Computer software even helps the drapery industry.  I’ve always sketched out ideas on paper or shown magazine photos to help clients visualize window treatments.  But last summer I took a drapery software course from “Minutes Matter Studio Software” and now I am able to offer ideas through software renderings.

I met with a new client in February.  We agreed on design ideas, she picked beautiful fabrics and hardware.   Sometimes it’s hard for a client to visualize the end result.  In this case, her husband was unable to meet with us, so it was nice to be able to send renderings of the ideas that we’d discussed and gotten excited about.  Using photos of my clients’ actual home, I superimposed window treatments on top of the photo to give a better idea of how the treatments would look.

I want to share the renderings with you and also photos of the actual treatments, which were installed recently.

Dining Room Idea, using Studio's StoryBoard Software

We felt that the beautiful eyebrow arched window would look lovely with “Desert” silk draperies, lined and interlined, installed on wood hardware which closely matched the dining room table, and pulled back to add a romantic touch to the room.  Below is a photo of the finished window treatment for the dining room.

Silk Draperies, Pulled Back on Arched Window in Dining Room

The second StoryBoard was for curtains over two French doors.  Here’s the rendering:

Living Room Storyboard

And now for the finished curtains, using “Parchment” Linen.  My camera lens made the ceiling and iron hardware look bowed … it’s not … it’s laser straight!  Sorry for the awkward illusion.

Linen curtains over French Doors

So there you have it.  Custom made curtains, made the way they were made decades ago, meets modern day computer software!

Leave me your comments!

I    L O V E   design details on draperies and curtains.  I’ve been making custom window treatments and bedding for over 23 years, so when I get a challenging project it thrills me.   Chelsea Frazer – Allied ASID, of Nashville TN, and I have worked together on several projects.  Chelsea asked us to fabricate creamy silk panels with two bandings, lined and interlined with a traditional pleat.  Last week was the week to install them.  Look at this fabulous Schumacher creamy silk with not one band, but two.  We treated the deep red silk band as a 1/2″ flange, next to the 2″ green banding, mitering the corners.  The colors perfectly pick up the colors in this open and traditional room.

Silk Draperies with Double Banding

Double Banded Silk Curtains

And here’s a closer view:

Closer View, Double Banded Silk Curtains

The draperies were made to “break” at the floor, so I added about an inch to the finished length.  This additional length gives the look of a man’s cuff.  I like this length because it give an opulent look, without going overboard. I like how Chelsea Frazer blended beauty with function.  This particular client has pets and she was hesitant to use solid creamy silk draperies.  Chelsea came up with this double banded idea, carrying the banding around to the bottom of the curtains, too.  The banding connects the colors of the room to the window, in a light and airy way. Do you have design details that you’d like to share with me?  I’d love to see them!  Or, if you’re a designer or individual and you need help with window treatments, feel free to Contact Me to discuss.

This week we installed window treatments in two different homes, 30 miles apart, both with two story draperies and also installed treatments over kitchen sinks.  I love how each home has its unique style.

Monday was the day to install linen embroidered sheers which were interlined and lined with white linings. The look is luxurious with the two linings behind sheer fabric.

Sheer Embroidered Linen

I have certainly enjoyed working with a Redo Home & Design designer, Christine Kaufman. She’s a doll and has beautiful taste.  I like how she chose these C.R. Laine Copley chairs placed in front of the draperies.  The client’s room is large and the chairs are in keeping with the scale of the room.  We used 1-1/5″ single pleats @ 8″ long; a balanced look on this tall window.  Christine chose 2″ wood hardware, color “Antique Copper”, which picks up the homeowner’s copper touches in this Great Room and Kitchen alike.

Two Story Sheers, lined and interlined

Over the kitchen sink, Christine chose a Flat Roman Shade, using tucked linen which we lined in white lining, banded with a wide flat bird-egg blue trim.  The look is clean and I love this attention to detail.  (Excuse the not-quite-focused photo!)

Flat Roman Shade made with tucked linen, banding trim along bottom edge

The treatments we installed Tuesday were made of off-white fabric which has a slight sheen.  This fabric makes a fabulous welcome to the homeowners and visitors alike.  Bright sunlight is a problem for this room during the summer months, so we chose a decorative traverse rod and rings for easy function while keeping a beautiful look, using “Bronzed” wood hardware to compliment the color of the chandelier.

