Calico

Lynne McCready went out of her way to help us to create the perfect chair! We love the chair and Calico! Everyone was very professional and they catered to our every whim. I would reupholster with them again in a heartbeat. I am telling my friends about Calico. Sincerely, Sharyn Godfrey

Lynne McCready at Calico Corners Pasadena was such a great help to me. Before discovering this store and meeting Lynne, I had the toughest time finding all-​weather tiebacks for my outdoor patio curtains. Once I got to Calico and met Lynne, she immediately knew which manufacturers to research and call, and found a sample tieback for me to try out. It worked perfectly, she placed my full order for me, and thanks to her, I finally got that project completed. She was friendly, very efficient, and a joy to work with.

I have used Calico Corner for window treatments in my previous homes. I did not hesitate to find them again for my new place in So Cal. They have beautiful fabrics that are affordable. I worked with Karen who is one their designers. She took my samples of wall color, furniture and carpet to create several different combinations of draperies that were all gorgeous! We selected a pattern that I would not have considered without her expertise. Kevin, the installer, arrived promptly to take measurements and again for the installation. They are a great team!

We needed 4 dining chairs re-​upholstered and the salesperson Julie was very helpful in making a leather selection. The chairs turned out fantastic. Thank you C.C. & Julie

My husband and I walked in here expecting to find a store packed with old ladies looking for everything ‘country kitchen’ — but boy were we wrong. This place was filled to the gills with beautiful fabrics in amazing colors and patterns from silk to velvet to designer to outdoor — you name it, they had it. Julie was our salesperson and even tho we looked like we couldn’t afford to buy a rag, she spent over an hour with us, showing us endless rolls of beautiful and sturdy cat-​proof and kid proof fabric until we found the one we loved. She told us if we didn’t like what we bought, we had 30 days to return it for a full refund. And that’s exactly what happened. We were able to return it and got our refund with no problem. Yes they are bananas expensive, but not any more so than Mood or Diamond Foam. I’d definitely come back again.

Gorgeous and pricey materials for curtains, beddings and indoor decorative styles only.
I came to look for elastic for a project, this is not the store for that

Ordered a sheer drapery panel with a rod pocket. Simple straight stitch with the rod pocket. Was told that it would take 4 weeks. After inquiring when it would be ready, was assured that it would be done on the Friday, only to find that they could not find the piece after 50 days because it was NOT ready. The sewing needed on this piece could have been done by anyone with sewing skills. Cancelled the order. Waiting for sample template to be returned. Not professional in any way.

Ordered three window treatments that I was promised would be ready in 4 – 5 weeks. The installer came out and measured the space for the curtains. 6 weeks later I was informed they had not measured correctly and I owed them additional money. Really? They screw up and I’m charged. There was no apology whatsoever. The process took double the time promised. I’ll be looking for other options in the future.

I have been going to Calico Corners for many years to buy fabric. As others have noted, the sales staff is a bit stiff but once you get their attention, they can be very helpful and polite. I had a good experience picking out some fabric to reupholster (slipcovers) two slipper chairs I have. The slipcovers were not inexpensive even with the sale so I was expecting good service to go with the price of the covers.
However, that was not to be. After waiting 2 weeks for the fabric to arrive (apparently standard time for delivery), I waited and waited for the upholsterer to contact me. Finally, I was given his phone number and I called him. He claimed he had called me two times but could not get through. This was strange and when I checked on my phone machine, it appeared he had not called. However, I let this go and he told me he would come by my house at a specified time in the next week. However, he did not come. I called in and went in 3 times total to ask about this issue. On the last occasion, someone called the upholsterer and he told me over the phone at the shop that he could come to my house immediately. He claimed he was in the area. He seemed competent at cutting and making a template for my chairs and promised to contact me a week later. Of course, he didn’t. Finally, after I called him, he agreed to come over at a certain specific time which I stipulated because I would have to drive back to my house after work. When I got home before this time, I discovered he had supposedly come to my house and found me «not there» even though I had arrived at the time he claimed he came. Long story short, he said he would make an appointment for 3 days later to fit the chairs.
On talking to the labor manager at Calico Corners about my disappointment and my lack of trust with this individual, I was more or less told that she believed his fishy story about a young lady hanging up on him several time, etc (he had embellished the original story quite a lot!). At this point, I informed her I would bring the chairs to the shop and expected them by the date he had mentioned or I would request a refund!
Good service from the shop staff but poor service, lack of follow up and rude treatment by the labor coordinator. Does she ever contact the upholsterers or seamstresses to see if they are doing their job efficiently? And how about contacting customers to see how the upholstery or other jobs are proceeding? It’s as though once they have you hooked, they just hand you to their laborers and forget you. You have to go into the shop to get any help, such as it is. Very, very poor service and lack of professional conduct by all after the sale!
Finally, my chairs were completed after 8.5 weeks of waiting (in what was supposed to be a 4 – 6 week process). They are beautiful but the experience was not!

