Window fashion trends!

What is Hot and What is Not, in the World of Window Fashions!

Often clients ask what the latest trends for window fashions are. I would like to share with you the latest in terms of style, colors, fabrics and embellishments.

Style:  Full drapery panels are in. The past few years we saw more use of drapery panels on windows, with most unusual pleats and headings.

Roman shades in all known styles (flat, folded, ballooned, and all other types) are very much in fashion. Roman shades are very popular because they are classic: when they are pulled up they create a valance to dress the window, they insulate when drawn down, especially when interlined, and provide privacy as well.

 

Colors:  With the down turn in the economy the past few years, we saw new trends for colors in general, and the window fashion industry is no exception. Bold, strong colors are back! They are used as a pop of color with a more neutral background. Bold Tangerines, Mangoes, Teals, Turquoise, and Reds with grayed browns are being used; these splashes of bold colors are a reminder to the world that there is hope and to look forward to a better future!

Fabrics:  Textural, embroidered and fabrics with natural fibers are in fashion.  Fabrics like linen, cotton, Chenille, printed silks as well as natural silks are preferred over polyester and man-made fibers. Although natural fabrics are in demand now a days, synthetic fabrics are still finding their use in the design world. Clients also are asking for natural fibers, recycled, and (Green) products.

Embellishments:  Embellishing with bold, unique trims is very much in fashion. Using fringes along the vertical edges of a panel or having a plain panel with a one-of-a-kind over sized tie back tassel have become very popular. Having a breaded trim with a striking color in the perfect spot will accentuate an architectural feature that needs to be the focal point of a room. We are seeing more trims with wooden beads, mirrors, metal chains, feathers, and materials that are not usually used as a decorative trim. Pleating, buttons, grommets, and contrast cording is another way to embellish, and now more than ever, designers are using their creative juices to come up with ways to give their clientele head turning, knockout draperies that are totally their style.

Utilize our free design consultation, and free phone consultation! Ask for Susan (630) 420-0800.

 

Five tips when selecting Custom Window fashions.

5 Tips when selecting Custom Window fashions.

Custom Window covering does more to your home than just privacy and light control!

Designing the appropriate window covering not only will enhance the window itself, but it will affect the entire room décor.

There are so many factors that will determine the success of the selection of the window covering, a competent window fashion designer, will ask more questions than just the client’s personal style or preferences, questions like:

• who is going to use the room?
• What part of the day the room will be in use?
• What is the mood that the client wants to be created in the room?
• Are there any architectural elements that will influence the design, such as the molding on the ceiling or perhaps the molding around the window?
• Are the windows arched? Is it going to be enhanced, and emphasized?

Even though the selections and possibilities are vast, below are five tips that will help in starting any window covering project:

1. If the room is small and the goal is to make it seem larger and more spacious, then the color choice of the fabric should be as close as possible to the wall. On the other hand if the room is huge and the goal is to make it feel cozier, the colors can have an apparent contrast from the walls and perhaps using large patterns in the fabric will make the walls come forward, and the room will shrink somewhat.
2. How about the ceiling, is it too low? Is the goal to make it appear higher? Vertical lines or stripes are a good way to help make the ceilings seem higher, another tip is to install the draperies as close to the ceiling as possible.
3. Considering the furniture style, size and placement. Heavy, over sized draperies in a room with delicate, petite furniture will look odd.
4. The use and placement of decorative embellishments is another area where attention must be paid. The color and style of the trims, fringes and tassels are important as well as where to place them. Adding a fringe or a trim in the wrong place might ruin the entire look of the drapery.
5. Textures are so important in the overall drapery design. Using variety, mixing several together, or bringing in the element of surprise is a key in creating superb, one of a kind drapery.

Beautiful Window covering, will make any room beautiful. Think about it this way, what a Prada purse, or a Tiffany necklace will do to any ordinary dress? I believe, it will make such an impact, the eye will be drawn to it and the simple dress will look stunning, and that’s what we call the wow factor!

That’s what the right window treatment does for you!

 

What is Hot and What is Not, in the World of Window Fashions!

Often clients ask what the latest trends for window fashions are. I would like to share with you the latest in terms of style, colors, fabrics and embellishments.

 

Style:  Full drapery panels are in. The past few years we saw more use of drapery panels on windows, with unusual pleats and headings.

