Texture is an important element in your custom drapery design!

Texture is often secondary to color and pattern when it comes to the over all design of a space or the window treatment itself in any given room. Colors and patterns usually have and immediate impact, but textures add richness to the colors. For example, the richness of deep colored velvet is due to it’s pile, the shine and iridescent quality of silk reflects it’s smoothness, and the firm weave of cottons helps the printed patterns and colors to come out crisper and stronger.

Texture usually describes the way the light plays on the surface of the fabric. That gives a message of how the material feels: its softness, smoothness, warmth, coolness, etc.

Textures have their own feel and they evoke special associations. Like chenille might be associated with warmth, cotton with comfort, or silk with being exotic.

Varying textures is important and will add interest, sophistication, and style to any space. Imagine velvet pillows with satin trim, tweed drapery panels with a contrast in cotton, or an organdy table runner with lace.

Textures might not be the first thing to think about when planing a decorating project or a design for a window treatment, but indeed is a very important design element that need not be neglected!

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Head turning, jaw dropping, breath taking draperies, for a dining room in Burr Ridge Illinois!

The architecture of this amazing home in Burr Ridge, Dupage county, Illinois, was my inspiration!

The curved walls that surround the circular breakfast nook was an architectural feature that can not be ignored!

It all started when I felt that the one curved wall that is shared between the formal dining room and the breakfast area had spoken to me! It just needed to be emphasized, and using the circle as an element in our design was borne!

The fabric selected was Robert Allen from the Larry Laslo collection, Cuff Links, color copper, lined with black sheers. The hardware was Robert Allen Hardware as well, from the Bloome collection. The wall sculpture, is made out of hand blown glass balls, in various sizes and colors. Copper, greens, honey, cream and grays, have all supported the over all design. The room is not yet complete, but the excitement that my client and myself both shared made me write about it sooner. When the room is fully furnished and all put together, you will hear from me again, I promise!

Watch the video below!

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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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.

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Drapery Panels? How would those window treatments work for you?

Drapery panels can be gorgeous, elegant, and affordable too!

With stationary side panels you can create a beautiful, one of a kind look, and be easy on your wallet as well!

Your window can be framed with stationary panels, and you can use separate rods for each side. Take a look at this slide show:

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How about your ceiling? Is it little low? Create height by taking your panels as high as possible to give the illusion of height.

Do you have a high ceiling or perhaps there is an architectural feature you want to enhance? Have your panels start at the very top to draw the eye up toward that special feature. Watch this slide show:

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How about hardware? The jewelery for your windows! There is so much out there for you to pick from: contemporary, traditional, metal, wood, acrylic, stained or painted, ask your designer to show you what is available within your budget. composer

If budget permits, add fringes, trims, tassels, and any embellishments to add beauty, elegance and style. With side panels you can do so much, and create that personal touch that says so much about you!

Here is a video of our work showing many panel possibilities!

Enhance your high windows

Do you have tall windows?

If so, you need to enhance the height and start your draperies at the very top of the window. By doing so you are letting the eye to follow the height, and that will add elegance and sophistication to your room. Call 630-420-0800 for all your window covering needs.

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Check what our clients are saying about us:  gailani_and_associates_interior_design-b202513

Check our Exciting windows site: www.ExcitingWindows.com

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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