Rolling Up Wall-Covering Savings : M.H. Designs offers discounts on designer papers and fabrics. Close-outs are the best deals, and in-store consultations are free.

Decorators aren’t the only ones who take notice when the names Waverly, Schumacher, Van Luit, Robert Allen and Bob Mitchell come up. These leaders in home decorating designs in fabric and wall coverings are also widely recognized among the general public.

So when products from these names may be purchased at well below the list prices, it’s definitely a bargain. Marty Helpman, an interior designer and owner of M.H. Designs, provides this opportunity.

With a good supply of wallpapers from major companies in stock at 40% to 80% off the retail prices, the overall savings are substantial.

Start with the close-outs, the best deals of all. A pre-pasted print paper by Brewster lists at $23.99, but M.H. Designs is closing out this pattern at $5.99. Or a lovely French print by Waverly that commands a $16.95 retail price is now $6.99 a roll. Another Waverly pattern is $8.99 instead of the $28 list price.

The bulk of the in-stock designs is made up of discontinued patterns and manufacturers’ overruns. For the look of grass cloth, (strings is the current terminology), try a 36-inch-by-8-yards roll from Aztec for $10, instead of the original $30. Some strings are even lower.

Silk papers, which can add such richness to a room, retailed from $22 to $29.95 per roll and are tagged here at $8 to $11.99.

The watered design of moire in some lovely muted shades fits the traditional as well as contemporary decor. One particularly nice one that retailed for $20.99 is $9.99 at M.H. Designs.

If none of the in-stock patterns fills your needs, there are, of course, the books, and here the discounts run 20% all the time. Sometimes even more.

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There are patterns with coordinated or matching fabrics, which are also discounted by 20%.

Helpman says he will beat any price on the papers.

Although wall coverings take up much of the space, there is also an area where fabric samples are displayed, and the standard discount is 30% off the retail prices.

A particularly handsome solid silk upholstery fabric from Robert Allen, retailing for $26.95 a yard, sells at 35% less, or $17.42 per yard.

Window coverings by Hunter-Douglas, including the very popular verticals, are discounted from 40% to 60% off retail. The price cut on custom drapery fabrics runs 35% to 40%.

Design consultation is offered in the store without charge and at your home or office for $45 an hour.

After a pattern of wallpaper or fabric is selected, a home visit to determine the amount needed is free. Sample wallpaper books may be borrowed without charge for a 24-hour period.

Helpman has been in business in the San Fernando Valley for more than 35 years and recently moved to this address after the ’94 shaker left his previous location unusable.

WHERE TO SHOP

What: M.H. Designs.

Location: 19328 Londelius St., Northridge.

Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Saturday.

Cards: Discovery, MasterCard and Visa.

Call: (818) 366-1721.