Roman shades in all known styles (flat, folded, ballooned, and all other types) are very much in fashion. Roman shades are very popular because they are classic: when they are pulled up they create a valance to dress the window, they insolate when drawn down, especially when interlined, and provide privacy as well.

 

Colors:  With the down turn in the economy the past few years, we saw new trends for colors in general, and the window fashion industry is no exception. Bold, strong colors are back! They are used as a pop of color with a more neutral background. Bold Tangerines, Mangos, Teals, Turquoise, and Reds with grayed browns are being used; these splashes of bold colors are a reminder to the world that there is hope and to look forward to a better future!

 

Fabrics:  Textural, embroidered and fabrics with natural fibers are in fashion.  Fabrics like linen, cotton, Chenille, printed silks as well as natural silks are preferred over polyesters and man-made fibers. Although natural fabrics are in demand now days, synthetic fabrics are still finding their use in the design world. Clients also are asking for natural fibers, recycled, and (Green) products.

 

Embellishments:  Embellishing with bold, unique trims is very much in fashion. Using fringes along the vertical edges of a panel or having a plain panel with a one-of-a-kind over-sized tie back tassel have become very popular. Having a beaded trim with a striking color in the perfect spot will accentuate an architectural feature that needs to be the focal point of a room. We are seeing more trims with wooden beads, mirrors, metal chains, feathers, and materials that are not usually used as a decorative trim. Pleating, buttons, grommets, and contrast cording is another way to embellish, and now more than ever, designers are using their creative juices to come up with ways to give their clientele head turning, knockout draperies that are totally their style.

For ideas and information make sure to call us and utilize our free phone consultation (630) 420-0800.

You might have a hidden treasure right at home, and not know it!

When my client from Naperville, IL (Dupage county) called me to redo her living and dinning areas, I was excited, motivated, and pumped up with energy!

I arrived to her place, a beautiful home with large windows, lots of sun and space, we sat down to discuss her needs and her vision of what she wanted the spaces to look like when we finish the project.

She wanted roman shades with stationary side panels for the windows, fresh paint, a new sofa, a rug, the reupholstering of two chairs and accessories!

When we talked about budget, we came up with a plan! We can do it in stages, and we can save by going on a treasure hunt right at her own home! You will be surprised at how many items you can find that can be reused, refurbished, and with a magical new face lift can be transformed into a brand new piece. I was especially excited to see a curio cabinet over stuffed with items. These very special items can be used as accessories here and there, which means reduction in our unnecessary spending on decorative items. The main budget can be used on the windows and new a couch.

A collection of china cups and saucers were buried under other items and they were well hidden in the curio cabinet! A flow of ideas came to my mind: why can’t we use them as our decorative items around the two rooms? My client welcomed the idea, and I had my wonderful handyman make me tiny shelves, then paint them, hang them on the wall in a special composition to have balance, and voila! The new look was fresh, unique, and economical!

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Please also visit gailaniassoc for more ideas on window treatments.

Green Window covering? Some tips to consider!

Are you thinking of going green with your window covering? if so, that is a smart move, and below are some tips to consider:

• Consider high quality: It will have a longer life, that means less waste, and saving you money in the long run.
• Make sure you are buying what you truly like: Do not let a salesperson impose his or her ideas on you. You should be making the final decisions, and get what you absolutely love, otherwise you will find yourself changing it and wasting money because what you bought was the decorator’s style and not yours.
• Make sure you are getting the most insulation: Ask the right questions, how much insulation I am getting? Your window treatment must keep your rooms cold in the summer, warm in the winter and cut your heating and cooling bills.
• Use  green materials: every material you use has an impact on our planet. Environmentally friendly materials, such as cotton, wool, silk, linen, hemp, and bamboo are better choices than petrochemical based synthetics, like PVC, polyester and acrylic.
• Recycle, and reuse!: Make sure to donate your old treatments, so others can benefit from them. And there is nothing wrong with refurbishing what you already have by giving it a face lift instead of totally throwing it away. New paint, new shades, or new buttons and tassels while keeping the valence can be a great way to change the look without changing everything.

In the end you want to be kind to yourself, your wallet and our planet earth!

Call Susan for more green ideas(630)420-0800.

Do you like to sew? Great! We have the fabrics, trims, tassels and even patterns!

