and wonderful. Along with this wonderful quilted fabric there are also tapestries, brocades, wovens and even contrasting velvets. This is what makes theses book from Robert Allen so easy and well, let;s face it, fun to use. Is it any wonder that Robert Allen is one of the foremost fabric manufactures in world? Robert Allen makes the use of these books as easy as possible for you, the fabric buying client. 

An overview of the beautiful Robert Allen fabric collection in books would more than likely not be complete without a mention of what I consider to be one of the most beautiful offerings out of the Robert Allen Designer Fabric Collection. This wonderful book of fabrics is forward looking and all at once enveloping of the past. This book is called simply Caviar. I know what you are thinking... a book named after a salty fish dish, but it is indeed called just that! Robert Allen has absolutely out done itself with this collection of fabrics. Of course the color way of black in this book is the main theme. But this is a collection that is so much more.

In looking at these fabrics I was impressed by two things. One, the variety and versatility of these fabrics and two, the attention to detail in this Robert Allen collection. 

Let me share with you a description of several of these fabrics that I have found to be, to say the least, beautiful! Let's take a look at one called Sofanor Caviar. What can one say about this beautiful designer Robert Allen fabric? It is fantastic! I was struck, as you will be as well, with the wonderful weaving technique that is shown in this Robert Allen offering. This fabric is a throw back to another time. I picture a Victorian morning room with pale mint upholstery and a red ceiling with walls upholstered in this wonderful black Robert Allen fabric. The very weight and hand of this fabric will make it one of your favorites to use in any room of your home. Some customers might say, "Black, I don not want black in my home. It is not cheery and it is a depressing color"! As a designer I would have to agree with this statement if this is the only fabric choice that it being made in the room. But used as an an accent, upholstered walls, that certain chair, or for that one hard to cover window this fabric would be fantastic! 

The third of these fabric collections that we want to explore is one named Plush Textures. This is is an an extraordinary collection in that Robert Allen saw a need for a gathering of fabrics that would give the finished upholstered product that comfortable look. This is not to say that Robert Allen fabrics are all not comfortable when applied to a piece of furniture, drapery or bedding fashions. It just seems top me after looking at this collection of fabrics extensively there is a comfortable wrap yourself up kind of coziness about these selections. 

The first of these offerings in this book by Robert Allen entitled plush textures essentials comes in colors that are adaptable in most any home. In looking in to this collections there are many fabrics that catch one's eye. In the beginning of this book is a fabric that is called Aoife - toffee. This fabric is a soft but heavy woven. It's content is 49% rayon, 38% cotton, 12% polyester and 1% nylon. It has a washed finish and has been tested for abrasion 21.000 double rubs. This fabric is ideal as a designer upholstery fabric or as a window treatment fabric. The next offering from this book is a fabric named Letterkenny in the color Spice. This unusual fabric incorporates a jacquard weave allowing for raised areas in a diamond pattern punctuated by small droplets of moss green and camel. The hand of this fabric again is soft to the touch, but certainly not any less durable than than the fabric mentioned first. The content of this fabric is 71 % percent rayon and 29% polyester. The color way in this fabric is a dulled peach on a brown background again punctuated by the small dabs of color that we spoken about before. 

Robert Allen has hundreds upon hundreds of patterns and contents to choose from. The idea that anyone would run out of selections within the collection is unheard of.

Please come visit us at Brandt and Whitney. Either in person or over our web site. We are here to be of service either in person or over the internet.

We look forward to helping you soon with one of Robert Allen's beautiful designer fabrics out of the many color way books that are offered from this fine company.