The showroom at Calico Corners is beautiful. I love browsing among the samples, it is not a place to be in a hurry. Lovely, tasteful displays are super helpful for creating vision and inspiration. Nothing beats handling the fabrics, feeling their weight and drape and texture. You can go in with no plan and come out bursting with ideas and wanting yards and yards of these globally produced textiles. The store manager, Ramos, is a peach. She is friendly and eager to please.
The trunk show I attended was a delight. The tea party was charming and well planned, with china with all the dainty sandwiches and scones a girl could dream of, all artfully laid out for attendees. I felt spoiled. When it was time to open the trunk and display all the new patterns and colors, well, ‘Wow’. I got a primer on what is new and on trend for 2014, and a mint Julep besides. I do not currently have a chair to reupholster, but now I am thinking of sewing an amazing jacket or vest out of the gorgeous textiles I saw.
I should have worn a hat like the flyer encouraged me to do! I won’t miss it next year.

since I wrote my previous review, most of the curtains installed by Calico Corners have started pulling out of the plaster walls in my house. These are curtains that do not get opened and closed on a daily basis, so it is clearly from poor installation. I would definitely avoid this place if you want actual service and quality installs. Who knows how much it will now cost to have someone come and fix their poor work.

I’ve been going to this store for years and years. In fact, I started going to Calico Corners when it was truly a bargain store and fabrics were all seconds and dirt cheap! I’ve gone along with all the changes over the years and have bought countless yards of fabric from both this store and the Studio City store. The sales staff has always been nice and friendly, some more than others. The fabric selection used to be fabulous, but in the past 6 – 8 years… it’s really gone downhill. I’m not sure why, maybe new owners or management, but after my trip there today… I just had to write this review expressing my displeasure.
First, I hadn’t been in the store for several month, not needing any fabric for design projects. But, what happened to all the employees that have worked in this store for many, many years? They’re ALL gone! Completely new salespeople. They tried to be helpful, but they obviously didn’t know much about anything. They all seemed like it was their first day on the job! Now, that’s OK, everyone has to go through a learning process, but it was just odd not to see at least one face I recognized.
Second, the fabric selection is not what it used to be. Higher prices and in some cases not the quality that I’ve seen in years past. And what’s with all the fabrics that designers have attached their «name» to? Some of it is pretty sad!
I know that there have been major changes in the fabric industry, with manufacturers only putting fabrics into production after orders for «X» amount of yardage have been met. And I realize that things change and that’s just the way it is. But I guess I feel that the changes at Calico Corners are NOT for the better.
So…I’m sad because there is really nowhere else to get nice upholstery fabrics without going to the Pacific Design Center… and if you think Calico’s fabrics are pricey, they’re nothing compared to the prices at those designer showrooms.