Two story draperies with 8" Kiss Pleats

We chose the updated, 8″ long “Kiss Pleat” in keeping with the scale of the draperies and height of the room.  For a “normal sized” window, pleats are usually 4″ long.  Here is a closer view of the pleats.

Closer View of 8" Kiss Pleats

Striped linen sheers are a welcome compliment in the kitchen.  We pleated the sheers according to the darker stripes for an added custom detail … which you can’t see in this picture, but I swear is there.

Striped Linen Sheers, Pleated on Every Other Stripe

Leave your comment below.  I’d love to know your thoughts and ideas or  Contact me if I can help you with two story windows … or kitchen windows … or … other interior treatment needs!

COLOR OF THE YEAR: TANGERINE TANGO

Each year, a Color of the Year is chosen by the design and fashion industries. This year, Pantone’s color of the year is “Tangerine Tango” and I’m seeing it everywhere.  Shops are already sprinkled with tangerine in fashion and home decor.  Online, it’s everywhere I look.  Suddenly I’m addicted to collecting photos of homes with tangerine to burnt orange splashes.  Here are a few of my favorites, found on my other new addiction, the website Pinterest.  (Pinterest is a fabulous website to store your photos and “pin” other’s photos into your collections.)

Tangerine is a color which is often paired with neutrals and is stunning with gray.  It is also common to see orange paired with colors in the brown family, often tan to creams and the lighter neutrals.

A great way to add the up-and-coming colors into your decor is through small pops of color.  This way, you’re not committing to a whole new color scheme, just freshening up your home a bit.  My all time favorite colors are in the blue and green range, but it’s fun to add a new twist once in a while.

TIP #1:  Adding something as simple as a few pillows and blankets, changes the effect of the whole room.

TEEN ROOM WITH ORANGE ACCENTS

BED WITH ORANGE SHAMS AND THROW, COUPLED WITH TAN & KHAKI

QUADRUPLE BUNKS WITH ORANGE ACCENTS

TIP #2:  Another simple way to add new colors to your decor is to add fresh flowers around your home.

FRESH FLOWERS ON TABLE

When orange is paired with blue, these are “Complimentary Colors” in the art and design worlds.  Complimentary Colors are opposing colors which create maximum contrast.  Common examples would be Red and Green, Yellow and Purple, Blue and Orange.

TIP #3:  Another way to pop in some unexpected color is by painting a picture frame for a neutral print or mirror.  Here you see a good example of the combination of Blue and Orange.  See how incorporating the orange frame brings this whole vignette to life?

Orange Mirror with Blue & White Vignette

TIP #4:  A way to make a bigger commitment to the new color in your life, without much time or money, is by painting one wall.   Pairing Orange with Red or Pink together is using “Color Harmony”.  Look how inviting and cheerful this room is!

ORANGE WALL IN A DINING AREA

Running the stripes horizontally in this kitchen gives it a clean edge.

ORANGE STRIPE FOCAL WALL

TIP #5:  Upholstering a piece of furniture with your new color.  Here is what orange and gray look like together … fabulous.

GRAY ROOM WITH BURNT ORANGE CHAIRS

I love this upholstered headboard using orange fabric and brass nailhead trim for added detail.  (There are actually lots of nailhead choices out there, one of my favorites are 1/2″ brushed nickel.)  I really like the Roman shade in this photo, tying the design together nicely.

Orange Upholstered Headboard with Brass Nail Detail & Roman Shade

TIP #6:  You know I’ve GOT to include draperies with tangerine accents!  Here’s a wonderful example of a simple way to dress up your draperies.  I love the zebra ottoman and sea shells.  What a beautiful combination of orange, black, gray, cream.

ORANGE BANDED CURTAINS

TIP #7:  This last photo is of two rope beds in a bedroom.  Don’t you just love these rope beds???  Here, they decorate with an orange rug and pillows to add even more fun and enjoyment to this room.

Rope Beds with Orange Rug and Pillows

Have you used tangerine or orange in your decor?  If so, I’d love to see your ideas!!

A friend of mine recently re-married.  Between the two families they have like 42 teenagers (give or take a few).  Many families need help figuring out creative ways to add beds without sacrificing too much privacy and personal space requirements.  I’ve been on a search to find interesting multi-bed ideas.  Teens do not want to sleep in the pre-adolescent style bunk beds, so here are some awesome ideas, found on Pinterest.com. These are far from only utilitarian.  And these bunks could be fabulous at Grandmother’s summer home or the coolest teen’s bedroom on the block.  Enjoy!

