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Linen Envy: Window Treatments and Romans Part 2

I want to show you the Guest Suite that Lori Paranjape of Redo Home & Design was so gracious to let me be a part of. More linen (yay!) and more beautiful designs. As I mentioned in “Linen Envy: Window Treatments and Romans Part 1″, this home was recently purchased and Lori is helping the family bring their style and some existing furniture into the new home, adding pieces of furniture and finishing touches where needed, changing wall color, adding window treatments, and basically working her magic!

We’ll start with the Before photos. The first photo shows a large green wall in the Guest Bedroom with three windows.

Second photo shows the desk with windows closely flanking the desk. This was a puzzle that Lori Paranjape handled very nicely! She decided to add crown molding above the windows to extend the desk, make the wall have a larger impact and to give a “built in” look.

AFTER PHOTOS:

The first of the “After shots” is of the wall with the three windows. (I only took a photo of two of the windows because there were ladders in the way of the third window.) Here we installed 1″ iron hardware, linen draperies which were lined and interlined, and Relaxed Roman shades. Lori did not want to embellish the window treatments in the Guest Suite, to allow for changes in decor and bedding along the way.

Below you see that the design of the desk has been expanded with crown molding accents and one-way-drawn linen curtains. Lori added a sitting area and a television will be added for the enjoyment of guests.

We made several throw pillows and my favorite is the “G” banded monogram pillows with Schumacher pleated ribbon on either side of the white linen band.

We also made a new shower curtain and cornice for the Guest Bathroom.

What a huge difference from Before to After! Thanks again, Lori, for allowing me to help with this fun project. It’s always amazing to see such a marked transformation. What’s your favorite change?

Feel free to contact Lori Paranjape for your design needs and I’m also available for custom window treatments and bedding, etc.

Posted on Mar 7th, 2013 in Bedrooms or Bedding, Curtains, Draperies, Hardware – Iron or Wood, Pillows, Roman Shade/Balloon Shade/Shade, Window Treatments

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Top Ten Window Treatments of 2012

Each year I highlight 10 treatments that we fabricated for clients from the previous year. 2012 was a year of experimenting with embellishments and focusing on detail. I hope you enjoy these offerings. Leave a comment to let me know which one(s) you like!

1) PATTERN MATCHING FOR A SMOOTH, CUSTOM DESIGN: Carolyn Campbell of Carolyn Campbell Interiors designed this cheery kitchen window treatment. The fabric is hand-printed. Carolyn came to our workroom when it was time to decide on the design of the valance. After playing with several options, a simple box pleated valance with perfect pattern matching was chosen. LuLu and Holly like their new window treatments!

LuLu and Holly Enjoying Their New Window Treatments by Carolyn Campbell Interiors

Figuring out Design and Placement Takes Patience and Trial & Error

2) BOX PLEATED SHOWER CURTAIN WITH SILK ROUCHING: Here is a new way we’ve been making shower curtains. We install a small grommet in the back of the box pleat and the shower ring fits into the grommet for a clean, smooth look. We learned the hand-gathered silk rouching technique when we took Leslie Fehling’s High End Embellishment Workshop in Pennsylvania. This rouching took about 2.5 hours to make and attach.

Shower Curtain with Inverted Box Pleats and Silk Rouching, Design by Camille Moore

Close Up of Silk Rouching

3) DOUBLE BANDED SILK DRAPERIES: These “French Vanilla” Silk draperies have a 2″ sage green banding and a 1/2″ burgundy flange with mitered corners. These curtains are lined, interlined, hand hemmed and pleated. Chelsea Frazer, Allied ASID is the designer for this project.

Silk Draperies with Double Banding, Design by Chelsea Frazer

Detail of Double Banding, Design by Chelsea Frazer

Concept Drawing for Double Banded Draperies by Chelsea Frazer

4) CUSTOM-MADE HORIZONTAL STRIPED LINEN CURTAINS WITH GROMMETS: For this boy’s room, designer Mitzi Maynard, owner of Redo Home & Design, wanted to bring in the favorite color of red yet keeping with the look of his favorite pillow. Mitzi specified that a 4″ top stripe would be the perfect accent with grommets inserted in the center of the stripe. We sewed together the white and red linen fabrics for one-of-a-kind curtains, adding blackout lining and hand hemming.

