Luxury Trimmings: The Art of Detail in Contemporary Interior Design

Trimmings, the art of detail that makes the difference

Long associated with palatial splendor and classical décor, trimmings are back in the spotlight today. In a world where luxury is defined by precision and craftsmanship, they embody the ultimate refinement: the subtle detail that signatures an interior.

Why they’re back in the spotlight

At a time when artisanal finishes and personalization are gaining value, trimmings are once again becoming a style marker. They allow you to express a taste for bespoke design, bringing texture, relief and sophistication. Trimmings can be used in classical ambiances sometimes pushed to the extreme in maximalist atmospheres like those inspired by Napoleon III style, but also through more discreet touches, or by using trimmings with a more contemporary look.

From classical décor to contemporary interiors

While it was once the privilege of kings and private mansions, particularly in the Napoleon III style where fringes, tassels and braids played a central role, trimmings now invite themselves into contemporary projects. Minimalist or exuberant, they are being reinvented in modern and technical materials.

Quick terminology lesson: understanding trimmings

Trimmings come in a multitude of refined details. Here are the main terms to know to navigate this exceptional universe:

Braids, ribbons and gimps

Flat or slightly raised elements, they border a textile, highlight a seam or draw a decorative frame. They bring structure and graphic elegance.

Fringes and variations

• Marabout fringe: feathery-effect fringe, soft and airy often used as a cushion finish.
• Keel fringe: fringe finished with keels (generally used on seat belts and on curtains).
• Unraveled fringe: fine and slightly deconstructed fringe, with a delicate and lively finish.

Cartisane (sometimes finished with a tassel)

Narrow ribbon, often firm/rigid, sometimes decorated at the end with a small tassel. It is generally placed at the center of armrests or backrest scrolls and can end with a tassel that is added to its center.

Piping

Small cord inserted into a seam to highlight a volume. It can be single (fine, discreet line) or double (more pronounced effect, very “tailoring”). Essential on cushions and seats for an impeccable finish.

Tiebacks

Emblematic pieces: they hold back curtains and dramatize the opening of hangings. Tassels and pompoms sometimes reach the level of textile jewelry.

Outdoor trimmings

Recent innovation, outdoor trimmings rely on technical fibers and specific treatments (UV, salt, humidity). To be combined with outdoor polypropylene fabrics for terraces, gardens and yachts that embrace a true level of finish. Among the so-called technical trimmings, there are also NON-FIRE trimmings to meet the specific needs of public places.

Why trimmings have become trendy again today

Return of artisanal detail in luxury

In an era saturated with standardized objects, trimmings enhance gesture, time and craftsmanship. They are the anti-mass product, synonymous with rarity and authenticity.

Emphasis on material and finish

Velvet, silk, linen, technical fibers: textures express themselves through contrast with rawer surfaces (wood, stone, leather), for a measured but decisive visual impact. There is even luminous trimmings at Declercq.

Dialogue between tradition and modernity

Designers play with contradiction: a luxurious fringe on a minimalist armchair; a classical braid on a contemporary outdoor textile. The result: more embodied interiors.

How to integrate them into your decoration

Curtains and hangings: the theatrical frame

Tiebacks, tassels and braids magnify the fluidity of fabrics and visually structure the window opening. Ideal for framing generous ceiling heights.

Chairs and sofas: from discreet refinement to exuberance

Piping (single or double) and braids highlight the lines of an armchair or sofa, create a colorful break and assert the design of the armrests.

Cushions and accessories: elegance on a small scale

A contrasting piping, a marabout fringe on the edge, a cartisane that runs along a frame: so many details that transform a cushion into a signature piece.

Headboard

A simple piping or even a foam fringe (marabout) can be enough to make all the difference.

Indoor vs Outdoor

Outdoor trimmings now make it possible to enrich garden seating, sun loungers and deck benches. Luxury leaves the living room to express itself in the open air, with the same level of requirement.

Pro tip

Outdoors, favor solid tones and readable profiles (simple piping, short fringe) to visually resist the sun and XXL furniture formats.

The biggest names in contemporary trimmings (produced in Europe)

Declercq Passementiers (Paris)

Founded in 1852, Declercq Passementiers is an institution. Official supplier to numerous historic monuments and European palaces, the house excels in the art of handmade work, with unmatched mastery of complex weaving.

Flagship collections

Historical re-editions (18th, 19th century), theatrical fringes, hand-embroidered braids, monumental tassels. Declercq also offers contemporary ranges designed for prestige interiors and international luxury hotels.

Verrier Passementiers (France)

In the field of trimmings, Maison Verrier also perpetuates a rare family know-how. Their workshops produce tiebacks, fringes and braids in deep colors, chosen for both heritage restoration projects and contemporary commissions.

Flagship collections

Heavy and dense fringes, highly structured cartisanes, deep colors inspired by classical décor. The house is distinguished by the thickness and tactile quality of its pieces.

Samuel & Sons (United States)

Samuel & Sons has become the American reference in high-end trimmings. Their catalog is one of the most extensive in the world, regularly enriched with collaborations with great designers.

Flagship collections

“Metropolitan Collection” for contemporary urban style, “Riviera” for nautical and outdoor projects, colorful marabout fringes. Their strength: a colossal choice and reactive creativity.

Watts of Westminster (United Kingdom)

Watts of Westminster, a London house founded in the 19th century, is renowned for its neo-Gothic and Victorian style. It offers trimmings rich in patterns, often used in classical and institutional interiors. It notably creates ceremonial garments of breathtaking complexity and richness.

Flagship collections

Neo-Gothic braids, imposing tassel fringes, saturated colors. A dramatic trimming, ideal for heritage and decorative projects with character.

PIDF – Passementerie d’Île-de-France

PIDF embodies discreet excellence. Less publicized than other houses, it nevertheless dares bold creations, particularly with its leather collections, with an Art Deco fragrance, adapted to seats and decorative finishes with character.

Flagship collections

Patinated leather braids, cartisanes inspired by the 30s, contrasting piping. A house that cultivates rarity and chic, serving demanding interiors.

Romo × Temperley London

The British group Romo is not a trimming house but it made its mark with its collaboration with Temperley London. A collection where the decorative madness of designer Alice Temperley translates into a complete universe: fabrics, wallpapers and trimmings, coordinated for unprecedented ensembles.

Flagship collections

Embroidered fringes, flamboyant braids, matching wallpapers and textiles. For the first time, trimmings dialogue directly with haute couture, opening a spectacular creative field for decorators.

Trimmings in museums

To admire exceptional historical collections: Musée des Arts Décoratifs (Paris), Victoria and Albert Museum (London), Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York).

Trimmings and high decoration: the ultimate signature

Hospitality, yachts, private residences

Curtains draped with braids, theatrical tiebacks, armchairs bordered with piping: trimmings translate an atmosphere more than a style, from urban palace to yacht deck.

Maximalism, really back?

Between “quiet luxury” and maximalist temptations, trimmings play the tightrope walker. Well dosed, they sign an interior without weighing it down; assumed, they claim the joy of ornament. The real trend? Mastering intensity: a rich vocabulary, precise grammar.