Three Boys' Beds in One Room

Two Double Beds, One Bunk

Six Bunks on One Wall

Four Bunks Forming "L" Shape

Four Bunks with Seating Area

Four Bunks, One Wall, Idea For Boys

Like this Bunk/Study Desk/Storage Idea

Bunks in an L Shaped Room

Four Bunks in the Style of a Cruise Ship

10% Winter Discount

Each year I offer a 10% Winter Special.  I call it “Camille’s Stimulus Package” and it really keeps me busy during the traditionally-slow Winter and helps clients save money during those post-holiday months.  I take a 10% discount off of labor and fabrics for orders placed through March 31, 2012.

This offer is for designers, retail clients and friends of friends.  Let me know if I can help you with custom window treatments, bedding, pillows, slipcovers, upholstered headboards, Roman Shades, etc.

Have a fabulous Winter!

Camille

Lamp Shades are often overlooked in designing a room.   Well, now we no longer have the excuse of not being able to find that perfect lamp shade!  I want you to meet my long time friend and Lamp Shade Artist, Frances DeBray.   Frances’ company is aptly named “The Perfect Shade” where the art form of lamp shade making has been taken to new heights.  Visit Frances’ The Perfect Shade FaceBook page and “Like It”!

INTERVIEW

Camille:  Frances, I’d love to know how you got started making custom lamp shades!

Frances:   I was working with a designer and didn’t like the shade options available for a lamp you could actually put a 75-100 watt bulb in.  Let’s face it, there are thousands of beautiful, readymade shades on the market but very few that don’t have a ’60 watt max’ label in them.  I asked the designer if we could go with a custom shade and his response was ‘I wish, but we’d have to order from England and they would be about $800.00!’

I love sewing and I particularly love detail work; tucks, pinch pleats, hand sewing.  My husband makes the metal frames to specifications.  He’s had to brush up on his geometry.

Camille:  What was your first project?

Frances:  My first assignment was for shades for an 18th century chandelier.   The designer wanted the shades to look like they had been on the fixture for two hundred years, all shredded and frayed…it was for a show house.  I did it and they looked so shabby I was ashamed to admit I did them!

The slipcover shades are so casual and are a charming solution when a perfectly executed shade would look too stuffy and formal.

Slipcover Lamp Shades by Frances DeBray

The mocha, tassled shade was a vintage 1920′s shade frame.  They are so fun to recover because they just don’t manufacture frames the way they use to and the shapes back then were so…shapely!

Lamp Shade made by France DeBray on a frame from the 1920s

The brown pinch pleat shade is the most time consuming type to do but I love those the most.

Tucked lamp shade, with hand tacked pinched pleats, by Frances DeBray

The apron shade (with the sheer overlay) was inspired by a Tuscan interior I saw, they had tied a piece of fabric around a paper shade to dress it up.

Tuscan inspiration lamp shade with sheer overlay by Frances DeBray

Frances DeBray’s lamp shades can be seen for sale in shops like Winchester Antique Mall in Franklin TN, also in a local beauty shop and in many client’s homes.  I hope you enjoyed these photos!  Frances sells her custom shades to the Trade only, so if you’re interested in having a custom shade made, call or Email me and I’ll set up an appointment for you!

]]> http://camillemooreblog.com/spotlight-on-frances-debray-lamp-shades-the-perfect-shade/feed/ 0 http://camillemooreblog.com/diy-ready-made-curtains-vs-custom-window-treatments-advice-for-the-diy-curtain/ http://camillemooreblog.com/diy-ready-made-curtains-vs-custom-window-treatments-advice-for-the-diy-curtain/#comments Mon, 16 Jan 2012 00:18:09 +0000 Camille Moore http://camillemooreblog.com/?p=516 Continue reading →]]>

Where to hang drapery rod?

