Upholstery fabrics & wallpapers
Upholstery fabrics, wallpapers, wall coverings. Pierre Frey (1935, Braquenié, Le Manach), Thévenon (Lyon, 1908), Arte (Belgium). Bespoke curtains and workroom service. Paris 16e Passy showroom.
Showroom since 2012 — Paris 16e Passy & Paris 17e Brunel — by appointment
Marine Naccache, Managing Director, Atelier Matière
Our textile department — concentrated at 19 rue Vital in the 16th, a site historically dedicated to fabric — brings together three reference editors. Pierre Frey, a French house founded in 1935, which gathers the Pierre Frey, Braquenié (18th-century indiennes, historical toiles de Jouy), Le Manach (Lyon silks), Fadini Borghi and Boussac manufactures under one roof: more than 7,000 references of fabrics, wallpapers, carpets and rugs. Thévenon, a Lyon house since 1908, four generations of savoir-faire, prints in Varese (Italy) and weaves jacquards in France, with notable design collaborations (Cordelia de Castellane, Nathalie Lété, Casa Lopez). Arte, the Belgian editor specialising in high-end wall coverings in linen, leather, suede, metal and 3D reliefs (Les Tapisseries, Indienne, Zephyr, Allures), renewed twice a year.
The typologies run from sheer voile to heavy upholstery cloth (40,000+ Martindale cycles), through velvets, contemporary bouclés, natural linens, brocaded silks and stretched leathers. Each fabric is designed for a use: bespoke interlined curtain, stretched wall covering, sofa seat, cushion, woven carpet, buttoned headboard. In our Passy materials library, full roll samples hang freely, so drape, light and weight can be read. We handle bespoke making (curtains, sheers, blinds, trims, finishes) through our Paris workroom partner, in 4 to 6 weeks. Interior architects, decorators, clients and private individuals come by dedicated appointment: Marine Naccache and the textile team guide the selection piece by piece.
What Martindale rating for a family sofa?
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The Martindale test measures fabric abrasion: 15,000 cycles for occasional seating, 25,000-30,000 for a regular armchair, 40,000-50,000 for a daily-use family sofa, 60,000+ for contract (restaurant, hotel). Pierre Frey, Thévenon and Casamance consistently publish the figure. A mohair velvet reaches 100,000 cycles; a raw linen about 25,000.
Can wallpaper be used in a bathroom?
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Yes, provided you choose a vinyl paper or technical wall covering (such as Arte vinylised woven linen), ensure performant ventilation (effective VMC), and avoid direct water zones (shower, basin). Traditional non-woven papers (Pierre Frey) are more sensitive to humidity and are best kept for bedrooms, living rooms and corridors.
What is the standard width for upholstery fabric?
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Standard width is 140 cm for contemporary upholstery, 150-155 cm for sheers, 90-100 cm for some historical indiennes (Braquenié) or Lyon silks (Le Manach). Classic wallpapers are 53 cm (European standard); contemporary non-wovens are 70 cm or 1 m. Arte linen wall coverings go up to 90 cm.
How many metres for a curtain?
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The making rule is a length equal to 2 to 2.5 times the track width for generous drape. For a 300 cm bay, allow 600 to 750 cm of fabric. For height, add 20 cm above the track and 10-15 cm bottom hem, e.g. 275 cm for a track 250 cm above the floor. Lining and interlining additional.
Lined or unlined curtains?
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A lined curtain (cotton sateen) hangs better, protects the face fabric from UV, dampens sound and reads richer. Interlining (flannel bump between face and lining) adds weight, body, thermal and acoustic insulation — the standard of major Paris houses. Unlined curtains are reserved for sheers, very fine cloths or secondary rooms.
Atelier Matière — materials studio and showroom in Paris, active since 2012. By appointment.