Custom Made Striped Linen Curtains, Design by Mitzi Maynard

5) PILLOWS WITH CELTIC BANDING DETAIL: This year we had the opportunity to make two different styles of Celtic Banded Pillows. The first pillow is made with Schumacher “Blanc” Silk, boxed and piped with a micro self-welting. The silk banding is made with RM CoCo’s Silk “Walnut” and what I love about this one is that the pattern continues on the boxed portion of the pillow. The back is also treated with the same design. We entered one of these pillows in the Silent Auction at the Annual ASID State Conference and the lucky winner was Jennifer Jones, Allied ASID.

Boxed Pillow with Celtic Banding, Design by Camille Moore

These linen pillows with linen Celtic banding are a modified design taken from a pillow we saw on Mrs. Phoebe Howard’s website.

Linen Pillows with Celtic Banding, Design by Camille Moore

6) RELAXED LONDON SHADE and SHAPED CORNICE: Christine Kaufman designed both the Relaxed London Shade and the Shaped Cornice with Nail Head Trim (below). The Relaxed Roman was made with a beautifully embroidered sheer linen, lined and interlined in white. It looks fabulous over the pedestal bath tub.

Relaxed London Shade, Design by Christine Kaufman

Christine Kaufman also designed this Sitting Room, along with the Cornices. I love the 3/4″ brushed nickel nail head detail. Don’t ask me how many nail heads got bent while hammering them into place and had to be tossed!

7) CONTEMPORARY FAUX SILK CURTAINS: Mitzi Maynard designed these gray faux silk, blackout lined curtains to be installed behind the exposed duct work. There was a maximum of 3″ clearance on the left side and about 5″ on the right. The installer had to bring in his speciality equipment to get this installed, but it was worth it.

Contemporary Faux Silk Curtains, Design by Mitzi Maynard

8) This client wanted silk draperies to accent their eyebrow arched dining room window. After sketching a few ideas and presenting two computer software renderings (see Storyboard rendering below), they chose this design of full draperies with relaxed top, swept back on holdbacks and puddling on the floor. The luscious RM CoCo silk was interlined, lined with a neutral putty-color lining, hand hemmed and installed on Paris TX drapery hardware.

Silk Draperies with Relaxed Top and Swept Back, Design by Camille Moore

Dining Room Storyboard, Design by Camille Moore

9) SLIPCOVERING CHAIRS: 2012 was a year for making several slipcovers. Here are two that we made. The first one, designed by Kathleen Evers, was made for the 2012 Parade of Homes. She specified a small flange for the cushion instead of piping, and ties at the corners where the skirt started.

White Cotton Slipcover, Design by Kathleen Evers, Workroom: Camille Moore Interior Treatments

These armed Parson’s chairs were designed by Dana Goodman. We centered the pattern and matched patterns at the skirt, etc.

Slipcovers for Parson Chairs. Design: Dana Goodman, Workroom: Camille Moore Window Treatments & Custom Bedding

10) SELF-LINED SHEER LINEN: These self-lined linen sheers were designed by Chelsea Frazer, installed on ceiling track and split into six panels for ease of controlling light and heat. The whole look of the Gallery changes as the diffused light casts a cool haze over the space.

Sheer Linen, Design by Chelsea Frazer

Here’s a “Before” photo. This gallery was impossibly hot for the homeowners. These self-lined sheers offer a remarkable ethereal feeling and the temperature is now pleasant!

“Before” Sheer Linen, Design by Chelsea Frazer

I hope you enjoyed our look back to 2012′s Top 10 design projects. Let me know if you have any questions or let me know your favorite design.

Posted on Feb 1st, 2013 in Arched Window, Curtains, Draperies, Hardware – Iron or Wood, Pillows, Roman Shade/Balloon Shade/Shade, Slipcover, Window Treatments

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Computer Software Meets Old World Draperies

Computer software even helps the drapery industry. I’ve always sketched out ideas on paper or shown magazine photos to help clients visualize window treatments. But last summer I took a drapery software course from “Minutes Matter Studio Software” and now I am able to offer ideas through software renderings.

I met with a new client in February. We agreed on design ideas, she picked beautiful fabrics and hardware. Sometimes it’s hard for a client to visualize the end result. In this case, her husband was unable to meet with us, so it was nice to be able to send renderings of the ideas that we’d discussed and gotten excited about. Using photos of my clients’ actual home, I superimposed window treatments on top of the photo to give a better idea of how the treatments would look.

