Friday, January 7, 2011

Accent Pillows: Chopped or Straight?

I'm not sure if many of you have given this topic much thought, but do you prefer your pillows chopped (where you do a little karate chop to the top of the pillow, resulting in a V-shape), or do you prefer them
rigid / straight across? I'm a chopper, hands down. I once chopped the pillows on my mother-in-law's brand-new sofa, assuming she'd love the look...but instead, she cringed in horror at the sight of me karate chopping her beautiful new {expensive} silk pillows. After this, I really started paying attention to the way people, friends, other designers, arranged their accent pillows. And now when you look through images of  interiors,  you'll begin to notice that it's either one or the other. I personally think the chopped look is more comfortable and  inviting, versus rigid and straight...but then again, maybe I'm just being crazy!  Do you have a preference? Please throw in your two-cents on this random topic!

{Chopped Pillows}

{Straight Pillows}

{Chopped}

{Straight}

{Chopped}

{Straight}

{Chopped}

{Chopped & Straight}

{Slightly Chopped}

{Straight}
 IMAGE CREDITS: DECORPAD; LONNY
*****
Well, I'm heading off to Santa Barbara for the weekend for my best friend's wedding. We've been friends since the 2nd grade and I'm thrilled to be a part of her exciting day! She's getting married here, and the reception is in a venue overlooking the ocean.  My husband and I are looking forward the drive up the coast , which is beautiful and relaxing. I hope you have a lovely weekend and I'll meet you back here next week. xoxo - Julie

40 comments:

  1. I was all ready to comment on the pillow conundrum, but then got distracted by your friend's insanely gorgeous wedding location. Holy cow that's a beautiful spot! I am unbelievably jealous.

    Back to the pillows. I'm something of a mellow chopper. Straight makes me a little on edge, but if I do a full-throttle chop I sometimes wonder if it looks like I'm trying too hard.

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  2. definitely chopped - but my mum and Mother-in-law are both straight as well- maybe thats a generational thing?!

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  3. Couch chopped, bed straight :)

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  4. wow. you notice everything! i didn't realize there are variations to fluffing throw pillows. having them "chopped" looks cool.

    xoxo
    notsomundanelife.blogspot.com

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  5. oh no! When I see the pictures of the chopped pillows it makes me all edgy because I want to make them stright!!!

    Have a great weekend!

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  6. The first time I "chopped" the sofa pillows, my husband looked at my like a crazy person. I personally define a chopped pillow as clean-cut and modern so I'm all for it. I also understand it's just not some people's idea of a pretty pillow.

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  7. I'm straight, straight, straight. (First time I've ever said that. Ha!) Chopped just looks too casual (read that as "sloppy") to me, and my obsessive-compulsive tendencies kick in big time. A clean line - which I actually think is more modern - says to me that the person's paid attention to the details.

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  8. I chop! but I have to tell you after looking at the pictures here, I might reconsider my chopping ways. I don't think my chopping achieves the look I thought I was bringing to the pillows. It may not look all that cozy, but rather rigid in a different way. Maybe I will try "unchopping" my pillows for a while. Thanks for talking about pillows!!

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  9. wow, in these photos they all look so enticing... but i'm a straight girl. however, i do like the sloppy placement in the second photo. so, maybe that's a sort of compromise?

    all of these pillows are GORGEOUS, holy crow!

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  10. I tend to be a straight girl, and when I'm feeling frisky, I can handle a "slight" designer chop on a pillow or two!

    whitneybrock.blogspot.com

    latest post:
    http://whitneybrock.blogspot.com/2011/01/no-kids-in-master-bedroom.html

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  11. Straight! no chopping allowed around here...

    http://styleanddesign.blogspot.com

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  12. I'm definitely a chopper, it makes the pillows seen fatter and I hate wimpy pillows !

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  13. I would go for straight. That is if its not easter and I am in a rabbit-mood. Then I would go for chopped. :)

    I love your blog and I have been following you for a while. Now I want to invite you and your readers to my blog!

    I am trying out comments in english.

    Please let me know what you all think!

    Have a nice weekend!

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  14. Definitely straight! No doubt!

