Custom Draperies

Creative Interior Design Solutions For Flat Screen Televisions

November 30, 2011

When browsing collections of interior design photos, one would get the impression that most homes do not have a television. On the contrary, television watching is often a large part of the lifestyle of many families. In fact the new flat screen models are so popular that old style televisions that still work well are being kicked to the curb at a pace. The dilemma, then, is where to place these large new appliances that do not appear in glossy interior design photos. Read the rest of this entry »

How To Add Elegance to Your Dining Room with Custom Draperies

November 19, 2011

Nothing says “rich, formal and luxurious” like billowing silk or velvet curtains. Along with a sumptuous look, they lend softness and glamour to the décor of the formal dining room. The curtains and drapes are as important to the interior design of the dining room as the furniture, linens, and chandelier. While the lines and finish of the furnishings are a key element in the room, it's essential to have some fabric to add a touch of softness and luxury. Even if the other rooms of the home do not have full draperies, it is desirable to have them in the dining room to carry a formal ambiance. Read the rest of this entry »

How To use Large Furniture in Small Spaces

September 24, 2011

Many of our clients live in smaller homes or condos in order to be close to city amenities, jobs, or family members. It should not be assumed that just because your home is small, that your furniture must also be small. In fact, done correctly, large pieces can actually make the space seem spacious. Using many smaller pieces can have the result of looking cramped and cluttered. A few well-chosen larger pieces can spark a beautiful décor scheme, as opposed to trying to cram in too many small pieces. Read the rest of this entry »

Easy Living Urban Country Style

September 3, 2011

There are many ways to get the Urban Country Look. There are also many ways to miss the mark and achieve only a drab, worn mish mash. A person’s home speaks volumes about that person. We love to surround ourselves with treasured objects, textures, colours and memories. Many people’s lifestyle has shifted from maintain formal rooms dedicated to one purpose, to a more casual lifestyle where rooms are more versatile and one purpose flows from one room to another. Living has also shifted outdoors due to advances in more weather resistant materials for use on decks, porches and patios. Many people work from a home office now, so spend much more time in the home than in the past. Read the rest of this entry »

Case Study: Space Planning for a Smaller Home in Burlington, Ontario

August 23, 2011

Small homes can be as beautiful as larger ones. The fact remains, however, that they are small. Today’s lifestyles are quite different from those of bygone years. For one thing, we have a lot more possessions. We have more furniture, clothing, décor items, hobby equipment and what have you. Many people simply don’t want a large home. Perhaps they have downsized from a larger home or they have decided to travel a lot. This does create the need for decorating and organizing compromises. Read the rest of this entry »

Beautiful White Rooms

August 4, 2011

We’ve all see rooms that are painted white but have missed the mark. This is not necessarily an easy style to achieve. Small spaces appear larger and the look is light, clean and airy. More attention is drawn to attention to the unique shapes, textures, and characteristics of all of the items within. Read the rest of this entry »

How To Get The Most Out of Decorating Magazines

July 7, 2011

Lounging in the hammock or on the sofa while perusing decorating magazines is a very pleasant way to spend quality time. All these “perfect” rooms give us plenty to think and dream about. Decorating ideas abound and whether or not we make a move to move closer to having the perfect home in reality, dreaming is still enjoyable. It is, however, often overwhelming because the rooms do look so perfect. Once some forward effort is put into actually decorating our homes, we often realize just how much work and expense is involved in striving for perfection. There is a state of mind and a few techniques to make good use of this wealth of ideas and projects. Read the rest of this entry »

Environmentally Friendly Custom Draperies

July 4, 2011

In home décor projects involving drapery, the normal process is to choose a face fabric and then line it with regular drapery lining. This is certainly adequate for décor, but the beauty of the draperies are actually enhanced by adding interlining between the face fabric and the regular lining. An ordinary drapery fabric is elevated to luxury status this way. Interlined custom draperies hang beautifully, and feel fabulous when touched (see photo below courtesy of Better Homes). English Bump cloth is the heaviest and softest interlining of all. It was used in drafty old European homes to provide indispensable protection from the elements. Our homes here in Canada are generally fairly well insulated, but we still lose a lot of heat through bare windows. Read the rest of this entry »

Luxurious Bedroom Update

July 3, 2011

Home décor can become tired long before the individual design elements have actually worn out. Bringing in new colour by way of fresh new bedding, a new headboard , draperies or accessories can make all the difference in the world. A fresh new wall colour seems an easy an inexpensive fix, but for some home owners, the thought of moving all the furniture is simply too much. If you hire painters rather than painting yourself, there is also an element of cost. One surprisingly simple solution is to have simple panel draperies that you swap in seasonally, or when the room starts too look tired. Ceiling heights in a home are consistent so it is conceivable that you could move your draperies from one room to another. This would make a big change in the look of the room, and involve no extra cost. The wall colour would need to be a choice that complemented all the draperies in the collection. Read the rest of this entry »

Decorating In A Small Space

June 19, 2011

We all love a sense of home, freedom, and ease. Space does this for many of us, but space costs money. Until we can afford space, we may live many years without it. This does not mean that our homes need to lack style and a sense of space. To do this, they must be efficient. They can also be beautiful, however small. There is a joy in triumph over inefficiency and dreary surroundings. Read the rest of this entry »