Upholstered Headboards : Custom Bedding
July 27th, 2010 by CoryUpholstered headboards are back and more popular than ever.
The styles range from funky to formal, contemporary to elegant. The shapes, fabric choices and upholstery methods are numerous and exciting to see. Upholstered headboards fit well into modern and uncluttered decor but are also right at home in a traditional room.
The beauty of upholstered headboards is obvious, it just feels good to sit against padded upholstery and fabric offers texture, pattern and color, all things that make a room inviting.
Woven Woods: Bring Nature’s Beauty Indoors
July 14th, 2010 by CoryNatural woven wood shades are hand-woven and are relatively environmentally friendly. They come in a variety of materials: woods, bamboos, weeds, and grasses which can compliment a wide variety of decorating styles.
The grasses are generously loomed and are soft and flowing with an exotic, modern-feel.
The bamboo and reeds bring nature to its elegant best with a tropical flair, while the matchstick’s tightly woven, uniform construction gives a more formal look.
If something truly unique and eye-catching is your forte, consider a combination. These shades are intricately woven by using two or more natural materials in stunning patterns.
The color range of woven woods is naturally beautiful from creamy whites to luxuriant ebonies, and almost everything in between, including all hues of browns, gold, oranges and greens.
Similar to roman shades, the natural woven woods have a graceful, definitive construction. When in the closed position they feature either a classic flat roman fold or the elegantly looped hobbled fold.
The lift options include the standard cord, on your choice of side, with shade descending. A handy lift option is the top down/bottom up feature especially for bathrooms and bedrooms where privacy is important but sunlight is desired. If you’re dressing a large bay or picture window, a lift worth considering is the continuous cord loop with its heavy-duty clutch and pulley mechanism. Cordless woven woods have just hit the market and not a moment too soon. It’s an excellent safety option where small children or pets are a concern, or if you simply prefer the uncluttered look.
Additional options are privacy or blackout liners and edge binding. Since woven woods naturally have gaps, some more so than others, you’ll want to consider privacy liners. They provide just that – privacy, while allowing a soft glow of light to filter through. A blackout liner is ideal for bedrooms and home theatres. Fabric edge binding comes in matching or contrasting colors, in patterns or solids and, along with giving a finished look, can add lifetime to your shades.
Keeping Cool This Summer : With Clean Lines and Fresh Ideas
July 8th, 2010 by CorySummer is the perfect time to freshen up your rooms. Looking for Clean Lines?
One option is Honeycomb shades. They are simple an clean. Several colors, textures and operating systems are available.
Another option would be Roller Shades. Again this product also has several colors, textures and operating systems available.
The real beauty of these products is that they are not only simple, but a practical first step in decorating your windows. They allow you time to choose what will follow.
Maybe simple drapery panels on wrought iron?
Get ORGANIZED : Clear the clutter in your Home
May 27th, 2010 by CoryFound these instructions for getting organized and removing the clutter from our rooms…just had to share…
One of the most frequent questions ever asked about organizing is the process. How do you make the decisions to get rid of things?
Here are 5 easy steps:
- Set yourself a goal “I am going to sort half this room before bed” or “I’m going to streamline the contents of this one box.”
- Figure out broad categories and where you are going sort each category into.
- Sort your stuff, moving systemically through the space, and not bouncing back and forth.
- Purge what you don’t want.
- Stop when you’ve reached your goal.
Use the sorting time to reminisce about the objects — don’t make any decisions at this point. Allow the emotions to come up and clear themselves out so that when it comes to the streamlining stage you are free from the emotional ties and can make more objective decisions about them.
If the idea of sorting overwhelms you, give yourself some early victories and do a walk-through of the space, choosing to remove a few large things that will open up the space quickly.
After sorting:
- Take one category and if you can, move it out of the space in which you are working, and into a clear space (like the dining room). This allows you to concentrate on the one category and not have to face the rest all at once.
- Ask yourself two questions: Need it? Love it? If you can’t say yes to either then get rid of it. Life is too short to fill out our spaces with things we’re indifferent to.
- Take the things you are not going to keep out of the house as quickly as possible. The longer they stay the more likely they will come back into the house.
- Give yourself rewards – for example out of fifty childhood books you’ve never reread but have kept for sentimental reasons, keep five and store them in a place of honor where you can see them and appreciate the memories associated with them.
There are two instances in which you stop for the day even if you are not done:
- If you find yourself hitting a “brain fog” where nothing makes sense or you find yourself holding on to everything you are reviewing.
- If you have hit a manic state and start tossing everything without looking at it.
Now you have room to be creative with your space. So now you can choose what you want to bring in. Some new candles and a pillow or two to complete your new room…Or just maybe with your new boldness you will repaint this weekend….and next?… new window treatments?
Blackout ? Why should you get your window treatments with blackout ?
May 19th, 2010 by CoryOne of the most important things anyone can do for their health is to get into a deep enough sleep in order for your body to fully rest and recover. It’s not about how long you sleep like many people think. It’s really about how deep you sleep.
The problem that many people have in trying to get a deep sleep is things distract them and wake them up in the middle of the night. This could be happening to you without you even knowing it because by the time you wake up, you won’t remember. If you are type of person who needs total darkness to sleep and you have blinds or curtains where light is still able to show through, then this can be a great solution to your problem.