First of all there are several major things wrong with the store. One of the biggest things is the staff. I have been coming here for probably eight years and have bought A LOT of fabric. The staff can be incredibly snooty and rude and are only interested in helping designers or blissfully unaware/​money coming out your ears customers that are ready to blow $ 20,000 on draperies.
The fabric is indeed overpriced especially considering you can get most of these exact fabrics online at a fraction of the cost. But this is how they make money so I get it. On the other hand the cost to get anything made whether it’s furniture or draperies is exceedingly overpriced. I got a quote for one pair of pinch pleated pair of drapes and the cost including fabric came to over $ 3000. I bought the same fabric online and took the fabric to a drapery workroom (like where your Calico Corners drapes are made) in Montrose and had the same exact triple pinch pleat drapes made for $ 500 including fabric and blackout lining. Boo yah.
My last issue also has to do with customer service. I had to buy fabric to slipcover a large sofa. I told the salesclerk that the fabric had to be machine washable because I have several young kids and a dog using this room. She picked out an off-​white grain sack looking fabric which she said was 100% cotton and machine washable. Bought the sofa had slipcover made fabric prewashed and sewn professionally by the sofa company and after one washing and hung to dry the fabric completely fell apart. Come to find out the fabric is woven & even though it was surged and sewn properly it completely unraveled. Not only that but it turns out the fabric is not 100% cotton. Spoke to the manager who stated this was not really their problem and would not offer a refund or exchange even though their salesclerk had insisted to me that the fabric was indeed machine washable. Now I have to take Calico Corners to small claims. Ugh.
Lesson: buy your fabric online at places like
(they always take returns!) and get your things made directly by a workroom whether its drapes, roman shades or reupholstered furniture. Cheaper and better customer service!

I love the fabric choices! It is a rather high-​end store and primarily carries unique fabrics for curtains and upholstery. Some of the salespeople do seem a bit snobbish but I just focus on looking for what I want and don’t let them bother me! I always try to engage people in humorous conversation and perhaps that breaks the ice! High quality merchandise but marginal service! If you are intimidated by someone looking at you as though you’d just crawled out from under a rock, then don’t go! If on the other hand you want to pay fair prices for fabulous fabrics, this is the place for you!

They must have read the reviews… The times I visited the store, the sales help was quite nice. The selection of fabric was a bit limited. Nice side note: they offer free swatches via mail. They arrive in about one week’s time. A postage paid envelope is included for return of swatch.

This store is the worst I have ever experienced in customer service. The staff there is rude and incompetent, and they know nothing about fabric or sewing. Furthermore, there is never anyone in charge. They rip customers off and try to get away with it.
I purchased 4 and a half yards of fabric there in Oct. 2013 and got only 4 yards. When I took a day off from work to return it, they told me to go away and come back when a manager was there. I persisted (never pleasant when you are a cheated customer.) Then they tried to blame it on me, saying the fabric had shrunk. I explained to them that fabric doesn’t shrink only in one direction; otherwise it would get puckered. They finally measured the fabric, saw I was right, and agreed to send me the correct amount. I left my incorrect amount there. That was a month ago (it’s mid-​December 2013). I paid $ 62 for this fabric and still have nothing. I called today, and they said it should arrive today (Sunday). The person there was just lying to get rid of me.
Calico Corners Pasadena, Calif. is worth no stars. I will never shop there again and you shouldn’t either.
It’s also very expensive. Overpriced in fact. I recommend you go to Joanne’s in La Canada (the staff actually knows how to sew and upholster) or of course to Mike Levine’s.

I ordered a pair of sheer draperies with a 4-​inch hem per signed contract in late July 2013. The finished product turns out to be a European hem. I called the store and offered to send a picture of the drapery hem via email to save my driving back and forth. I was told that I had to bring the drapery back for them to see. While at the store, I was told that the fabric did not have sufficient length to make the 4-​inch hem and the maker made the decision to go with the European hem. And, they said to me that the European hem was «better.»
I thought I was getting an «expert» advice when I ordered the draperies. The lack of expertise of the store employee caused such a mistake. Instead of acknowledging it, he said there would be no fabric fitting my window length, which is a mere 93.5 inch long. He didn’t tell me this until after the draperies were finished. Second, there was no phone call during the drapery process to alert me the change of hemming method. Third, in today’s Internet age, I couldn’t believe that the store employee would ask me to drive there just to turn his back on me. Finally, the store manager was supposed to call me on September 25 but she never did.

Completely agree with the negative reviews. I will never shop there again. I was oversold fabric, charged for curtain pins, etc. The blinds I had ordered came late and were poorly made.

Love shopping here. Great selection

Hey Unilocalers … This store is getting a bad rap for no reason! Ok shopping a high end fabric store can be intimidating for some. Its not in any way like a Joannes Fabric (a do it yourself limited fabric store). The store has lots of designer fabric that are hard to get only other than going to the Pacific Design Center, plus has sales all the time. The sales people are down to earth and wonderful !. I work with Yvonne mostly. She is helpful and friendly. The rest of the staff always are very nice and helpful.