Executive Interview: David Zarin on Designing Restorative Spaces Through Texture and Material

We recently sat down with David Zarin, President of Zarin Fabrics, one of the largest decorative fabric retailers in the United States. Since 1936, Zarin Fabrics has been a trusted resource for designers, hospitality projects, and homeowners seeking materials that shape how spaces feel, not just how they look. Known for its vast in-stock selection and full-service custom fabrication, Zarin Fabrics has played a role in everything from private residences to hotels, restaurants, and performance venues.

Because Murrieta Hot Springs Resort is centered on restoration, comfort, and sensory experience, we spoke with David about an often overlooked aspect of wellness environments: the role of material and texture in shaping how people physically and emotionally respond to a space.

Murrieta Hot Springs Resort: When people think about wellness spaces, they often picture lighting, architecture, or scent. Where do textiles enter that conversation?

David Zarin: Textiles are deeply tied to how the body experiences a space. Before someone consciously registers design, they feel it. Upholstery softness, the weight of drapery, the tactile warmth of woven materials—these things affect how relaxed or at ease someone becomes. In hospitality and wellness settings especially, fabrics are not only decorative details. They also actively shape comfort, acoustics, and emotional tone.

Murrieta: How does that translate into environments designed for relaxation and restoration?

Zarin: In restorative environments, harshness works against the goal. Hard surfaces reflect sound, sharp textures create tension, and visually cold materials can subtly increase stress. Fabric softens a room both physically and psychologically. Drapery diffuses light. Upholstery absorbs sound. Natural fibers introduce visual warmth. The result is a space that feels quieter, calmer, and more welcoming before a guest even identifies why.

Murrieta: Your firm frequently works with hospitality and commercial clients. What do those projects tend to prioritize?

Zarin: Performance and longevity are huge. In high-traffic spaces, fabrics must withstand heavy use, frequent cleaning, and safety requirements. But beyond durability, hospitality clients care enormously about atmosphere. A lounge, guest suite, or relaxation area needs to communicate a feeling immediately. Texture becomes a design tool. A velvet reads differently than a linen. A matte weave creates a different mood than a subtle sheen. Those choices influence how guests inhabit the environment.

Murrieta: Many guests come to resorts seeking an emotional reset. Can material choices genuinely affect that experience?

Zarin: Absolutely. Spaces influence physiology. Softer visual and tactile environments encourage the nervous system to downshift. When materials feel natural and balanced, people tend to physically settle more quickly. That’s why thoughtful resorts feel restorative in ways visitors struggle to articulate. The environment itself participates in the experience.

Murrieta: Zarin Fabrics has been a design resource for generations. Has your understanding of comfort evolved over time?

Zarin: Dramatically. Comfort used to be discussed mostly in functional terms. Now clients think about sensory comfort and emotional comfort. How does the room feel at different times of day? How does texture affect light? How do materials influence calm versus stimulation? These questions reflect a broader cultural shift toward intentional living and experiential design.

Murrieta: What guidance would you offer hospitality or wellness operators thinking about interiors?

Zarin: Think beyond visual aesthetics. Guests remember how a place made them feel more than any single design element. Materials, textures, and tactile details quietly shape that memory. When chosen thoughtfully, fabrics contribute directly to relaxation, warmth, and a sense of care. That’s where design and experience truly meet.