Velvet is the one fabric people either want on sight or not at all. It has a dense pile that shifts colour as you move past it, which is why a velvet lounge never quite photographs the way it looks in a room. Brush a hand across it one way and it goes darker, the other way and it lifts. That pile is the entire character of the thing.
It also has a reputation for being precious that it has not really earned. Upholstery velvet today is a tight synthetic weave, not the silk velvet of a hundred years ago. It wears better than most people assume and it does not mark the way a loose linen does.
What velvet is good at, and what it is not
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Good at light. A velvet suite changes through the day as the sun moves across it. A flat weave just sits there.
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Good at warmth. It is the most inviting thing to sit on in July, and it does not go cold and slick the way leather can.
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Not good with claws. A cat will pull the pile into loops. If you have one, look at Capri or air leather instead and we will point you at those honestly.
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Pressure marks are normal. Where people sit, the pile lies flat and looks darker. It is not damage and it is not a fault. A soft brush lifts it back.
The suites we do in velvet
SYDNEY is a velvet Chesterfield in three pieces, a 3 seater, a 2 seater and an armchair, six seats in total, at $2,399. Deep-button tufting and curved Chesterfield arms. It lands between formal and comfortable, which is why it works in a front lounge room and a family one both.
DIVINE is a three-piece velvet suite at $2,699, six seats, in black or beige. Gold trim, quilted accent panels and a curved modern frame, with designer scatter cushions included. It is the boldest thing we stock. It suits a room you want people to notice rather than one you want to disappear into.
Looking after it
Vacuum with the soft brush head and go in one direction so the pile lies flat. Blot a spill, never rub, because rubbing drives it into the pile and marks the nap. Keep it out of direct afternoon sun, which fades velvet faster in this climate than most people expect. Pressure marks lift with a brush, and a pass of steam held above the fabric rather than on it will take out the stubborn ones.
Delivery across South East Queensland
We deliver up to 160km from Coopers Plains, covering Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast and Toowoomba. Brisbane $55, Ipswich $75, Gold Coast $95, Sunshine Coast $150, Toowoomba $175. Same-day delivery is available on in-stock suites. Pickup from the showroom is free, and White Glove Installation is $80 if you would like it carried in, assembled and the packaging taken away.
Come and look at it in daylight
Velvet is the hardest thing in the shop to judge from a screen, because a photograph fixes the light and velvet's whole trick is changing with it. The showroom is at 1/8 Boyland Avenue, Coopers Plains, open 7 days from 10am to 4:30pm. Call 0487 493 749 before you drive out to check what is on the floor.
Questions people ask about velvet lounges
How much is a velvet lounge suite?
SYDNEY, a 3+2+1 Chesterfield, is $2,399 in blue or black. DIVINE, a 3+2+1 with gold trim, is $2,699 in black or beige. Both seat six.
Is velvet practical with kids?
More than people expect. Modern upholstery velvet is a tight synthetic weave. Blot spills rather than rub, and the pressure marks where people sit brush out. Cats are the real problem, not kids.
Does velvet fade in Queensland sun?
Yes, faster than a flat weave, so keep it out of direct afternoon sun and away from a north-facing window.
Can I see the colours in real light?
Yes, and you should. Both suites are on the floor at 1/8 Boyland Avenue, Coopers Plains, open 7 days from 10am to 4:30pm. Delivery from $55, pickup free.
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