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The story of Preston Velvet
Our new velvet collection features rich jewel tones inspired by the colours used by modernist Australian artist Margaret Preston.
Known for her use of saturated colours and still life in both woodblock prints and painting, Preston was a leading voice in championing an Australian style. Her celebrated works feature Australian wildflowers and incorporate non-European motifs drawn from her travels across Asia Pacific and influences from Indigenous Australian art.
“We named the velvet Preston because of the wonderful colours used in the artist's work. She responded to the Australian light, and her works feature a black outline that emphasises those vivid colours.” - Sebastian Nash, KING Textile and Leather Development Manager.
About Preston Velvet
Preston Velvet is a luxurious, easy-care fabric ideal for sofas, occasional pieces and accent chairs. Incredibly soft to touch, you’d be forgiven for thinking Preston is a delicate textile when in fact, the fabric is classified as heavy domestic, meaning it will stand up to the rigours of everyday living. Velvets are commonly used in high-use commercial settings such as theatres and restaurants, indicating how durable the fabric can be.
Preston Velvet is a collection for people who enjoy colour. The texture of the velvet gives the colours a strong, saturated appearance that injects a sense of luxury and drama into your interior.
The collection includes 16 colourways ranging from rich blues to greens to warm ochres and russets.
Choose from a palette of rich colours including Peacock, Spice and Fern.
Where should I use Preston Velvet?
Preston Velvet is suitable for all soft furnishings across the KING Collection, from modular sofas like Plaza to dining chairs and scatter cushions.
If you’re opting to cover a sofa, we suggest choosing a master colour as the feature for your anchor piece and adding other textiles from the KING Collection to create layers and texture.
“As soon as you start layering different textiles with Preston, the velvet really pops, bringing out the depth and colour,” says Sebastian.
Preston Velvet in Tan paired with Olley in Confetti
Below Plaza is covered in Aegean Teal and works with the Cassia Ottoman in Prestige Saddle Leather and King Boulevard Armchair in Quinn Basalt and cushion in Byron Russet.
If you’re thinking of smaller pieces, such as armchairs and ottomans, choose a colour that you love to feature as an accent. Below, the rich colour of Preston Velvet in Spice contrasts beautifully with the texture of Hamilton in Belgian Linen.
Caring for Preston Velvet
As a heavy domestic fabric, Preston Velvet is very durable, but we do recommend regular care to keep your furniture looking its best. Use a lint roller and vacuum cleaner on a gentle soft furnishing setting for regular cleaning. And, of course, have your covers professionally cleaned as needed.
A lint brush and a light vacuum will keep Preston Velvet looking its best
Is Preston Velvet right for me?
There’s no denying that Preston Velvet is a bold choice that, like all fabrics, requires regular upkeep to ensure it looks its best. Solid colours tend to show marks more than weaves that incorporate multiple colourways.
One point to keep in mind is that the soft covers on all KING designs are fully removable. This means that they are easier to clean but also much easier to replace should you wish. At KING, we believe a sofa is for life, but we understand that lifestyles change, so our removable covers give you the option to update your furniture when the time comes.
All KING sofas and KING soft furnishings feature tailored removable covers for easy cleaning and updating.
If you decide Preston Velvet is the right fabric for you, you can order swatches or visit a KING Showroom to experience the fabric in person. Remember that it is always a good idea to see the fabric in the space where the furniture will be placed to see a true representation of the colour and how it will interact with your space.
If you’d like to learn more about fabrics, read our guide to fabric testing methods. Or read Neale Whitaker's guide to living with colour here.
