Curtain Advice

Do you need help figuring out what your style is? Do you struggle with what fabrics and hardware look good with your home's decor, furniture, artwork and paint color?
Acrylic might be just the thing you are looking for in a hardware.
A Creative Touch Draperies & Interiors offers Byron & Byron Halo collection.
To see high resolution images of this collection, click here and the pdf brochure will open for you.
The new collection from Byron & Byron is taking the designer world by storm. It's clean lines, ability to coordinate with any color, style or accessory makes it a great go to line for those looking for a uniquely styled curtain rod.

Byron & Byron Acrylic Hardware collection image

Byron & Byron are a company based in the United Kingdom. Duralee Fabrics has teamed up with the folks in the UK to offer this lovely collection to the United States market.
There are several finial pieces that will compliment any decor.

Acrylic finials offer clean lines

The collection offers metal finished brackets, poles, finials and acrylic or metal rings. There are three metal finishes available, chrome, burnished brass, and copper. There are 3 sizes available 1 3/8", 1 3/4" and 2 1/8".
For an appointment to view this collection, give us a call at 720-394-3715

Teen Girl's Room Updated With WIndow Treatments Bedding and Pillows

My client wanted to update her daughter's room as she had outgrown the current decor and wanted something more mature and sophisticated. The paint color was changed to something much lighter in a fresh pastel green. The fabric roman shades were updated to a lighter linen style. Pillows and a seat cushion were also updated with a lush velvet fabric that coordinated with the shade fabric.
The results were dramatic and very different from the previous style.

Updated teen girls bedroom reflects maturity and sophistication

Previously, the room was bright blue with flowered blue shades.   

Before the update - bright blue with floral shades

Bright blue paint with floral shades

The client's daughter was growing up and needed an updated look to her bedroom with 3 windows. She also had a seat cushion area with storage bins nearby that needed something new.

The embroidery embellished cream colored linen fabric was classic

We selected a very simple and classic pattern for the roman shades. The color was a cream background with small embroidery embellishments in the shape of a flower.

The seat cushion fabric selected was velvet

 A velvet fabric was chosen for the seat cushions and several pillows were added.

Velvet was selected for the seat cushion fabric

The bed needed something to pop so several pillows added depth and the wow factor

Window Treatments bring final touch to newer home

The client had a newer home that she wanted to bring that finishing touch to. Window treatments, bedding and pillows brought color and style to the bland home.

Paisley fabric dressed up the roller shaded windows

We chose fabrics that went with the paint, granite and cabinets as well as the carpeting.
With over 20,000 fabric samples in the collection, we narrowed it down to the rust color family for the main floor, the green color family for the finished basement and the blue family for the bedrooms on the second floor.

The roller shades in main area were plain without style

In the main living area, the client had a rust colored solar shade already in place and we were coordinating the fabric with the gray paint and the rust shade as well as a aqua colored sofa.

Living area showing aqua sofa and rust shade

The client had an aqua colored sofa that needed to be considered as well.

Cornice during workroom fabrication process showing up close fabric and banding

The window treatment designed for the client was custom curved bottom cornice boards. The main floor cornices had curved bottoms and nail head accents mounted on the banding that followed the curved edges. The rust colored banding and blue welt cords really popped against the rust colored solar shades.

Nail head accents shown on curved bottom cornice valances

The silver nail heads brought that extra wow factor to the curved bottom cornice valance design.
The fabric chosen for the valances was a paisley print with gray, aqua, gold, and rust colors all included in the elements in the room.

The pillows on the aqua sofa also reflect the same colors as the cornice valances

We could have made the pillows the same paisley fabric as the cornice boards, but instead chose a embroidery linen fabric with a nice classic Asian floral print. The rust colors, silver and aqua reflected in the pillows also brought your eye around the room.

Curved bottom cornice board window treatments really bring style to this kitchen nook

The master bedroom lacked drama and the client wanted to add romance. There were floral printed roller shades in place. Fabric selected would need to coordinate with the shades as well.

Master bedroom roller shades with floral print

The silk embroidery fabric selected was from RM Coco and had a floral pattern to compliment the floral pattern in the roller shades.

