Customers are always asking what are the new colors and what shall I put at my windows, so we have developed our seminar series for this summer – The Wide World of Color 2009 and The Trunk Show to answer those questions.
It is really hard to write in this blog about what the new colors are, but when you can touch and see the colors, the learning curve goes up. I actually did write earlier this year about the colors for 2009 but as we hit the half way point of the year, the Color Marketing Group is predicting some changes as we progress into fall. To accommodate people’s schedules we are offering the same seminar on Friday noon, July 10 and Saturday morning, July 11. I will have actual color samples for you to visualize yourself how the colors look. Plum is a different color in my mind than it is in your mind.
The Trunk Show seminar will show you, again with actual samples, how you can dress your windows. We will show basic styles then show what changes occur when you add trim, banding, contrast colors, and more. There are so many variations that I had a hard time limiting myself to what I can show you in an hour. Again, we will offer this seminar on Friday noon, July 24 and Saturday morning July 25.
Bring a friend and you will receive an extra gift. Lunch or brunch will be provided but seating is limited and reservations are required. The deadline to reserve is the Tuesday before the seminar. Hope to see you then!
Wide World of Color 2009
Friday, July 10, 12 – 1
Saturday, July 11, 10 – 11am
Trunk Show
Friday, July 24, 12 - 1
Saturday, July 25, 10 – 11am
841-0370
2101 West 28th Terrace
Lawrence, KS 66047
info@janebatemaninteriors.com
This week I had a customer who had trouble with her decorative pillows. The feathers kept coming out and she had loose feathers continuously on her sofa. It was very aggravating and she didn’t know how to solve the problem except to get new pillows.
New pillows may solve the problem but really, the liner is the problem and if the new pillows don’t have a good liner, the problem will still exist.
The feathers are encased in a ticking fabric and that is then slipped into a decorative pillow cover. But the ticking needs to be a dense fabric otherwise the feathers will work their way through the light weight liner and then through the outer fabric as well. And if the feathers are coming out, it is probably because an inexpensive fabric was used to make the feather pillow liner.
A 230 thread count fabric or higher is the sign of a good feather pillow liner – meaning that the fabric is very densely woven. The feathers will stay in the pillow and the quill will not work its way out leaving your pillow plump and full for a long time.
On a rainy afternoon it is hard to image the sun keeping your child awake. But the sun does come in your east windows early on summer mornings and it certainly is staying sunny later each day. It makes it hard to get young children to bed at their normal time.
I have a customer that has an arch window above her double window in what will be the baby’s room. This is her second child so she knows how important it is to keep the light out to encourage the baby to take naps during the day. It is seldom a privacy issue with these arch windows, but too much light is not good for baby, guests, or keeping the room cool in the summer.
There are three ways to solve the arch problem with two solutions being stationary, meaning the arch is always covered, and one solution that is moveable.
First you could gather a room darkening fabric – this could be a dark, heavy fabric or a fabric lined with a room darkening lining. We have arch rods that fit the shape of your arch and the fabric can be gathered on that rod. But these treatments don’t move so once it is installed, you can not easily move the fabric to look out the window.
A second solution is a pleated shade or a cellular shade both with a room darkening liner. These shades fan out over the arch like the gathered curtain does and are both stationary. It might be possible to take these treatments down on a seasonal basis but you would need to store them in a secure location.
The cellular shade also can be made so the cells are in the same horizontal direction as the shade below. This arch shade can be lowered or raised by moving a small cord. If the shade is too high to easily reach, a pole can be acquired to latch onto the pull and move it back and forth to move the shade.
Of course the moveable arch shade is the most expensive, but it does give you more flexibility in looking out the arch window when the sun is not a problem. It is always nice to have options.
Last week we had a customer call about a shutter that had literally fallen apart. The corner joints that held the shutter together fell apart and the plastic pins that were holding the vanes broke as the shutter collapsed.
Unfortunately the person has a room full of shutters, so replacing the one broken panel is problematic. Not knowing the manufacturer of the existing shutters, it is hard to match the size of the stiles, exact vane shape, the number of vanes, and the color.
Buying quality shutters the first time is a worthy investment. Look for a shutter manufacturer who conditions their wood again twisting, bowing, cupping, shrinking and swelling, who use mortise and tenon joints that withstand shear and racking forces, and who engineer their stiles for stability. This might sound complicated but that is why we offer Norman Shutters. They take the worry out of those decisions with their quality workmanship.
Shutters are an investment like a piece of furniture. They really are window furniture. It is important to invest in a quality product the first time so they will last a life time.