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  15. I'm a reformed chopper. It's seems staged to me. And I absolutely LOVE the courthouse in Santa Barbara. It's one of my favorite buildings. Have fun at the wedding.

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  16. I am definitely a chopper! It is funny that you mention this topic because on last season's Million Dollar Listing one of the real estate agents (Chad Rogers) went arond karate chopping all the pillows before showing the house. He was really getting into it too!

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  17. Definitely straight! Zero chopping in this house!

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  18. straight, absolutely poker straight. i actually detest the chop.

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  19. Straight!!! I've down the opposite and straightened the pillows out not understanding why they were crinkled.

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  20. Straight or slightly chopped. The really chopped ones look like they need more filling. They make me want to reach over, straighten them, and fluff the filling.

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  21. Funny I always think of this. Think chopped make them feel more expensive like they have down inside instead of foam. It's not that the shape is better.Straight looks neater. I guess it depends on the look you're going for.

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  22. I think it depends on the pillow... more stuffed, firm pillows should be straight, but definitely chopped on the downy squishy ones!

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  23. I have to do straight. Chopped resembles that butt prints my cats leave on my pillows after napping. I can't be having that.

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  24. I'm going to be Switzerland and say it depends on the context? I actually like a combination of both. I lean towards chopping because only down pillows "chop" beautifully....Making them both cushy comfy and luxurious. Probably pretty lame but I'm goin' with it. Vanna

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  25. Im embarrased to say I dont think Iv noticed the chopped versions before, but they just dont looke right somehow(sorry!) my vote is for straight.

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  26. Definitely straight. When I chop it looks like I'm trying too hard.

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  27. tossed & fluffed. Not a fan of the chop.... It looks too contrived for me.

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  28. I am a total chopper! But some of my pillows are too stiff so I can't chop them! Im allergic to feathers so I can't have down ones that chop so beautifully! Bummer!

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  29. Being a designer whose style is definitely on the contemporary side, I used to detest the chop because it reminded me of more traditional interiors. But the funny thing is, now that I have upgraded to using only feather inners, I proudly chop all my cushions. It is a little snobby touch I think, because you can't chop cheap foam inners. And they just look more designer-y.

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  30. Chopping to me looks like someone is trying too hard and makes me feel uncomfortable! I'm a straight girl for sure but not super rigid, fluffy and soft works! (Never thought this topic was this controversial! ;))

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  31. Straight and smooth :) I never noticed this much really...lol. But now that I think of it, chopped pillows remind me of the fold in a fortune cookie and I don't like that much for a pillow. LOL!

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  32. Hi there

    We love this blog post.

    And couldn't miss this fitting opportunity to invite you to visit our blog, where we share our creation of our own brand of ecclectic pillows and musings about loving the home.

    http://sisterbatik.blogspot.com/

    We look forward to following your blog in 2011! We love your home aesthetics!

    Thank you

    SisterBatik

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  33. I have never seen a chopped pillow before, perhaps it´s because I´m from Sweden. I think it looks nice both ways.

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  34. I prefer semi-chopped - it gves that cushions more character without appearing squashed.. i thought it was only me that thought about this! :)

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  35. Until now I never asked this question ... Seeing your photos I think I definitely prefer straight pillows.
    Regards!

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  36. i love all of your comments! i had no idea that so many of you felt so strongly about this topic :)

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  37. I am definitely 100% a chopper! I think it's a designer thing though. My non designer friends are straight I've noticed.

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  38. I go for chopped. I agree that it is a designer thing. You'll never see a chopped pillow in a big box furniture store but you will see chopped in the design center.

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  39. I personally don't like the chopped form. It makes me cringe a little bit and makes me think of the movie Tonari no Totoro. I don't want to squish Totoro!

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  40. I was mystified the first time I came across chopped pillows (thanks for giving this styling phenomenon a name for me, too...), and then found they were popping up everywhere. Even though I've got used to them now, I'm still not keen... partly chopped is a good way to be a little more casual, but I think I like my pillows straight, and my dishevelment in other areas!

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Thank you for your comments! I appreciate you stopping by :)