The most trailblazing applications often debut within the walls of showhouses, the playgrounds for design’s boldest ideas. This season, we spotlight the designers applying passementerie as both punctuation and prose in their creative storytelling, from daring juxtapositions to quietly disruptive touches. Each project reveals just how far a single cord, fringe, or tassel can go in reshaping a room… and the future of trimming.

 

MUSE NOIRE INTERIORS

For Ashley Ross of Muse Noire Interiors, design is a way to illuminate culture, memory, and belonging. In her immersive installation Sit Lux Prive from the Kips Bay Decorator Show House in Dallas, Ross transformed a private tasting lounge into a living narrative, marking a full-circle moment for Ross as an alumna of the Boys & Girls Club.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trim, like every detail in the space, became part of a larger visual language. Striking Calisto Key Tassels in Crimson added dramatic weight to the base of each bespoke tracer loop light, and a Saisons Tassel Tieback in Geranium anchored an abstract corner installation, bold visual beacons that invite guests to step into the light and engage in deeper conversations about home, history, and identity.

 

“I wanted to challenge myself with a bold palette that would make people pause and wonder, ‘Could I pull that off?’ Red became the anchor, a nod to African American culture, where it symbolizes unity through shared ancestry and strength. Even in a small space, I didn’t hold back. Instead, I used crimson key tassels and tiebacks in some pretty unconventional ways — a final, striking finish in an installation full of meaning and drenched in culture.”

- Ashley Ross, Founder and Principal Designer of Muse Noire

 

JAMES THOMAS

 

Along the ascent of the “Painted Passage” by James Thomas Interiors, a radiant vignette unfolds in clever chair tie applications, bountiful fringe, and climbing borders. The Annecy Cord and Chair Tassel in Red and Gold turn a mounted photograph into an elegant illusion, appearing to suspend the framed artwork with unexpected whimsy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Cambridge Strie Braid in Cranberry frames the upholstery of a tiger-striped chair, accompanied by a delicate coordinating Cord, which traces its plush seat. The braid appears again on the window's sculptural cornice in shade Blue Wonder. Tracing the patterned drapery below, the Sloane Velvet Border in Merlot builds on the scheme's rich reds with an elegant leading edge.

 

 

 

 

The same velvet border circles a zig zag table skirt, layered on either side with the Sophie Border and Bullion Fringe in Dijon. A foot stool is encircled by the Cambridge Cord and Strata Marabout in Navy, adding a tailored edge and soft dimension. A striped drape defines the vignette from the adjacent room, gathered to the side by a Sophie Cable Holdback in Dijon.

 

 

 

 

Tucked below the captivating rear stair hall, James Thomas Interiors wrapped a jewel box powder room in patterned wallpaper outlined with Le Jardin Silk Gimp in Ocean, building on the ornate sink’s porcelain blues.

 

Illuminating this decadent nook, domed sconces are defined by the Cambridge Strie Braid in Cranberry, echoed just outside in the hall, where bespoke ceiling lights mirror their form.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“When selecting trim, we approach it as both a finishing touch and a vital layer of design… Every border, fringe, and cord becomes part of the design’s cadence, adding a refinement that subtly completes the story.”

- James Thomas Interiors

 

TONI BLACK

 

Grounded in the timeless ritual of storytelling among women, Toni Black of Blacksheep Interiors crafted the intimate Gathering Bar at WOW!house 2025. A masterclass in warmth and allure, this home bar champions craftsmanship, enveloping guests in a cozy, cocoon of trimmings, where every detail encourages lingering and rich conversation.

 

Thoughtfully layered trimmings play a crucial role in shaping this ambiance, placing emphasis on soft, welcoming curves. Inca Brush Fringe in Rainforest adds a tasteful skirt to each barstool, while a plush banquette airs more on the side of statement-making with the Margaux Bullion Fringe in Aubergine. The pillows above are encircled by a dynamic mix of Trianon Cord in Citrine, Swiss Velvet Piping in Graphite, and Carolina Ombré Brush Fringe in Tuscany.

 

 

 

Heavy velvet drapery receives a Carolina Ombré Tassel Fringe leading edge in a lively Tuscany palette, a final tactile accent that invites guests to relax and stay awhile.

“We used trimmings from Samuel & Sons as an extra layer of texture — a series of subtle touchpoints that bring finesse, curiosity, and a little surprise to the space. On the curtains, the trim adds a fun and unexpected detail, while across the cushions, sofa and bar stools, the colours echo the room’s palette but also introduce fresh notes of teal and different takes on blush, adding contrast without feeling too matched.”

- Toni Black, Luxury Interior Design Director & Partner, Blacksheep.

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