That is right! If you like to sew your own window treatments, and feel confident enough to be your own seamstress, we can assist! We carry a vast variety of fabrics, trims, tassels, and even drapery patterns. We offer design consultation, to help you put together your design project, from selecting the colors, rearranging the furniture, to picking the right fabrics for your windows and upholstery. We carry fabrics such as, Robert Allen, Kravet, Fabricut, Kasmir, RM COCO, Carole fabrics, and much more.

How about the drapery hardware? That can be a challenge! We carry products made here in the US and imported products as well. We have hardware for every style, taste and budget. see the video:

We now also offer a free phone consultation–a new added service–to benefit our clients, and help transform their houses into dream homes. Add the WOW factor to every little corner!

Please visit our website for other services we provide.

Also visit gailaniassoc

Burr Ridge Installation! A window with WOW!

Last week we had an installation in Burr Ridge, Dupage county. The room design is still not yet complete, as we are still waiting for some furniture and a light fixture to be delivered. Even though the room is not done completely, you still feel the power of adding the draperies. I have a video in the works, and some photos to share with you too! Watch out next week for our next blog, where we will have some photos for you.

The fabric is from the Larry Laslo collection for the Robert Allen fabrics. The fabric: Cufflinks, color: copper. It is a unique contemporary fabric that is a cut out circles style. It was lined with black sheers to add depth, and body. The hardware we used is Bloome, from the Orbit collection, a Robert Allen exclusive, as well.

Below is a video of Larry Laslo, Kips Bay Decorator show case house, where the same fabric was used.

Drapery Hardware: Jewelry for your windows!

The sky is the limit when it comes to drapery hardware. How do you decide what type to use?

I will have to ask, are your draperies, traditional, contemporary, transitional, whimsical, or do they have a definite theme?

Also I might ask, is there a space limitation on each side of the window, or above? That can be a factor in selecting one hardware over the other.

For fun let’s go to the link below, the Helser Brothers website, and build your own finial!

www.helserbrothers.com

Call us for your free design consultation. We also offer free phone consultation!

(630)420-0800.

Do you want to spice up your rooms?

All right, I hear you, your rooms are dull, out dated and a drab! Or maybe you feel it is missing something!

OK, let’s talk about some steps to take to up lift the look with out spending tons of money.

How about fresh paint! How do you pick the right shade? Take a look at your furniture,  pillows, or an art piece that you truly love and want to keep, analyze the colors that exists in your furnishings, match those colors to your paint chips, pick what appeals to you most, then try a few on the walls, live with them for few days, and you can then pick what you like best and go ahead and paint. Please take this test to figure what colors you are drawn to most. Visit www.voiceofcolor.com then go to the color sense game! It is fun and enlightening.

You might want to try some faux finishing. It could be on your walls, furniture, mirrors, frames, ceiling fans, cabinets, even your crown moldings. If you are looking for a Faux artist please call us at (630)420-0800 and we will connect you with the best!

Window coverings, oh what an impact it creates on any room. Window treatments add warmth, beauty, and frames the windows. You can select from so many varieties of patterns, colors, and textures. Figure out what budget you would like to stay within, and we will help you with creating the best for your budget range.

How about new pillows? You can select from many styles, patterns, and colors. Pillows can add character and help up lift any piece of furniture. See the slide show below, and you will see some pillows for actual clients and some illustrations from the Minutes Matters studio soft ware.

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Re-upholstery can transform furniture from drab to “Fab” in a few short weeks! Please take a look at the slide show below to see the quality of our work.

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Finally, please do not forget the accessories. That’s the way to personalize your space and make it totally you!

Feel free to call us, we offer a free phone consultation (630) 420-0800.

Sheers offer beauty, serenity, and function!

Have you seen what is available in the market today when it comes to sheers?

Nowadays you can find hundreds of different varieties of sheers, from cottons, linen, silk, and the good old polyesters. Sheer window covering is a great option when you do not want to obstruct the view, yet you do not want to leave the window undressed!

The latest sheer collection out by Robert Allen fabrics (Contemporary Window) has some stunning designs that will make an impact on your window fashion. I have included some pictures of the Robert Allen sheers as well as an arched window dressed with sheers, in Westmont, Illinois, Dupage county.

Sheers draperies with unique hardware could be all that you need to dress that naked window!

Call us for all window covering needs (630) 420-0800.

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