Window Treatments...

I am headed out to my what I hope to be still existing, gardens.  I rented spaces, and tilled and planted, and tilled, and planted, then, the rains came, and came and came...we shall see.  Oh wait, this was about window treatments.....

I enjoy designing and making window treatments..espcially, color-blocking. I have done twelve parade homes, and usually, at two am, the night before the opening, I am sitting at my little machine, sewing frantically..there are usually finish carpenters, cleaning people, and a bevy of others, preparing for the opening.  There I am, buzzing away..amidst the chaos.  I don't know if people realize how much work goes into a Parade Home..but, again, I digress.

I like to "color block", because I can mix fabric colors, textures, trims, and work in inexpensive fabrics with more expensive (for which it would be too expensive to do the entire window with it) fabrics.  It's a challenge sometimes, but I think it's ever so much more interesting in the end.  These are what are called "Dummy panels"..they don't close, but sheers or blinds could take care of the light and privacyissues.



I got into this project a little late...this was a small bedroom, but my client loved the Candace Olsen tufted wing-back headboard, as do I.  She had the bedspread, and I made the pillows, and the window treatments....also, the board valences were made by her husband, but I designed them.  Board valences are not that difficult.  I suggested the swing-arm lamps, as this was a king-size bed (with a king-size husband), so space was an issue. 

Sometimes, "less is more". When this parade home sold, I did add sheer panels to the french doors, and they added enough privacy without blocking the light.  I made the sheers, and then, draped two, silk, glass beaded trimmed, panels over the tension rods...viola...I think people's home reflect who they are, and what one client loves as a window treatment, the other wants something more detailed, or layers, or less frilly, etc...I love fitting client's personalities to their homes...realizing their dreams..bringing their vision (sometimes, they are not quite sure what that is, so there are drawings, fabric samples, consultations, but we get there).

This little girl loves pink (or haven't you noticed) I did this home as a parade, so everything was brought in for the show, and the client's bought it all.  This room's windows are about the view, so we put in top-down, bottem-up shades, which mean you can control the privacy and the light..I added pick gauze, bows, and painted the saucy bears.

This client is a Hospice Nurse, and sees so much sadness, yet, she remains cheerful.  When she comes home, she wants "whimsey", something to make her smile.  I don't usually encourage wallcovering, but she loved it.  The window treatment needed to block out light, as she works mostly nights, and sleeps during the morning.  A simple valence works just fine...I used a broach to embellish it a bit.  If my clients want something, who am I to say no...I am not a "Design Nazi"..(remember the "Soup Nazi" in Seinfeld?

Same home, same client.  I did alot of photostyling for Springs/Graber Window Fashions.  They loved being able to do an on-sight shoot, as opposed to a "set".  They loved the shoot, I loved to style it, and the client loved the free product.  I like "top down, bottem up" blinds...Again, just a simple valence works well.

When we first moved to Austin, Texas, we lived in an apartment for a year, until we found our home.  I made these curtains from Ralph Lauren sheets.  Sheets are an inexpensive solution; sometimes, I line them, but we had blinds, and I decided I liked the way the light shown through..That's are darling, dear departed Gussie in the "Winda", as they say in Texas. 

Another use for sheets (sheets are our friend)...I made this shower curtain from a sheet that I've had for twenty years.  I love a good bargain, and they can be found at TJMaxx, Marshall's, etc. I think I paid $20.00 for a flat sheet.  That said, I've also done window treatments where the fabric was $100 a yard...it just all depends on budgets and my client's wishes...

Very Exciting News....

I am excited!  My first column in our local                    newspaper, "The Vista" was published and delivered to the residents of "The Glade"...Fairfield Glade, and I have already met a  lovely lady via email because of                                        it...                                                                                                  
Now, it has been decided I will write a design            column bi-weekly....which is a bit daunting,              but  with as many years in design as I have, I think I can keep it fresh and helpful...and, hopefully,         interesting.                                                                                  
Should anyone read the article and wish to contact me, my email address is: jschatz53574@yahoo.com, and my phone number is 512-636-2811..solicitors      need not call, :)                                                                           

Feel Free to scroll down to read about staging one's home, and see some of my work.       I also have a link to my older blog, which goes back several years.

Cheerio from Lake Canterbury!