I want to share the renderings with you and also photos of the actual treatments, which were installed recently.

: Dining Room Idea, using Studio’s StoryBoard Software

We felt that the beautiful eyebrow arched window would look lovely with “Desert” silk draperies, lined and interlined, installed on wood hardware which closely matched the dining room table, and pulled back to add a romantic touch to the room. Below is a photo of the finished window treatment for the dining room.

: Silk Draperies, Pulled Back on Arched Window in Dining Room

The second StoryBoard was for curtains over two French doors. Here’s the rendering:

: Living Room Storyboard

And now for the finished curtains, using “Parchment” Linen. My camera lens made the ceiling and iron hardware look bowed … it’s not … it’s laser straight! Sorry for the awkward illusion.

: Linen curtains over French Doors

So there you have it. Custom made curtains, made the way they were made decades ago, meets modern day computer software!

Leave your comment, I’d love to hear from you!

Posted on Apr 4th, 2012 in Arched Window, Curtains, Draperies, Hardware – Iron or Wood, News, Window Treatments

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Drapery Ideas with “Studio’s StoryBoard” Computer Software

I want to share the renderings with you and also photos of the actual treatments, which were installed recently.

Dining Room Idea, using Studio's StoryBoard Software

Silk Draperies, Pulled Back on Arched Window in Dining Room

The second StoryBoard was for curtains over two French doors. Here’s the rendering:

Living Room Storyboard

And now for the finished curtains, using “Parchment” Linen. My camera lens made the ceiling and iron hardware look bowed … it’s not … it’s laser straight! Sorry for the awkward illusion.

Linen curtains over French Doors

So there you have it. Custom made curtains, made the way they were made decades ago, meets modern day computer software!

Leave me your comments!

Posted on Apr 4th, 2012 in Arched Window, Curtains, Draperies, Hardware – Iron or Wood, Window Treatments

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Draperies for Two Story Windows

This week we installed window treatments in two different homes, 30 miles apart, both with two story draperies and also installed treatments over kitchen sinks. I love how each home has its unique style.

Monday was the day to install linen embroidered sheers which were interlined and lined with white linings. The look is luxurious with the two linings behind sheer fabric.

Sheer Embroidered Linen

I have certainly enjoyed working with a Redo Home & Design designer, Christine Kaufman. She’s a doll and has beautiful taste. I like how she chose these C.R. Laine Copley chairs placed in front of the draperies. The client’s room is large and the chairs are in keeping with the scale of the room. We used 1-1/5″ single pleats @ 8″ long; a balanced look on this tall window. Christine chose 2″ wood hardware, color “Antique Copper”, which picks up the homeowner’s copper touches in this Great Room and Kitchen alike.

Two Story Sheers, lined and interlined

Over the kitchen sink, Christine chose a Flat Roman Shade, using tucked linen which we lined in white lining, banded with a wide flat bird-egg blue trim. The look is clean and I love this attention to detail. (Excuse the not-quite-focused photo!)

Flat Roman Shade made with tucked linen, banding trim along bottom edge

The treatments we installed Tuesday were made of off-white fabric which has a slight sheen. This fabric makes a fabulous welcome to the homeowners and visitors alike. Bright sunlight is a problem for this room during the summer months, so we chose a decorative traverse rod and rings for easy function while keeping a beautiful look, using “Bronzed” wood hardware to compliment the color of the chandelier.

Two story draperies, white fabric with sheen

Two story draperies with 8" Kiss Pleats

We chose the updated, 8″ long “Kiss Pleat” in keeping with the scale of the draperies and height of the room. For a “normal sized” window, pleats are usually 4″ long. Here is a closer view of the pleats.

Closer View of 8" Kiss Pleats

Striped linen sheers are a welcome compliment in the kitchen. We pleated the sheers according to the darker stripes for an added custom detail … which you can’t see in this picture, but I swear is there.

Striped Linen Sheers, Pleated on Every Other Stripe

Leave your comment below. I’d love to know your thoughts and ideas or Contact me if I can help you with two story windows … or kitchen windows … or … other interior treatment needs!

