Tuesday's Topics

After we dream a while,  

let's find a fabric just like this!  

Roman Shades - and a promo!

Photos courtesy of Graber 

We are seeing more and more interest in Roman shades to dress the windows as of late.  These, from Graber's Regal Collection shown with the cordless lift option (*free promotion right now available through May 31, 2018).   Also shown with drapery in 

Esmeralda and hardware all by Graber.

These relaxed Roman Shades from Graber's Ainslie in Arctic,  

are great for a casual office, nursery (where we ALWAYS recommend the cordless option for safety) 

mudroom or anywhere that you want a look 

that is dressed but not fussy.  

Connecticut Blue

If you think choosing a fabric for a project is difficult, try finding a matching solid for lining and facing.

For our upcoming Greenwich, CT project we have two window treatments. Both designs include a colored facing for part of the treatment.  The fabric above, from Charlotte Moss, was easy.  The client wanted something silky and this faux silk in a rich gold color from Maxwell Fabrics was perfect.

And then we went in search of blue.

You may remember this powder room, also located in Connecticut, that we showed a while back:

The Dana Gibson wallpaper had the most delicious, vibrant shade of blue that turned out to be a challenge to match for banding on a white Roman shade we were making for the window.  We ended up using a Dana Gibson trim, because there was no solid blue to be found!

Now we call this particular shade Connecticut Blue, because it is the exact same blue as before.

We are not ones to give up easily!
We found a beautiful cotton sateen that will work perfectly!

This one from RM CoCo.
Want to use Connecticut Blue in your next design? Bring it!

Blue and white fabric from Bailey and Griffin, available through Duralee.
 
 
 

The Dana Gibson Powder Room

Awhile back, I showed the beginnings of the coolest powder room, with it's bright blue Dana Gibson wallcovering.
Well, the window treatment was finished and installed and we all couldn't be happier.
Remember the Before?

Look at it now with it's Roman shade valance in bright white linen:

 The trim is also from Dana Gibson and is called Tra La La.

 The trim reminds us of the icing on a Hostess cupcake!

 Drapery workroom:  Fabrications
  Dana Gibson collection of wallcovering, fabric and trim available through:  Stroheim
  Installation by:  Rob-0's Superstar Installations 

Window Wednesday

OK, I'm a day late again!
Although this window is over a tub, for once the intelligent choice was made to place the window higher so that you can't see into the master bath.
This design is so simple, deceptively so.  It was rather simple to hang the curtain holdbacks we used for this throw swag. (I say "rather simple" because I didn't have to do it! My installer is 6'4" so he didn't even use a ladder!) Dressing the swag is the hard part.

We will have to get a professional to photograph this soon so you can see that we lined an embroidered sheer with a satin for this treatment.

100 Windows - #91

I'm not sure if I'm correct, but I call this a Boxed Swag.

Interesting that it was translated into a shower curtain for the adjoining bath.

 

On second look, it appears both pictures were taken in the bathroom.  But it would be easy to carry this style from one room to another. I think I would have taken the valance and curtain over the tub all the way up to the ceiling.

100 Windows - #87

This is one of my favorites!

I love the pattern placement. I love the black and white.  I love the seemingly hundreds of folds at the bottom.  I love that it was hung at the ceiling level, but the window probably doesn't go up that far.

Even the side view, which so many people ignore, is nice. Really cute black and white bathroom.

Even the floor!

100 Windows - #58

Here are a couple of fun ideas.
First, take a look at this cornice board with it's cutout.  A plaque that says "Relax" was fit into the opening. There are so many things you could put in that little opening.  Think of it as a shadowbox for display.  It would even be interesting if you put a contrasting fabric inside, or changed the size or shape of the opening.

Next, the grass skirt used as a valance completes the beachy theme. I have also seen this type of grass used as a bedskirt.  You just cut it to your correct length.  In case you can't tell, this valance and curtain are over a tub in a bathroom.

100 Windows - #56

Though technically not a window, the details of this shower curtain could be used on a drapery panel or a Roman shade.

The contrast black border around four sides was emphasized by the whimsy of the narrow pink leopard banding.

This bath was part of a teenage suite I did a few years ago.

100 Windows - #53

So much to love here!!

This is a little difficult to see but when I start to dissect it, you will get it.
From the outside of the house this room is part of a multisided turret.  Inside, the large tub is set into the turret with windows that are almost two stories high. I believe at the very top of the windows are flat cornice boards with the long double cascades coming out from underneath.  Note the beaded trim. So pretty for catching the light, just like the crystals on the chandelier.  The pleated shades cover the bottom windows to provide the necessary privacy.  The flat upholstered panels marry the top and bottom sets of windows and provide a lovely focal point. What a great idea to cover an otherwise unsightly and boring expanse of white wall, and to make the whole space cozier.
I also love the tile on the tub steps and the way the whole space was styled with plants and candles. If I got in that tub, I would never want to get out!

100 Windows - #51

I love this bathroom I saw in a model home.
The window treatment is just perfect in it's simplicity.
I also think having a TV in the bathroom is a great idea, though some may disagree.

100 Windows - #44

I realize this picture is difficult to see but it is so worth a look.
The 3 windows were surrounding a large tub in a master bathroom. This is one long piece of embroidered sheer fabric, hemmed at each end.  The hardware was just holdbacks mounted on the upper corners of each window and also at the top of the curve of the center window.  That was the easy part.
Working over a tub is never simple, and in fact, at times it feels downright death-defying. The ledge at the back of the tub is never quite as wide as my foot so moving back and forth to get everything even is less like walking a balance beam and more like performing on the tightrope!
Still, the design turned out light and airy and nicely finished the windows with their café shutters.

100 Windows - #41

Here is a valance I am not wild about.

Now, I have done something very similar, so I don't think it is the style. It is a good style to combine 2 different fabrics, and it also doesn't use much yardage. If you wanted to hide a blind up underneath it, this would be a good valance.
I almost think it is that solid piece of red in the center. I'd probably like it better if they had used the same fabric as the gathered side pieces. It also could be that in this photo, anyway, the colors in the valance don't relate to the color of the tile.
If you have a flat valance or cornice that you'd like to change, you can see how easy it would be to add the side pieces.
My favorite version of this valance is when the center flat section is curved upward at the hemline.

100 Windows - #36

I am not even sure what to call this style.

Balloon shade? The jabot-like sides have me mystified.
In any case, a bathroom is a great place to pull out all the stops when it comes to windows and walls.

100 Windows - #35

It's model home time again!
This is a study in mixing fabrics.  This valance/panel combination was a great choice for two large double windows.
Across the room was a window seat.

The designer made a good choice in just using the valance here.
The theme was carried into the bathroom.

The design was simplified for this window over the soaking tub. Drapery hardware was used instead of the board mount of the bedroom. Dare I say that this valance could have been made from the leftovers (scraps!) from the bedroom window treatments.

100 Windows - #31

Thinking Spring and the red and yellow of the tulips outside my side door.
I love this color combination!

The inverted pleat with the stripe looks so nice with the matching Roman shade underneath.
Here's a closer look at the details:

I was so surprised to see this in a model home because I had just had a slipcover for my sofa made out of the same 2 fabrics!

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.