Lelievre | Radiance

Radiance is a plain, lightly lustrous cloth with a fine, tight weave that catches light along its surface rather than absorbing it, which is exactly what the name promises. It is not a metallic weave, there is no lurex yarn in it, the sheen comes from the finish of the polyester itself, so it stays subtle rather than showy.

The composition is 76 per cent Trevira CS polyester and 24 per cent FR polyester, giving it flame-retardant performance from both yarns, which matters if this is going into a hotel room or holiday let rather than a private house. It is 134 centimetres wide. There are three colourways, Quartz, a pale, cool grey; Platine, a deeper silvered grey; and Vermeil, a warm gilded tone that sits closer to gold than silver. We would choose Quartz or Platine for a cooler, more restrained room and keep Vermeil for a scheme that wants some warmth against stone or dark timber.

We tend to use this on cushions, headboards and small upholstered pieces where a controlled amount of sheen adds interest without competing with a patterned fabric elsewhere in the room, and on wall panelling where the light along a corridor or stairwell picks up the surface as you move past it. It pairs naturally with velvet, with matte plains and with brushed metal fittings in the same undertone. Sold by the half metre; order a sample to see it in your own light, since this is a cloth whose character changes noticeably under different light sources.

There is no repeat to match, so making up is straightforward, though a lustrous plain shows any join more readily than a matte cloth, so we keep seams to a minimum and cut cushion panels from a single length where possible. Given the 134 centimetre width, an upholsterer will usually need to railroad or piece larger pieces, worth confirming with your maker before ordering.

• Composition: Polyester TCS 76%, Polyester FR 24%
• Width: 134 cm (53 in)
• Suitable for: Curtains, Wallcovering, Cushions
• Care: Do not wash, do not bleach, dry clean with perchlorethylene
• Colourways: 3 (Quartz, Platine, Vermeil)