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Thinking About Upgrading Your Window Treatments? Consider These

Great window treatments involve more than just the fabric. What really sets apart a great treatment from just an average one are the little details. Factors like the trim, stitching and even hardware can make all of the difference in the world.

If you are considering upgrading your window treatments, be sure to consider the following tips.

Stitching Matters

The reality is that not all fabric will hang perfectly. For example, fabrics that are made of 100% polyester have a tendency to billow out. In cases like this, the importance of stitching comes into play. When you have a fabric that is not hanging like you envision, adding the proper stitching in the proper spot can help you to create the exact look you are going for.

Keep Patterns In Line

You can make your pattern truly stand out by matching up the patterns. This is especially true when windows are near each other. For example, when you have stripes on shades, ensuring that they align when drawn up can really make the overall design shine.

But be prepared as lining patterns up can sometimes require extra fabric to achieve. This will increase the cost.

Going Dark

When creating a space that can achieve total darkness, blackout lining is mandatory. This upgrade takes advantage of a heavy fabric that prevents light from penetrating the window treatments when the shades are drawn. There are times when a special stitch is required in order to prevent any pinholes of light sneaking through.

Get Real

When it comes to shutters, you pay for what you get. Your choices of materials range from the least expensive designs of polyresin to the most expensive of solid wood, with composite options in between.

If your budget allows for it, go with real wood whenever possible. This will only serve to enhance the overall appearance of the window treatments.

Now You See It (Now You Don’t)

When it comes to hardware and window treatments, you want to be firmly in the camp of “Now You Don’t (See It).” This is one of those upgrades that you don’t know you have until you see it. Oftentimes, visible hardware can create a visual disruption in the window treatments. By hiding the hardware, you present a very clean and visually appealing look.

More Is Better (Except When It Isn’t)

When creating showstoppers, the choice of fabric is going to be a huge factor. But the truth is that no matter how beautiful a fabric is, it will not look good if it is not used correctly.

The fabric must of course match the function and feel of the room. And once this is accomplished, it must be properly presented.

When upgrading your window treatments, you will have an endless number of choices. Everything from fabrics to construction to hardware will need to be determined in order create the specific look you are going for. Because window treatments play such a large role in setting the feel for a room, make sure that you make the smart investment from on the onset.

When considering how best to achieve the perfect look for your room, give us a call. We specialize in custom window treatments and can guide you through the process.

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What Is the Goal of Your Window Treatment?

When deciding on custom window treatments for your home, the decisions can you leave you feeling overwhelmed and second guessing yourself. Are you looking for blinds or drapes? How about curtains or shades? What sort of fabric will best suite the rest of the room?

The good news is that we can help! If you are looking to update your window treatments, contact us today to see how we can help. In the meantime, here are some tips to help you get started down the right path.

What Do You Need?

When first starting out with your window treatment, the main focus should be on the goal of the design. And that goal is usually creating either privacy or light (or in some cases, both).

Once you know what the purpose of the window treatments is, then you can begin to run through the list of options to achieve.

Maximum Privacy

There are areas of the home that require maximum privacy. By and large, we are talking about bathrooms – especially those that are found on the first floor. For these rooms, many use a cellular shade window treatment. This option can allow you to move about freely without fear of being seen while also still letting light in.

Bedrooms are also places where you want maximum privacy and complete darkness. This is where blackout curtains come into play. Blackout shades have an extremely dense lining that prevents light from penetrating into the room. They can be perfect for blocking out any street lights that are on all night.

Maximum Light

Common areas like family and living rooms always need light. So when you are designing for these settings, you need to look for solutions that will help brighten the area.

One such solution are semisheer window treatments. This fabric can allow light to filter through while still offering subtle hints of privacy. Depending on what exactly you are looking for, you can also dictate the amount of light that comes through by taking into consideration the thickness of the fabric. An ultrasheer fabric will let the most light in with a thicker fabric will provide less light.

Best of Both Worlds

There are spaces in the home that require both light and privacy at different times of the day. For example, first-floor bedrooms tend to need more privacy than those on the second floor, but you want natural light in both. One way to achieve this is to implement draperies into the window treatment.

Consider a floor-to-ceiling drapery design. This setup will create a sense of privacy, yet the fabric can still let light in.

