Details that make the difference.

Rouched Drapery Heading

Here is a close up view of design details that really customize a window treatment.
It can be as simple as a beautiful drapery tieback, or as elaborate as layers of handsewn
trims.  My personal favorites are knife pleating, rouching, and contrast microcording.
Silk is always a wonderful fabric to use for special touches and flatters just about any
decorating fabric. I also like to make my own braided cord by using a small woven check
and cutting it on the bias for the piping. It is so much easier to work with than purchased braid 

and looks much nicer.

Silk knife pleated on Medallion Swag

Banding, microcording, and key tassel

Contrast microcording on valance shaped edge, banded trim on Roman Shade

Knotted Embellishment and piping

                                                           

Zebra-esque

I found this beautiful image on a friend's facebook page. Taken in South Africa, it was so captivating and such a reminder of the unique beauty of this animal.  Zebra textiles are certainly prevalent in the design world and what a "wow" statement they make.  

 

Here are a few ideas, if you are feeling the urge to "walk on the wild side"!

What a cozy arrangement.

That pillow is a must have.

 

Now my ambition is to find an appropriate use for this print in a window fashion - tastefully done that is - not garish purple zebra as in the photo below. 

What not to do.

Color My World

When I was a young girl, my room was painted a periwinkle blue and my bedding was a gorgeous bright and cheery floral coordinate. I have very fond memories of that room and how happy it made me feel.
It makes one realize the power of color when creating an interior design. Of course as my focus is usually window treatments, I am particularly crazy about window fashions that use color ever so..."correctly".
Here are three beautiful designs that grabbed my attention for different reasons.

This girl's BR is quite dreamy. The simply stated goblet pleated drapery at the window is a perfect accent in a shade of citrus green. The vertical focal point all the way to ceiling height keeps the striped bedding active, but a soft touch against the bluesy walls.

Beautiful drapery swags in a bold bold stripe! The gilded rods painted black. The trim is Scalamandre. Notice the top down bottom up shades as the first layer for privacy and light control. That means no fussing with the drapery. They will remain dressed and in perfect balance to the grand Regency fireplace.

What a warm and inviting room!  The color on these windows is perfect. The treatment design is also spectacular: Pickup swags on solid cornices and fluid banded drapery. These transom windows, adorned with sophisticated fabric and color take the room to a whole new level of interior design.

Made in Italy

May is a month to celebrate. I am inspired by many new fabric samples that have been dropped at my doorstep. I meander thru the swatch books and visualize the products and designs that would best display the beauty of these threads so delicately and deliberately woven. I search for the country of origin, "Italy" label. These are by far the most splendid.
My mind wanders to thoughts of my daughter,  Natalie, and her love of everything Italian. Her graduation from Fordham University is quite soon. She has such a command of the Italian language and culture that I want to take her with me on a dream trip to the Proposte Fabric exhibition in Como, Italy - center of fine Euro silk production for the last  4-5 hundred years. Even though much of the silk is imported from China today, the Italians still have the mastery of weaving and dyeing. Italian craftsmanship is unparalleled. There are numerous textile manufacturers in the Milan area, and I would love to some day tour the very mills where these beautiful fabrics
are produced. Presently, I can order a few yards of an Italian chenille jacquard  and create "qualcosa di bello"!

Poodle Parlour

It is always enjoyable to have such an appreciative audience when installing window treatments.

I just never imagined it would be two beautiful poodles!

Kira and Quincy just love their new decor and were so proud to be a part of the show.

I just have to wonder if there will be room for anyone else to sit in this lovely room!

They both claimed the best seat in the house.

A Workroom View

The task at hand: Creating a teardrop swag treatment for a cathedral window gallery. Working with angles is both exciting and challenging. I first spent some time taking measures and analyzing how I would install the treatment. Back in the workroom, the homosote wall is draped with accurate lines and weight chains to simulate treatment lines. From these measures comes the custom pattern drafting. The pattern is then checked for any necessary alterations before we get to the fabricating stage. Even the pleated underpanels have to incorporate a precisely angled heading. Finally, I am satisfied with the results. More importantly, so is the client!