Embroidered silk fabric selected for master bedroom

The master bedroom valances were board mounted soft valances with box pleats. Beads were added to the bottom edge for more drama and romance.

Master bedroom after window treatments

The window treatments were all valances except the master bedroom where the client wanted more drama. In the master we choose beautiful embroidered silk fabric for the soft board mounted valances and a nice shimmery romantic sheer for the full length functional pleated sheer panels.  The panels were mounted on traversing rods with ball bearing slides to open and close easily with an acrylic wand.

Soft board mounted valances made of embroidered silk fabric

The sitting area in the master bedroom had a large window that also needed to be accessorized.

The sheer drapery panels and embroidered silk soft valances added the right amount of drama without be overdone.

 

In the master bath, we went with a hard cornice made of a coordinating silk fabric like the main fabric in the master bedroom soft valances.

Silk fabric on hard cornice board window treatment in the master bath 

The cornice boards also hide the shades when drawn completely up.

Other bedrooms on the second floor were also in shades of blue and had blue roller shades to coordinate with.

The fabric selected was a flame stitch with shades of blues and greens.

Blues and greens in bedroom accessories

The guest bedroom also was in close proximity with the master and we stayed with the blue and green theme there as well.

 In the finished basement, the windows were without shades and the client wanted to coordinate with a golden green paint that was on the walls.

Basement bar area with granite and Can Lights

Custom Window Treatments bring warmth to Farmhouse update

A client contacted me with the desire to add window treatments to her updated farmhouse style home. She had recently completed painting, flooring, trim, and a bathroom complete redo including tile, sink, vanity top and shower.
Her guest room with an en suite bath needed 3 window treatments to bring warmth to the space.
A classic linen was selected as the main fabric for the window treatments.

A roman shade for the small window next to the bed would help to balance the room and not overwhelm things. The larger main window would have full length drapery panels and the small window at a different height and size were in close proximity to one another.
This brought a challenge how to make the windows appear level with one another and not overwhelm the room with too much fabric.
Since the larger window needed drapery hardware to bring full functionality to the drapery panels we selected a traversing rod that had ball bearing gliders and leaded glass final ends.

This tied into the leaded glass overhead light fixture that was in the room already.
The bed linens were a simple duvet cover with white cotton shams to match.
In the en suite bath there was a small window that had blinds and the client wanted to bring the same fabric from the main bedroom into the space. We added a hard cornice board valance to the window with a curved bottom for just the right amount of "wow" and not to overwhelm the space.

The en suite bath with vanity and flooring and new shower tile given in the full view image below.

En suite bath full view

The full length drapery in the main room also included blackout lining to block out light and provide some noise control from the main street outside.

Guest bedroom with blackout roman shade and full length custom drapery panels

With the drapery and shade closed there is complete light blockage shown in the image above.

The drapery and shade open allows light to pour into the room with very little blockage of views.

Plenty of light and outside views seen with shade and drapery open

The drapery and roman shade from full view are shown in the image below;

Here is one more view of the room with roman shade featured in the image below.

The image below shows the before view of the room.

Room before window treatments

 

 

Bay window with embroidery fabric panels using interlining and blackout lining

Bay window after adding window treatments

A client had shutters on a bay window in an office. She wanted to make a statement with that room being the first room seen when entering the house. She selected a beautiful Wesco fabrics embroidery design that is simply stunning. To do justice to this fabric, interlining was used to add body and then because this window is Southern facing and has intense sunlight, we added 3 pass blackout lining as well. This ensures that little imperfections in this beauty wouldn't show when light filtered in through the shutters.
The hardware used was a 2" diameter wooden rod from Select Drapery Hardware in Black Walnut.
The results were stunning and of course the client was very happy with the final product.
She is still able to open her shutters without interference.
And the fabric, style and hardware do make a statement in her home.
Go check out her review on houzz.com.

