100 Windows - #30

I love the simplicity of this Roman shade. The plain vertical banding in green is just right.

You can see that the design was repeated again on the double window next to the door. Pretty!

100 Windows - #29

I know what you're thinking.  I visit a lot of model homes!

I adore a printed curtain! And here is an idea that is used so infrequently:  a drapery panel with an attached valance. (Panel and valance are attached at the top)  It gives you another place to add more detail by using the trim along the hem and side of the valance piece.
Take note of the painted ceiling; more attention to detail in this room.

100 Windows - #28

Here's a bit of elegance after yesterday's utilitarian bath.
This is from an ad for Maxwell Fabrics.
The combination of gold and silver silk, the extra wide vertical band and the draping on the floor make for such an interesting and chic window treatment.
Click on the link for Maxwell to see pictures of their beautiful fabrics, both from the Maxwell line and from their Telefina line. There is also a trend report that makes for a fun read.

100 Windows - #27

The window over the tub is often a challenge.  Privacy is the #1 priority, but I find that in so many cases, there is so little chance of someone seeing in the window, or there is an incredible view, and the clients would like to let in as much light as possible.
Here is one solution.  Instead of a café shutter, which would have worked, we used a café curtain.

With all the hard edges in a bathroom, the homeowner craved a little softness.

And she wanted as much light as possible.

100 Windows - #26

Since it is St. Patrick's Day, how about a little something in GREEN?

100 Windows - #25

Ah, you thought I'd gone missing didn't you?
Well, I'm back.
In honor of a meeting I went to yesterday on making safer Roman shades (and other types of shades and blinds as well) I thought I'd present this one:

So sweet!  But please don't let that blind you to the hazard lurking within.
The cords on these shades present a very real choking hazard.  Usually it is the cord that raises and lowers the shade, left to dangle or pool on the floor, but the strings that are visible on the back of the shade are sometimes the culprit.  And besides children, guess who else is at risk of strangulation? Pets! Especially cats!
The product I saw yesterday is called Safe-T-Shade.  It eliminates the pull cord, and has a part called a Ring Lock on the back that keeps those cords from being pulled out into a loop large enough to choke.  Safe-T-Shade can be retrofitted to most shades and blinds, including roller blinds and woven woods, and even those with a continuous cord or chain loop. (And as an extra bonus, the mechanism, called the Fashion Wand, makes it easier for seniors, or people with diminished hand strength, to raise and lower their blinds.)
Now if you promise to make sure all the blinds and shades in your home are safe, and all your cords are currently tied up, I will show you the rest of this room in a model home.

Even the CLOSET for goodness sake!

Today you got a lesson in safe shades AND mixing fabric patterns!

100 Windows - #24

Here's an idea for a corner window using the most whimsical fabric!
It's a fun idea if you want to incorporate two different fabrics.  If you are a good seamstress you could even attach the top ruffle, the header, to a ready made panel to customize it.

100 Windows - #23

How much fun are these football finials?

100 Windows - #22

This one is hot off the presses, or recently installed as of yesterday.
This valance was for two of my favorite clients, whom I affectionately dubbed, "The Sistas".
First the "before":

This is their large kitchen window.  You'll notice that with all the angles, the soffit, the different levels of woodwork and the tile, this was going to be a bit of an installation challenge.  The challenge for The Sistas was that at night, when they washed their dishes, it was fine when their neighbors walked by and waved, but not so nice when they felt like perfect strangers were looking at them.
We wanted to install a pleated shade like we had done a few years ago throughout the house.  But we also wanted to add a little color.
So we added a LOT of color:

Fabric by RM CoCo

I designed a box pleated valance mounted on a board with a scalloped hem to soften the lines and still let in as much light at possible.  The shade is attached to the underside of the board.  It pulls up to be completely out of sight during the day.

And here it is with their accessories back in place:

100 Windows - #21

Do you have a girl in your life that loves pink?
Here's the window for her!

To me it looks like the swag was created by using a square of fabric just gathered up at the corners of the window.  It could just as easily be a scarf. The beaded trim is a great detail.
The hot pink stripe outlining the walls was actually grosgrain ribbon hot glued in place. So cute!

100 Windows - #20

We've made it to #20!
This idea demonstrates how using a little cord (without lip, as we say) can change some plain stationary panels. This would be a simple DIY project.
(Note: this would work best on rodpocket panels, and you wouldn't be able to close them.)

In case you are wondering, I think 4 yards of cording per window ought to do it.

100 Windows - #19

Saw this today on Mary Carol's Blog.  Mary Carol Garrity is the owner of Nell Hill's in Kansas. I believe this is her friend's home.

I love that bold monogram.  This is perfect when you just have one window but you want it to have some impact.  Imagine how boring a plain black shade would be!  Actually, you rarely see black window treatments but the white trim and monogram keep it from being too heavy.

100 Windows - #18

This shade is very much a hybrid.  Basically it is a relaxed Roman shade with long tails, or what some would call a London blind.  It is also very much like one scoop of a balloon shade. I love that the inside of the pleats area solid contrast color, and that they added a ruffle to the hem.  But you have to see the rest of the room it is in.

You can tell now that it is a model home.  There are so many cute design ideas here.  The curvy alcove created for the bed using plywood, 2 colors of paint and topping it off with some crown moulding is the star of the room. The cutout actually echoes the shape of a very tall headboard. What little girl or even teenager wouldn't love the coziness of it, plus a chandelier?  The ruffly shade really finishes off an oddly placed window and repeats the curves of the headboard/alcove. Along with the functional hook for the backpack, there were fake flowers glued randomly to the walls.  Here's a closer look: