CHANNELING STYLE
A century-old tufting trend with a stylish, contemporary edge
HIGH POINT, N.C. — The latest trend to add a fresh flair to upholstery is channel tufting. At last fall’s High Point Market, the often comfortable and always stylish look was everywhere. Now it’s showing up in local homes and showrooms.
This technique for upholstering furniture uses a horizontal or vertical stitch instead of traditional button tufting. Tufting of any kind is a labor-intensive craft.
“Horizontal tufting, also known as channel tufting, was popular for automotive seating design as early as 1916,” said Tina Nicole, CEO and lead designer at Nathan Anthony. “The look had a big resurgence in the 1950s, with even wider or more exaggerated channels.
“The current resurgence references pleating techniques in fashion apparel, seen now in couture houses all over the world and on the streets of Europe.”
With the popularity of the upholstered headboard in recent years, channel tufting has found its way into the bedroom. Nathan Anthony’s Baron bed features deep horizontal channel tufting on the headboard and side wings covered in knife-edge fabric.
Shadyside interior designer Alisha Gwen has featured channel-tufted pieces in her projects, including a Vanguard bed with a white headboard in a bedroom.
Channel tufting is especially effective in mid-century modern design, said Ellen DeLong, director of upholstery and outdoor for Century Furniture.
Century’s Details wing bed comes with vertical or horizontal channeling. At High Point, its Tall King version was shown with a straight top, flat wings and a vertical channel. An acrylic foot is an option.
“Channel tufting offers a high level of detail and style without being overly ornate,” Ms. DeLong said.
She said the trick is to match the width of the channels to the proportions of the furniture. “This can be particularly challenging with curved upholstery.”
The look works in any room in
the house. Ambella Home’s Lana bench has acrylic legs and a deep channeled seat that was inspired by a vintage version the company’s designers found in Palm Beach, Fla.
Sue Anderson, owner of Meadeworth Interiors, sees channel tufting as a way for homeowners to update their look.
“This style of channeling goes well beyond just fabric surface weaves to relieve the monotony of hard surfaces of wood furniture and hardwood or tile floors,” she said.
“Don’t be square. Enjoy the curves!”
Ms. Gwen also sees it as a way to update or modernize a room.
“We chose a channel tuft for a modern twist on traditional tufting,” she said. “We needed the tufting for depth and to highlight the texture of the fabric but wanted modern, clean lines, making the channel tuft a perfect option.”