Before adding window treatments

Merry Christmas to All

Window Treatments hanging from what? Knobs, Rods, Hooks, and Whatever Else You Can Think Of

There are many different ways to hang a window treatment these days. Unique ideas can really help to achieve that "wow" factor you are going for. This post will focus on unconventional as well as conventional ways to hang window treatments.
Drapery Hardware can vary from a knob to a full length drapery rod with finials, rings and brackets. Materials used to manufacture the hardware range from metal, stainless steel, resin, and wood.
The ways to use these elements in window treatment designs are only limited by your imagination!

The Helser Brothers have come up with some Old World Style wrought iron scrolls in their Artigiani Collection using two back to back finials attached to a vertical finial mount bracket. The design shown in this dining room area curved bay window alcove with a multi-layered tray ceiling calls for something special. Silk, chenille and wrought iron definitely answer that call. Note the use of the paint on the tray ceiling calls attention to the eye and draws you upward toward that beautiful scroll hardware. The use of interlining with the silk adds body to the panels.

Go check out the entire Helser Brothers Line of drapery hardware on their website.



Adding drama to a particular area of a home can be done with the use of silk, fullness, interlining, and long lengths.

This design was found on CustomCreationsbySheri from Dysert Iowa. These dramatic silk drapery panels are punctuated with an overlay valance creating depth. The full length panels with a contrasting pleat insert bring drama and warmth to this formal living room area. The rounded shape of the window grouping is framed by the wooden rods with finials. The multi layered design has the panels hung by a rod pocket versus wooden rings. The overlay valance is also hung by a rod pocket instead of rings.  Notice the placement of the pattern on the overlay valance.

The following window treatment design for a dining area, focuses on the use of pattern and color to bring interest to the otherwise plain decor. The drapery hardware used is a small diameter metal rod with metal rings and a corner joint that makes it a one piece unit allowing the crown molding to be highlighted and uninterrupted. Note the width of the drapery wouldn't allow the panels to cover the window space if they were drawn. These drapery panels remain stationary, but provide just enough pizazz to complete the room.

To see more designs from this Texas based designer, visit their site here.

For a modern sleek look, it can be a challenge to find a hardware piece to compliment the space without overdoing it. One of my "go to" drapery hardware companies is JAB. Most of their lines are contemporary and modern. A favorite of contemporary clients is the Metropolitan line. JAB is a European company with roots in Germany.
The image below depicts the JAB stainless steel flat curtain rod with a low profile and clean lines.

 The following image was found on Pinterest and is an idea of how to solve a window treatment for an arched window frame. The sheer is mounted to the wall with small rings that are screwed into the plaster. There are small sewn portions of the fabric that are gathered onto the rings with a piece of thread wrapped around each ring.  Many more variations of this can be accomplished with heavier fabrics that are lined. The dips in the fabric can be spaced closer together so that minimal light shows through at the top of the design. Hooks can be attached to the back of the treatment and attach to each of the rings.

The image below was found on google and represents another variation of using knobs to attach a valance to the wall. The soft flowing folds are just enough to block out harsh rays of sun that come in through the upper portion of the window, yet still allow plenty of view.

This image was found on Google.com.
Knobs like the ones in the valance example can be purchased as "tiebacks" or "holdbacks" from the Kirsch Designer Metals Collection.  They are available in two sizes 3" and 4" diameter.

Finials can also be used as knobs when attached to the Kirsch finial adapters as shown in the image below of a curved bay window with stationary drapery panels mounted on the finials. This design eliminates the need for a rod with multiple bends and curves. It is a bit labor intensive during installation as there are 5 to 6 finials on each panel and there are 6 panels.

The image below is an example of a traditional rod used in a non-traditional way. The length of the rod is just enough to hold the stationary panel in place with finials, rings and brackets.

The image below uses resin holdbacks mounted on 6" posts for a traditional style window treatment that was needed above plantation shutters. Dupioni embroidered silk swags that are hung from holdback posts provide a less structured approach to the scarf type window treatment. Pieces of wadded up wrapping paper were used in longer lengths of the scarf to add body and to make it stay in place.

Hopefully this post has inspired you to think "outside the box" when it comes to the use of different types of hardware to mount your window treatments for a look that really says "wow"!