Patchwork fever: Designs suggest one-of-a-kind looks

Patchwork is everywhere you look right now: a proliferation of pieced-together patterns on armchairs, sofas, rugs and pillows. It's an ages-old art form given a distinctly of-the-moment spin. Designers are employing materials such as leather and sari scraps to create unexpected furnishings, and sometimes the effect is just an illusion, as in the wool carpet from Company C shown above.

"The style really speaks to piecing together a personal aesthetic in order to create unique and original works of art," said West Elm's creative director, Vanessa Holden. "Today we are seeing patchwork in items as diverse as one-of-a-kind furniture pieces or multi-hued, layered bedding and throws."

Los Angeles designer Sara Palacios created a line of patchwork chairs for spring. "It's all about making things feel like one-of-a-kind pieces," she said. "Patchwork makes them become more like collectibles. It has a relaxed feeling to it."

To see more of the latest patchwork designs from the likes of Peter Dunham, West Elm and Sundance, keep reading ...

Interior designer and fabric specialist Peter Dunham recently decorated the walls of his Hollywood at Home showroom in a patchwork pattern featuring John Robshaw textiles. Photo credit: Karyn R. Millet

A Tarika sari chair from Sundance is made up of vintage khadi cotton saris from India. The patchwork patterns are unique to each chair. Price: $2,295 (shipping is $400). Photo credit: Sundance

The Zola wool rug from Crate & Barrel is a patchwork of 23 hues, $299 to $999, depending on size. Photo credit: Crate & Barrel
Sara Palacios' one-of-a-kind patchwork Gaudi chair, $2,800. Photo credit: Sara Palacios

A handmade Turkish patchwork rug from West Elm is $1,499. Photo credit: West Elm

The Louisa settee from Anthropologie is updated with a minimalist pieced-together pattern called Vera. It's $2,498. Photo credit: Anthropologie

The Kantha upholstered chair from Viva Terra is made from vintage cotton saris, $2,895 (shipping $50).
The evolution of the patchwork trend? Designer Kim Salmela will debut her Kim Salmela Atelier Collection, in which pattern appears as a block of color, at the High Point furniture show next month. The Sahar couch is $4,999. Photo credit: Kim Salmela Atelier