Simply Slipcovers

Slipcover 101

When Bill and Gina Ellis, owners of Quatrine Washable Furniture, first got into the business, slipcovers featured soft, loose-fitting designs. By the mid-'90s, styles veered toward a country sensibility, with makers using four prints to make one slipcover. "Then it got a little more refined," says Gina. "We saw a Country French look with broad baggage stripes, flanges, and ruffles." While the overstuffed style is still popular today, Gina says slipcovers have become more tailored. Excess fabric tucks into crevices between cushions, and bare wooden legs show rather than hide behind gathered, full skirts. Read on for more great slipcover tips from the Ellises.