VALLEY WEEKEND : BARGAINS : Tailoring Slipcovers to Fit Most Budgets : At Galsworthy Studios, you save by avoiding the middleman. Fabrics are as low as $4 a yard.
It seems like the slipcover craze just keeps gaining momentum. And why not? It’s economical, decorative and offers the variety we’re always looking for.
And now, the consumer-at-large has direct access to the sub-contractor. When setting up the process to have slipcovers made, we used to deal with the furniture store or the fabric store as the initial contact. Only in the last few months have we been dealing directly with the contractor, which saves a considerable amount of money. No middleman costs here.
Galsworthy Studios in Burbank has been focusing on slipcovers for several years. Their large showroom holds samples of finished pieces so you can see exactly what to expect when ordering.
You may provide your own fabric--if you can find a better deal--or choose from their selection. The Bloomcraft and Fabricut cotton solids that retail for $24 to $30 per yard are sold by Galsworthy for only $4 because they buy direct from the mill and buy last season’s line. But you may find that last season’s fabrics are some of your favorites.
Some Waverly fabrics that retail for $25 to $35 per yard are offered to Galsworthy at such low prices that they can sell them at $5.95 a yard. The popular damasks start at $5.95, and there are about 50 patterns to choose from.
Here’s an idea of labor prices and the yardage required to figure your total costs:
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Fabric Item Labor+ needed Standard Chair $112 8 yards Wing Chair $127.50 9 yards Dining Chair (seat & back) $105 4 yards Standard love seat $145 12 yards Standard sofa (2 or 3 cushions) $155 16 yards Pillowback sofa $225 20 yards Ottoman $45 3 yards
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Turnaround time is 10 to 14 days.
Co-owner Diana Galsworthy tells me that more and more people are going to the more tailored look in slipcovers instead of the once popular “shabby chic” look, so don’t feel you’re out of sync if you prefer the neater, trimmer fit.
A deposit of one-third the total is required up front.
* Galsworthy Studios, 10510 Victory Blvd., North Hollywood. Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m.-noon. Cash or check only. (818) 508-6837.
Weekend Super Sale: For boys’ and girls’ clothing, newborn to Size 8, it’s wholesale prices on Friday and Saturday at the Karen & John Warehouse Outlet. These are brightly colored cotton knits, mostly separates, at about half the retail cost. For example, a shirt that would retail for $14 is $8 and a pair of leggings some stores sell for $22 are $10. Hours: Friday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Karen & John Warehouse Outlet, 145 Vista Ave. Unit 111. (behind Marie Callender’s at 2300 E. Foothill Blvd.), Pasadena. (818) 792-9515.
