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...