One great option is cellular Blackout Shades… ask us about Hunter Douglas energy rebates…
Secondly, climate control and energy consumption. Custom draperies with blackout lining are a perfect way to both keep cool in the summer by blocking out the sun’s strong rays and keeping warm in the winter keeping the heat from escaping…..
Living room with blackout draperies (Open Drapery/Closed Drapery)
Check out the following video
A there are so many options available to you today…give us a call an we will help you to make the best choice for your needs.
Sunbrella : Spring at Last!
March 18th, 2010 by Cory
Oh, these wonderful days of spring. Here in Southern California it’s been in the 80’s the past few days and this picture from the website Paddyo makes me want to go out to the porch, throw away the old furniture and start over again. Well, maybe my husband would be happier if I just went out there and dusted off the pollen instead.
Outdoor living is huge right now. With the advancements in weatherproof foam, uv materials for furniture and outdoor fabrics from companies like Sunbrella, why sit inside? And it’s not only about the furniture anymore, today’s outdoor rooms are framed with drapery panels that help to protect the area from the hot sun or an afternoon shower.
The drapes you see are relaxed style with grommets. They cut out a little return that curves around the column for added privacy. Drapes made with outdoor fabrics like Sunbrella resist mold and the color will stand up for years, even in direct sun. It looks like another pretty day here so I think I’ll take my laptop, dust off the table and chairs and spend the afternoon working from the porch. Now, where’s the windex??
Beautiful Natural Shades
March 5th, 2010 by Cory
Bringing the beauty of the outdoors inside with our collection of woven wood shades an excellent way to bring organic color and rich texture to a window.
Handcrafted from reeds, grasses, and natural woods, woven wood shades provide a striking combination of natural beauty, durability, and function.
Woven woods are raised and lowered like a blind and form roman-style accordion pleats when raised. A wide variety of patterns and colors assures our woven wood collection will fit virtually any décor whether elegant or casual.
Add a custom tape edge for the ultimate designer look (not available on all patterns). Optional liners are available to ensure light blockage and privacy.
Trends 2010 Part 4
February 10th, 2010 by CoryLets talk interior about color and style groupings include botanical palettes of hues that reflect consumers’ interest and commitment to preserving the environment. These can include soft greens and yellows, chalky whites, and aqua as an accent color. Natural tones are calming yet invigorating, like being in a spring meadow. Green continues to be a very important color. Layers of various shades of green are starting to emerge as a color palette.
Earth friendly motifs are another important trend to watch for. Colors that deal with the African continent, including soft green, smoke blue, sand, mauve, lemon and copper work well. This earthy collection also works well with exotic accent pieces in the room, like African statuary or Middle Eastern rugs.
In another unexpected color shift, lavenders and purples have become popular for bigger spaces. In the past, bedrooms and bathrooms were sometimes done in these colors, but now lavenders have moved into the larger living areas. In this palette, lavenders can be combined with deep purple or mauve, pink, bluish-gray and beige. The result is a room that is both sophisticated and soothing to the senses.
Brights will take their cue from nature. Colors to look for are orchids, vibrant greens and buttercup yellows. Gray seems to be emerging as the new neutral.
Layering of similar and sometimes dissimilar pieces will also be a trend to keep an eye out for in 2010.
Playing with pattern scale will continue in many home market segments. Taking a portion of a motif and blowing up the scale has already been seen in the market.
Lowering Energy Usage
January 25th, 2010 by CoryUncovered windows can cause as much as 40% of a home’s energy loss. (Source: TempAssure Energy Solutions)Lined window treatments pay for themselves by raising the R-Value of all glass openings they cover thereby LOWERING ENERGY USAGE NEEDS FOR HEATING AND COOLING. Keep indoor spaces cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter with lined window treatments. Prevent thermal loss, beautify your home… and experience the savings in the long run.
How Lining and Interlining Work
January 20th, 2010 by CoryThe lining is the backing fabric used in the construction of a custom drape. It is used to create more fullness and protect the fabric from the harmful effects of sunlight. There are different types of lining and interlining, all come in a variety of colors and textures and they each serve specific purpose.
Between the lining and the drape fabric is the Interlining. The interlining is sandwiched between the two fabrics. Interlining is really where all of your options are and can make a huge difference in the value and lifespan of the drape.
Flannel interlining you increase the insulating qualities of your window treatments. Installing custom drapes with a heavy-weight cotton flannel interlining can reduce the loss of heat in the winter and also reduce heat gain in the summer.
For those who live in a frigid climate, you may also want to consider using an Bump Interlining which is about twice the thickness of flannel interlining. Bump is used in cold damp winters to keep homes warm. It is very heavy and you really have to know what your doing but the results are amazing. Bump interlining combined with sateen lining give a smocked panel a luxurious finish.
Blackout lining allows this drapery panel to keep a true color, matching the wall paper. It also lets you sleep late and blocks the sun’s harmful UV rays protecting interior furnishings. French Blackout is a lining method where a layer of black lining material is placed between the interlining and outer lining. This provides blackout with a very soft and high end finish.
You have great options today and there are some important considerations regarding the insulating factor of the curtain, the sound barrier performance and overall look of the product.