Posted on Mar 17th, 2012 in Curtains, Draperies, Hardware – Iron or Wood, Roman Shade/Balloon Shade/Shade, Window Treatments

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Top 10 Custom Window Treatment Projects in 2011

Carolyn Campbell and Camille Moore with Custom Bedding. Design: Carolyn Campbell. Workroom: Camille Moore Interior Treatments

In 2011, our studio was filled with a wide variety of treatments. We fabricated updated swags to slipcovers, silk balloon shades to silk draperies, linen bedding and headboards to intricate drapery panels. I’ll share 10 of these projects with you. Keep in mind that I am not the best photographer and sometimes forget my camera, so I’ve missed out on photographing some of the treatments. But you’re in for a treat with the photos that I’ve chosen for this article.

Below are photos from three different rooms, designed by Carolyn Campbell of Carolyn Campbell Interiors. I so enjoyed working with Carolyn and working with her delightful client. The fabrics they chose were tactile heaven.

: Guest Bedroom with Silk Goblet draperies, hand sewn sheers, bedding

: Bedroom with Black and Silver Draperies

: Daughter’s Bedroom with Silk Draperies, Silk Satin Pettiskirt & Pillows

Switching gears, the next project was designed by Mitzi Maynard of Redo Home & Design. Mitzi chose Mexican coffee sacks for the Roman shades in a teenage boy’s bedroom and Media Room. I took the sacks outside to shake out the loose fibers and stray coffee beans, and to cut the sides apart. My dog, Lucy, chose her favorite sack and took a little nap. She’s so helpful! Coffee sacks are not for the faint of heart or the OCD client. There are little tears, un-centered designs, and smudges to deal with. But for the free spirit, coffee sacks hit the spot!

: Preparing Coffee Sacks for Roman Shades, Lucy chose her favorite Sack

: Roman Shades made from Coffee Sacks. These wider Romans require two sacks each.

: Coffee Sack Roman Shade

The next two projects were designed by Elisha May of Redo Home & Design. Elisha ordered slipcovers and window treatments for these projects. I always love working with the fabrics that Elisha chooses.

: Parson Chair Slipcovers with Contrast Banding

: Kitchen with new Valances, Cafe’ Curtains, Slipcovers & Stool Cushions

In another home, Elisha ordered updated Slipcovers for Parson’s Chairs. This fabric is from Vervain and was backordered for one year; worth the wait!

: Slipcovered Parson’s Chair

Lori Paranjape of Redo Home & Design asked us to fabricate some challenging treatments. Here are two of the rooms that were our pleasure to make. And talk about yummy fabrics … !

: Silk Striped Swag with Fringe, Silk Draperies, Shams & Silk Pillow

: Gold Painted Linen Valance and Draperies

The next photo is of a “Beachy Bedroom”. My client’s son painted an awesome painting that reminded him of their home at the beach. The bedroom was borne from that painting. I really enjoyed this project; my favorite personal style. I purchased all of the linen fabric through RM CoCo.

: Beachy Bedroom: Hunter Douglas “Adelaide” Bamboo Shade, Linen Curtains with D’Kei Sea Shell Trim, Linen Window Seat Cushion and Pillows

And last but not least, I had the pleasure of working with a client whom I have not seen in a couple of years. This silk Balloon Shade was the perfect choice for the master bath. We lined and interlined the shade and added beaded trim. Lovely!

: Silk Balloon Shade with Beaded Trim; Do you have a favorite project or idea that you’d like to share? Leave a comment or question below.

Posted on Jan 25th, 2012 in Bedrooms or Bedding, Curtains, Draperies, Hardware – Iron or Wood, Headboards, Pillows, Roman Shade/Balloon Shade/Shade, Slipcover, Window Treatments

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DIY & Ready Made Curtains vs Custom Window Treatments: Advice for the DIY Curtain

A potential client recently asked, “I would like draperies for my home. Do I need custom curtains/draperies, or can I go to the Mall to buy curtains?”

I run into this question occasionally, and thought I’d address it here.

It depends on your windows, your design needs and your budget. I’ve seen really pretty draperies at Restoration Hardware and Pottery Barn. If the height of your ceiling to floor, or at least 4-6″ of wall space above the window, falls within the finished lengths provided, then they can look nice. Many houses have very tall ceilings and very wide windows; in that case ready made draperies or curtains are not a possibility.

Where to hang drapery rod?

I’ve been fabricating custom, hand made window treatments for 22 years. Even though I’m biased toward custom draperies, I’ve also helped clients with ready made curtains when the need arises. I’m working with a man now who lives in Nashville part time and wants to dress up his apartment without spending a bundle, so he has hired me to purchase the right length, right color, right hardware — store bought variety.

