My travels in Western Europe and visits to traditionally decorated homes and castles have made a big impression on my decorating style and experience. One of my favorite decorative delights is viewing the textiles used in luxurious homes. I’m particularly fond of the textural and visual impact of soft, plush velvets and smooth, shiny silks and the lovely patterns and contrasts they create. While my home is nowhere near as luxurious as those showcased here, I do try to incorporate some velvet, grasscloth, partial-silk curtains, and other texture-varying features into my rooms.
 
I’m sharing some pictures from my travels here to display fabrics from The Residenz in Munich, Germany, the seat of the former Bavarian monarchy, and Hardwick Hall in Derbyshire, England, the home of Elizabeth Cavendish, Countess of Shrewsbury (a.k.a. Bess of Hardwick). I hope these will motivate you to consider varying the fabric types used in your traditional decor.
 

The Residenz in Munich, Germany

 
Pictured above are two velvet chairs in my favorite color–dark red. They are embroidered with now-faded gold silk thread. Behind it is a beautiful green silk curtain in a green damask. The velvet looks extra plush against the light-reflecting background.
 
I love the high sheen of this silk fabric against the intricate embroidery used on the walls and bedding. It bounces so much light around the room.

The sage green silk fabric covers the chairs, bed, and walls of this room and is left bare to reflect all of its beauty. The embroidered trim tape adds geometric lines to the bed and chair. The silk damask tester canopy is a coordinating ivory color with sage green fringe and tassels as accents. The walls are pure, smooth silk. I want to touch everything in this room.


Here’s an example of a fabric more typically used to upholster walls, a silk damask embroidered pattern.

As a variation to silk on silk damask, the walls of this room are boldly patterned with velvet damask fabric, giving the walls and coordinating furniture a luxurious warmth and depth.



 

Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire, England

 
In this impressive four-poster bed, the bedding is silk, but the curtains are a cozy velvet. Inside the bed canopy, gold-painted wood adds additional juxtaposing shimmer.


This blue-curtained bed is made of a glossy silk damask print with coordinating fibrous fringe and embroidery.

This hand-sewn embroidery piece by Elizabeth of Shrewsbury–hence the E’s and S’s–uses faded, gold-threaded and silk applique on a red velvet background with a silk embroidered border.