CANTERBURY TALES

It is difficult to believe that my husband and I have been living in "The Glade" for over a year!  We were welcomed with open arms, and a home that needs a great deal of tlc - read - work!  We are not afraid of work, as it will only enhance the home and we may even put it on the market, moving to yet another home on Lake Canterbury.

Our Texas home sold quickly...we had one offer within a few weeks, but it fell through, as she lost her finaincing..undaunted, I staged the home, had it photographed to be put on-line, and packed us up, leaving behind a beautiful home, and a 6-year drought..don't let the green grass fool you..this was taken before the heat set in; it soon became what I refer to as, "dust and deer poop", for we were keeping over a dozen deer alive all those years.  I do miss them, but not the drought.

The front of the house needed something between the garage windows, so I designed this cedar lattace to soften the front...we considered shutters, but the configuration of the windows wouldn't work out...The house was "rattlesnake limestone", called such because of the fossils embedded in the stone..not really rattlesnake rattles (thank goodness).  My husband felt the lattace was too large and wanted to take it down, but i went to Home Depot, bought the baskets filled with quior, and the bougenvilla and attached them with hooks, so when they needed watering, they could be taken down, so as not to stain the cedar...then, he loved it. WHEN STAGING, CURB APPEAL IS VERY IMPORTANT; YOU ONLY GET ONE CHANCE TO MAKE A FIRST IMPRESSION.

Our home couldn't have been more different than our Canterbury House...it was "Texas-style", with very tall ceilings, stained concrete floors, and lots of arches.WHEN STAGING - REMOVE FAMILY PHOTOS, PAINT A NEUTRAL COLOR FOR THE WALLS, LIGHTEN THE CEILING COLOR, TO VISUALLY RAISE IT, TURN ON ALL THE LIGHTS, PLAY SOFT MUSIC, AND MAKE SURE THE SPACE SMELLS  FRESH WITHOUT BEING CLOYING. I miss it sometimes, but am excited to be back in the "flipping business", as we are renovating our Canterbury House, putting it on the market when it is finished, and moving into yet another Canterbury House...we love the lake so very much.

Our kitchen wasn't large, but very functional, with an island, built-in pantry, and all new appliances.  I painted the floorcloths (which are canvas, that are painted with latex and acrylic, and sealed with polyurethane...they are 'bulletproof', and if something is dropped on them, you just wipe it up..much better than washing rugs.....

when STAGING...REMOVE ALL CLUTTER, PLACE A FEW ATTRACTIVE ITEMS ABOUT THE ROOM..I LIKE TO COVER AS MANY OUTLETS AS POSSIBLE...

Okay, I admit it...I am human, and my office got out-of-control.  WHEN STAGING, EDIT, EDIT, TOSS, DONATE, AND IF IT ISN'T BEAUTIFUL OR USEFULL, GET RID OF IT!

Yes, this is the same room. COVER BOOKCASES WITH SHEETS (YES, SHEETS..A TWIN-SIZE, WITH A BIT OF TRIM ATTACHED - NO SEWING...OPEN THE TOP HEADER AND THREAD A SPRING-LOADED ROD THROUGH..HIDES THE "STUFF" ONE CAN'T PART WITH.

Dining rooms are fun to stage; put out pretty dishes, linens, (don't put valuable silverware on the table...)nice glasses, and interesting centerpiece MAKE THE BUYER WANT TO HAVE A WONDERFUL PARTY IN THAT DINING ROOM.                                                                     

BEFORE

I made the window treatments, which consisted of store-bought sheers, and a three-tiered panel...UTILIZING INEXPENSIVE MATERIALS THAT LOOK "CUSTOM" ENANCES THE WINDOWS, AND YOU DON'T LOSE A FORTUNE WHEN LEFT BEHIND.

This was the master bedroom before I staged it.  It was too personal, and didn't have an inviting look to it;

Other than the duvet, I sewed all the pillows, and again, used my "color blocking" trick to make the window treatments. It's a bit "over the top", but play to your buyers...Texans like things a bit "over the top".  IF YOU LIVE IN AN AREA WHERE PEOPLE TEND TO BE MORE CONSERVATIVE, PLAY TO THAT BUYER, BUT, JUST DON'T MAKE IT BORING.

I STAGED THIS KITCHEN (actually, I designed and built the entire home) BY PLACING ATTRACTIVE ITEMS STRATIGICALLY- REMEMBER, LESS IS OFTEN MORE.

feel free to visit my old blog at

http://www.jessicasinteriorsetc.blogspot.com