Awful Blue Curtains, much too short

Curtain length is very important since a big visual difference between custom and ready made is length. I found this photo on Google Images, but I really have seen curtains this short in homes.

CORRECT PLACEMENT OF DRAPERIES:

-hanging right at the floor, 1/4-1/2″ off of floor

-barely touching

- 1/2 – 1″ on the floor to break, like a man’s cuff

-or 2″ – 4″ to puddle, or more.

A dead give away that the draperies are ready made (store bought) is if they are too short.

White curtains, installed too low, too short

These white curtains are a perfect example of “pretty, but not quite right”. As discussed, these are not long enough. More than a 1/2″ off of the floor, and curtains look too short. I would rather see 1/8-1/4″ off of the floor, preferably barely touching. But worse than the fact that these curtains are an inch or more off of the floor is that they’re hung too close to the window molding. You don’t want to hang the rod on or at the molding, for a custom look. (Of course, there are are special circumstances when we need to bend the rules.) This window has plenty of space to install the rod well above the window. The rule of thumb is to hang the rod no closer than 4-6″ above the molding, and preferably at the crown. Some of the designers with whom I work like to install the drapery hardware 2-4″ below the crown if the ceilings are very high. That’s a beautiful look as well.

Below are custom draperies made in the correct proportion. I want you to see the difference. These bedrooms and draperies were designed by Carolyn Campbell of Nashville TN and we fabricated them.

Draperies installed below the crown, 2" puddle

Red Velvet draperies, installed at crown molding with 2" puddle

Here is a Pottery Barn drapery which has been installed correctly and the room looks wonderful. (I got this photo from Google Images and I can’t figure out how to make this photo larger.)

Perfectly Installed Pottery Barn Draperies

Good luck and happy decorating!

Posted on Jan 15th, 2012 in Curtains, Draperies, Hardware – Iron or Wood, Window Treatments

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Spotlight on Kris Nethercutt: Ironsmith of Franklin, TN

Kris Nethercutt, Ironsmith

Meet Kris Nethercutt, owner of KAL Metal, a Journeyman Machinist and Welder of 30 years. He’s one of my favorite local Franklin TN artists. His artform is welding iron into interesting and often humorous pieces.

I’ve known Kris for about 10 years, often hire him to weld custom drapery hardware for my clients and I’ve also bought personal pieces for my home.

Here’s a bird bath that my husband bought for me one Christmas. It’s right at home in my garden, made from a plough, drill, bicycle chain, finial and other odd parts. Kris asked if I wanted him to paint it. NO WAY! I love it rusty.

Bird Bath by Kris Nethercutt

Russell T Mechanism by Kris Nethercutt

“Rusty the Factory Worker“ is located at The Factory, 230 Franklin Road. Here is a YouTube link to Rusty’s history as documented on Tennessee Crossroads by Susan Watson as she interviews Kris Nethercutt and Calvin Lehew.

Another local landmark crafted by Nethercutt is the St. Andrews Lutheran Church’s cross in Franklin. Kris forged the 260 pound, 9 foot cross out of aluminum. St. Andrews is located on the corner of Highway 96 and Mack Hatcher Boulevard in Franklin TN. Here is the YouTube clip from the day the cross was attached to the church.

The St Andrews Lutheran Cross on display, before it was added to the top of the building, 9 feet tall, by Kris Nethercutt

St Andrews Lutheran Church

During our last visit to Kris’ workshop, Kris showed Rudy and I his latest commission of “Turkey with Opossum”. Every element is re-used, cast off iron from implements gone by.

Rudy Moore & Kris Nethercutt posing with "Turkey & Opossum"

To contact Kris Nethercutt, call 615-790-4929, and tell him that Camille said hello!

Posted on Jun 5th, 2011 in Hardware – Iron or Wood, Interviews: My Heroes & Favorite Artists

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Blog

Linen Envy: Window Treatments and Romans Part 2

Top Ten Window Treatments of 2012

Computer Software Meets Old World Draperies

Drapery Ideas with “Studio’s StoryBoard” Computer Software

Draperies for Two Story Windows

Top 10 Custom Window Treatment Projects in 2011

DIY & Ready Made Curtains vs Custom Window Treatments: Advice for the DIY Curtain

Spotlight on Kris Nethercutt: Ironsmith of Franklin, TN

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