Larry Laslo creates classic interiors, with a little drama as his signature. Here he proposes a living room inspired by his new fabric line for Robert Allen.
 
 
 
"This is a viscose blend that looks handwoven," says designer Larry Laslo. "Nurture [in Tidal] is soft and homespun—it has what I'd call a lightness of being. It looks great with silk, with things that have luster. I'd use it on a tallback dining chair—the climbing tree pattern would really show off. And it would be a beautiful tablecloth. I love draped tables. Nothing more elegant." ROBERT ALLEN: 800-333-3777
 
 
 
 
"I just used NATURES WEB [in Mica] on top of a blue taffeta for curtains. Don't sew the two together, so you can draw the silk curtains and let the sun shine through the polyester fabric." ROBERT ALLEN: 800-333-3777.
 
 
 
 
"The surprise of ELEMENTS [in Sea] is the fun of its color." Laslo gives the classic leopard print a playful update. Make pillows out of the rayon/polyester to spruce up a sofa. ROBERT ALLEN: 800-333-3777.
 
 
 
 
"I would hang PRECIOUS METAL [in Platinum] as a shower curtain with a liner to give your bathroom a lift." Or be more adventurous and use the silk/lurex to make glimmering curtains. JOHN HUTTON TEXTILES: 888-787-7827.
 
 
 
 
"I love tweed for the home. The texture of PANFORTE [in Color 9] is great for a pair of chairs. I even see this viscose blend as drapery dressed up with hardware and tapes." RUBELLI THROUGH BERGAMO: 914-665-0800.
 
 
 
 
"You can do a whole sofa in ENTHUSIAST [in Water] and it won't demand all the attention in the room." The quiet viscose blend sets an ideal backdrop for patterned accent pillows. ROBERT ALLEN: 800-333-3777.
 
 
 
 
"I always look to a small-scale stripe like MOBY DICK [in Moody Blues] for relief from larger patterns." Try the viscose/cotton for a slipcover on a dining chair. JOHN HUTTON TEXTILES: 888-787-7827.
 
 
 
 
Breathe new life into a favorite chair or bench with SHAGREEN [in Caviar]. "I've covered a Chippendale chair with the leather and it gave a newness to the piece." EDELMAN: 800-886-8339.
 
 
 
 
"Showstopper [in Dune] is a warm, sensuous gold, not glitzy or metallic. It's also the right scale—big!—for upholstered walls and fabulous for curtains. I would do both the walls and windows with it," Laslo says of the viscose blend. "When you impose pattern on a room, you have to do it generously, not unlike color—you have to drench a room in color. If it's pattern, use a lot of it." ROBERT ALLEN: 800-333-3777
 
 
 
 
"When a design is small and intricate, it can still be dramatic," says Laslo. The geometric nature of ANCIENT ART [in Dune], a linen and silk sheer, keeps things tight and interesting. ROBERT ALLEN: 800-333-3777.
 
 
 
 
The giant medallions in the polyester/viscose FARELI [in Dune] are perfect for oversize windows. "If the design was any bigger it would be halfway out of the house!" ROBERT ALLEN: 800-333-3777.
 
 
 
 
"NO. 91 ALUMINUM FLAT MESH [in Gold] is exciting and fun. Use it like a sheer with straight draperies on either side. It would also make an interesting room divider." And conversation piece. WHITING & DAVIS: 800-876-6374.
 
 
 
 
"Geometric flowers, like the roses in FANTASY MAZE [in Quartz], feel retro yet modern. You can live with them forever." Try the cotton blend on a favorite side chair. ROBERT ALLEN: 800-333-3777.
 
 
 
 
"NIGHT LIFE SULKY [in Gold Rush] is a leather that really makes a statement. Use it on a small bench or seat of a wooden chair—because as much as I love it, a little goes a long way." EDELMAN: 800-886-8339.
 
 
 
 
"LEOPARDO is a classic. I never do a room without a touch of leopard." Just a bit of the luscious silk/cotton does the trick. Perfect for an eye-catching ottoman. RUBELLI THROUGH BERGAMO: 914-665-0800.
 
 
 
 
"Matte and shine are two elements I work into every room—and now the fabrics I design." LUSTROUS [in Dune] is a durable viscose blend with glimmery notes. ROBERT ALLEN: 800-333-3777.