Awful Blue Curtains, much too short

White curtains, installed too low, too short

Draperies installed below the crown, 2" puddle

Red Velvet draperies, installed at crown molding with 2" puddle

Perfectly Installed Pottery Barn Draperies

In 2011, our studio was filled with a wide variety of treatments.  We fabricated updated swags to slipcovers, silk balloon shades to silk draperies, linen bedding and headboards to intricate drapery panels.  I’ll share 10 of these projects with you.  Keep in mind that I am not the best photographer and sometimes forget my camera, so I’ve missed out on photographing some of the treatments.  But you’re in for a treat with the photos that I’ve chosen for this article.

Below are photos from three different rooms, designed by Carolyn Campbell of Carolyn Campbell Interiors.  I so enjoyed working with Carolyn and working with her delightful client.  The fabrics they chose were tactile heaven.

Guest Bedroom with Silk Goblet draperies, hand sewn sheers, bedding

Bedroom with Black/Silver Draperies

Daughter's Bedroom with Silk Draperies, Silk Satin Pettiskirt & Pillows

Switching gears, the next project was designed by Mitzi Maynard of Redo Home & Design.  Mitzi chose Mexican coffee sacks for the Roman shades in a teenage boy’s bedroom and Media Room.  I took the sacks outside to shake out the loose fibers and stray coffee beans, and to cut the sides apart.  My dog, Lucy, chose her favorite sack and took a little nap.  She’s so helpful!  Coffee sacks are not for the faint of heart or the OCD client.  There are little tears, un-centered designs, and smudges to deal with.  But for the free spirit, coffee sacks hit the spot!

Preparing Coffee Sacks for Roman Shades, Lucy chose her favorite Sack

Roman Shades made from Coffee Sacks. These wider Romans require two sacks each.

Coffee Sack Roman Shade

The next two projects were designed by Elisha May of Redo Home & Design.  Elisha ordered slipcovers and window treatments for these projects.  I always love working with the fabrics that Elisha chooses.

Parson Chair Slipcovers with Contrast Banding

Kitchen with new Valances, Cafe' Curtains, Slipcovers & Stool Cushions

In another home, Elisha ordered updated Slipcovers for Parson’s Chairs.  This fabric is from Vervain and was backordered for one year; worth the wait!

Slipcovered Parson's Chair

Lori Paranjape of Redo Home & Design asked us to fabricate some challenging treatments.  Here are two of the rooms that were our pleasure to make.  And talk about yummy fabrics … !

Silk Striped Swag with Fringe, Silk Draperies, Shams & Silk Pillow

Gold Painted Linen Valance and Draperies

The next photo is of a “Beachy Bedroom”.  My client’s son painted an awesome painting that reminded him of their home at the beach.  The bedroom was borne from that painting.  I really enjoyed this project; my favorite personal style.  I purchased all of the linen fabric through RM CoCo.

Beachy Bedroom: Hunter Douglas "Adelaide" Bamboo Shade, Linen Curtains with D'Kei Sea Shell Trim, Linen Window Seat Cushion and Pillows

And last but not least, I had the pleasure of working with a client whom I have not seen in a couple of years.  This silk Balloon Shade was the perfect choice for the master bath.  We lined and interlined the shade and added beaded trim.  Lovely!

Silk Balloon Shade with Beaded Trim

Sumptuous Master Bedroom

When asked to fabricate the window treatment for this master bedroom, designer Lori Paranjape of Redo Home & Design emailed a photo to me.  The photo showed a treatment that had a lot of promise, but needed updating.  We discussed the ways it needed to be tweaked in order to make the treatment work.   The original valance was made out of stiffer fabric.  We definitely wanted this one to be supple and flowing, so Lori chose this beautiful striped silk, which we lined and interlined.  The proportions would, of course, need to be changed to fit the larger space.  My friend, Scot Robbins, is a master swag-maker since he sells the Parkhill Royale Swag System and knows swags inside and out.  I spent some time trying to make a swag pattern out of lining using my Parkhill System, but wasn’t happy with my proportions.  So I contacted Scot and he figured out the necessary pattern and the results are stunning.  (Thank you Scot!)

Here is the original sketch and measurements that I sent to Scot.

The original “idea photo” with fabric swatches during the “Master Bedroom” meeting:

Original Swept Up Swag photo with fabric swatches

You will see that the original photo and sketch had an attached jabot in the center of the swags.  When actually putting a treatment together, sometimes a design is tweaked at the last minute.  That’s what happened here.  The jabot was too heavy and fussy, so we decided to leave it off of the treatment.  Ahhh, it looks so much better without it!