When considering what window treatment is best for you, homeowners need to first start with the specific room. What is the goal of the window treatment? Do you want privacy in this room? Are you looking to let natural light filter through?

Once you have a clear purpose then it is time to start exploring the numerous options to achieve the look and feel that you desire. And this is our specialty! To learn more about how we can help you achieve the perfect look, contact us today.

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Getting Your Window Treatments Right (Part 2)

Continuing on our previous post of getting your window treatments right, we pick up where we left off.

The Break

Contrary to what it might sound like, the break does not refer to something negative like a broken bone or a smashed piece of pottery. When working with window treatments, the break is the term used when referring to the point where the bottom of the drapery panel sits in relation to the floor.

While there is no hard and fast rule for just how high off the floor this should be, one good rule to consider is keeping the break around ¼ inch above the floor. This height helps prevent the panel from collecting dust or getting stepped on (by you or your pets).

Depending on the look that you are going for, you can also create a more dramatic looking set of window treatments by allowing the draperies to pool together on the floor. While this sounds easy, the actual execution can be a little more difficult to pull off as the floors and ceiling are rarely perfectly level. This means that the seamstress will have her work cut out for here in trying to get the exact measurements to be correct.

Choosing a Pleat Style

It might be hard to believe, but the pleat style that you choose can completely alter the overall appearance of the design as well as the overall room. Even though the pleat style seems like such a small detail, the choice can convert a feminine look into a masculine one, from a casual feel to super traditional.

But what is the pleat? It refers to the tailoring that is done at the top of the panel. And there are dozen of styles to choose.

This is why having a vision for your window treatments is so important. Every decision you make needs to be aligned with the overall goal. But if you are not sure what direction to go in with your pleat, stick with the styles that are gender-neutral and work in both modern and traditional homes.

And if you need help with creating or expressing a vision, contact us today! We specialize in window treatments and want to help you create the perfect look!

Choosing Drapery Rings

Just as your pleat style choices ripple across the entire room, so to do your hardware choices. But your hardware selections are no different than your fashion accessories – they can either amplify the overall look or completely disrupt it.

One such piece of hardware are drapery rings. These little additions can have a big impact on the way your windows are seen. When planning on which drapery rings to go with, keep in mind that each single panel will require approximately 8 rings.

Drapery Hooks and Rods

Drapery hooks are placed into the back of each panel, typically positioned into the stitching at the back of the pleat. After being secured in place, the hooks attach each panel to the ring or ringlet at the top of the drapes.

Meanwhile, drapery rods are key in the mounting to the wall. You will want to select a rod with the right finish and ensure that it comes with brackets wide enough to clear the windows, doors and any surrounding trim.

When choosing drapery rods, keep in mind that wooden rods might need to be cut to fit the space with metal rods typically are able to be adjusted.

When creating your custom window treatments, no detail is too small. If you have a specific vision for your home, contact us today to see how we can help you bring it to life!

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Getting Your Window Treatments Right (Part 1)

When preparing to update or redo your window treatments, it can be helpful to have a solid understanding of the terminology involved in the process. By being able to talk the talk, you will be able to better understand exactly what kind of look you want in your window treatments as well communicate your vision.

So, to help you prepare for your updated window treatments, here are some of the words and concepts you will want to be ready to speak to:

The Panel Width

When you step into the shop to create your customized window treatments, one of the first questions you will hear is: “how many panel widths?” What this question is referring to is how wide of panels you are looking for.

The width of a standard-sized drapery panel is approximately 48 inches when drawn closed. When creating window treatments for windows that are small to medium sized (36-60 inches wide), it is often recommended that you go with one single-width panel on each side. If dealing with a larger window, you can then choose to go with a double-width panels.

Each area will require its own approach. To learn what look will best suit your particular room, contact us today for a consultation!

Pattern Repeat Print Styles – Flat vs. Pleated

If you are choosing to go with a print fabric on your window treatments, the pattern repeat that you choose will be a big factor in the design. It will have a big impact on your budget as well. Why? Because the size of the patterns will influence the areas where the shape repeats.

If you have a tighter pattern repeat area, you will have a much easier time matching the print across different panels. Meanwhile, if you have a pattern that only matches up in a couple of spots, it means that you are going to be cutting away fabric in order to match up. This creates plenty of expensive waste in fabric that you have paid for.

