Photography by Alise O'Brien
Each summer, interior designer Ken Stückenschneider transforms the look of his country home’s wicker porch furniture with ease. The cushions, dressed in off-white and tan stripes to complement the winter view, are now clothed in a lush fern print that echoes the greens of the trees and tall grasses surrounding the property.
Slipcovers give homeowners the ability to change their décor with the seasons, says Stückenschneider, whose clients, from St. Louis to Aspen, appreciate the versatility that slipcovers provide. Covering a family room sofa or set of dining chairs in a floral or other summery fabric gives a room seasonal flair.
Slipcovers are prized for both their looks and their practicality. Sharon Ward of Slipcover STL, who’s been making them for more than 25 years, says that because the designer can come to the client’s home to take measurements and cut fabric, slipcovers eliminate the need to transport heavy furniture, and they’re typically more affordable than reupholstery or buying new. Clients who inherit furniture can use slipcovers to make these heirlooms viable by commissioning a look that fits into the existing décor. Perhaps their biggest selling point: Slipcovers can be removed, cleaned or washed, and put back on, making them popular in households with children and pets.
Kathy Curotto, a longtime client of Ward’s, likes duck fabric because it’s affordable and can be washed: “We have two little pets who we allow up on the furniture. The couches tend to get dirty from their paws after they’ve been outside. With slipcovers, I don’t have to stress about the mess, because I know I can put them in the washing machine.”
Cotton denim and twill are the most popular fabrics for slipcovers because they’re washable and don’t stretch. Stückenschneider prefers washable cotton duck or linen, and Ward says many clients request white denim. “At first I found this strange,” she says, “until I realized everyone is bleaching the fabric in their washing machines so that it always looks like new.”
Ward sees the benefits of using slipcovers to relax the mood of a home: “Slipcovers make rooms less formal and lend a bit of feminine romance to a space.”
Stückenschneider and Ward agree that homeowners will seek out slipcovers as a means to creating a thoroughly different look in a room. Solid pieces take on patterns; dark sofas go light. “Most clients are trying to cover a plaid or a pattern,” Ward explains, “or they have something solid and it just got worn out, so they want to cover it with a different color solid.”
Homeowner Anne Hopcraft recently bought a sofa at a sample sale, but the color of the upholstery didn’t go well with the rest of the room, so she sewed a slipcover of linen. “It was a way to transform an affordably priced sofa into one that fit into my décor,” she says.
Ward works closely with clients throughout the fabrication process. Using photos that clients email her, she’s able to determine how much fabric is needed, as well as the price of the slipcovers. Clients purchase the fabric on their own, and Ward comes to their home to measure and cut it. Back in her workroom, she sews the slipcovers, then delivers and installs them. “Right now, I’m booking about four to five months in advance, but once I measure and take your fabric, the slipcover will be ready in one to two weeks,” she says.
For clients who love the look of embellishments—covered buttons, loops, ties—the sky is the limit. “I have some clients who love them, but most people just want basic coverings,” says Ward. “A client might remove a sofa skirt or add a skirt to a plain sofa. Decorators, however, often want more,” she notes.
“I love to add grosgrain ribbon and ties,” says Stückenschneider.