When designing with print fabric, you will want to keep in mind that the end result is going to be completely different with drapery panels than it is with say, upholstery. When incorporated with upholstery or wallcovering uses, the fabric will lay flat. As a result, you will be creating the depicted pattern repeat. However, this is not the case when using pattern fabric with draperies.

This difference can be taken even one step further when implementing pleats. The ripple effect that is created by pleats will completely change the overall look of the print. Again, just how much this changes the appearance will depend on the size of the pattern as discussed above.

The Lining

The use of lining will depend on a number of factors. When you are going with sheer, then forget it. But if you are going with solids, your lining choice will make or break the way your draperies hang.

For example, when using lightweight fabrics, linings can help ensure that they hang well. When going with a thicker material, linings help provide a little boost that creates a more tailored appearance.

Another factor is the end goal of the window treatments. A standard liner will help to block some sunlight coming through. But if you are updating a bedroom and want to block 100% of the sunlight, you will want to consider blackout lining.

Blackout lining is more expensive than regular, but can be worth it for a good night’s sleep.

We will continue our look at getting window treatments right in our next post. So stay tuned!

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The history of chandeliers provides an interesting account into the various approaches to design. Having traditionally been hung in important spaces like theaters, libraries, museums, cathedrals and other meaningful locations, chandeliers are a focal point of a room.

Below is a brief history of chandeliers, dating back to the Medieval and Middle Ages up to present day.

Chandeliers in Medieval & Middle Ages

Chandeliers in this time period were constructed without the benefit of electricity. Instead, they were designed with candle holders and drip pans to catch the melted wax.

Early construction was fairly practical, consisting of two crossed wooden planks inset with notched grooves to hold the flames. However, as time passed, so too did the approach to building. Forged from iron and shaped into curving arms, chandeliers evolved into hanging candelabras. By the 16th century, chandeliers were well on their way to becoming more decorative and ornamental, serving as symbols of wealth.

Early American Chandeliers

As practical solutions for overhead light, early American pioneers created chandeliers from common materials like wood, iron and softer metals. Also characteristic of this time were Flemish brass chandeliers. These were made in Europe and shipped to the colonies, finding a place in an average home. Flemish chandeliers are still popular today.

17th-Century European Chandeliers

Chandeliers constructed of iron, wood and brass chandeliers led to a time where Italians and Murano glass spearheaded innovation. Venetian Murano is a clear bubble-free glass which could be colored and shaped in new ways. Made by hand and adorned with colorful flowers, leaves and embellishments, these designs were meant to hang in the most important of places.

Regency & Victorian Chandeliers

England’s Regency and Victorian marked periods of highly decorative chandeliers that resembled upside-down wedding cakes. The designs were crafted to crown the ballrooms of high-society events like debutante dances and weddings. These chandeliers were built from tiered rings of crystals and faceted glass that resembled upside-wedding cakes.

During this time, the French also introduced a new (and very popular) chandelier style (called “montgolfiére”) which resembles a hot air balloon.

Also happening during this time was the introduction of gas lights, a very important innovation in the 17 and 18th centuries. As the 19th century wound down, both gas and electric lights were being used in chandeliers, further increasing their brightness and intensity.

20th Century Advancements

The first all-electric chandelier was manufactured by Austrian company J. & L. Lobmeyr. In fact, they worked with Thomas Edison when making! This advancement brought with it a new era in overhead lighting.

Bauhaus-styled chandeliers — ovals, baguettes, half-moons, and drums — along with an emphasis of glamour and elegance redefined what a chandelier could look like up through the 1930s.

Mid-Century Modern Designs

Mid-century chandeliers were often made using hybrid techniques. These designs welcomed the fusion of metal, glass and plastic for the first time. They are actually some of the most valuable collectibles today

Today’s Chandeliers

Shopping for a chandelier today brings with it a seemingly endless supply of choices. As both manufacturing and lighting technologies advance, so to do the shapes and styles that are able to be installed.

When looking for the perfect chandelier for your space, be sure to factor in the needs, style and setting. Are you trying to make a statement? Are you actually using for overhead light? Do you want to control from your phone? All of these questions will help you choose the chandelier that best fits your overall design.

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