I just returned from a one day trip to Atlanta where I attended the International World of Window Coverings Expo. The show was full of new products, new window treatment ideas, and energy. I think I have missed only two shows in the twenty years the Window Coverings Expo has been held. The show creates energy and enthusiasm for new ideas and I always come back ready to tackle new projects.
Roman shades are very popular right now and they had some displays that put a softer spin on it. We think of roman shades as a tailored window treatment but when drawn up, these new shades have a pleat that opens. When a contrast fabric is used in the pleat, you see the accent color or fabric when the pleat breaks apart as is it drawn up. This is a very pretty way to add a second accent fabric that can be repeated in throw pillows or table runners.
Another new idea for the center front of side panels is the pleat that is illustrated in this picture. A contrast fabric has been inserted, accent cording added to the edge, and then secured with a decorative button. This treatment gives added depth to the panels as well as an additional accent in a second pattern and color.
These examples show how an ordinary side panel can transition into a beautiful accent and how a tailored roman shade can be dressed up. Details do make the difference.
We all know about shades and blinds but it’s their features that set them apart. And a really cool feature of cellular shades is that they move down from the top and up from the bottom.
In case you don’t think this is any different from a regular shade, let me explain. When you are looking out the window, you can lower the shade to the bottom of the window and that creates privacy. But there is a separate set of cords that when you can’t see out, the shade will continue to lower down from the top and you can see out the top of the window but the bottom remains covered.
This is created with two cord systems and two headrails. One rail is mounted on the frame and always stays there. The other top rail holds the fabric firmly to keep it from sagging and that rail lowers the shade down from the top, staying attached to the top rail that is mounted on the frame with thin cords. The cords are very small and after the first week, you don’t notice them at all.
This feature can maintain privacy in your bedroom for example. The lower part of the window can be covered while you are dressing but you can still see the clouds and birds out the top of the window. It also gives you privacy while you are reading in the living room. The neighbors can’t see you so they aren’t waving to you as they walk their dog, but you get a great view of the trees and clouds. When you do want to wave to your neighbors, just raise the shade up with the stack entirely at the top and wave!
And now we can offer this top down/bottom up feature cordless. So when you raise the shade there isn’t a cord at the side getting longer for the cats to play with or the vacuum to suck up.
It is the little things, after all, that make the difference.
Ready for a change? Here are five color secrets to change your home.
Opposites attract! Complimentary colors, found on opposite sides of the color wheel, make great color pairs. They make each other stand out and be noticed and they make each other look their best. Think Christmas. That is why red and green look so good with each other at the holidays. Other complimentary colors you can pair together are blue and orange or yellow and purple. Get a color wheel and note the infinite combinations possible.
Invest wisely. Even though orange may be your favorite color, use more neutral colors for your larger items and use the deep spice for accent pillows and accessories that don’t cost as much. The pillows can easily be changed to a new color scheme with little cost.
Don’t be afraid of the dark! Paint a hall guest powder room in a dark color or a master bedroom. Does it make the room darker? Yes! But it also makes it cozy and striking. Be sure to paint the woodwork a light color and the contrast will set off the walls nicely.
How do your window coverings fit into your color scheme? Do you want the valances to blend in with the walls or do you want the wow-factor? If you want the window treatment to blend into the walls and furniture, select colors that match your walls. If you want the window treatment to be an accent and demand attention, make the colors and fabric contrast with the walls.
Relax. Color is not a life commitment. As a leading authority said, you are not choosing your life partner. Don’t be afraid to try something different or bold. Enjoy! Have fun!!
You may have decided to stay in your home and not move, but that doesn’t mean you should stay with the same old tired look. When you move, you are forced to make changes, but let’s look around your home and see what simple modifications you can make to create a new updated look.
1) New paint is always a good option and a relatively inexpensive one. Get some magazines and see what the designers are using for paint colors.
2) Add valances over those old blinds. Blinds and shades are very functional but they could use some pizzazz. Simple or elaborate top treatments could make your room look entirely different.
3) Change the throw pillows. Most pillows in the family room are used and get tired-looking and limp. Get new filling and new fabrics to update your color scheme.
4) Take EVERYTHING out of the room except the heaviest pieces and only put back in the room what you need. Take away those gifts that were given to you that didn’t really match but you didn’t want to throw away either. Put everything you don’t need or use in a box in the basement and if after six months you haven’t missed it, then sell the items at a garage sale or give to a local charity. Here in Lawrence that could be Penn House or St. John’s garage sale house.
5) And lastly, call a professional. I perform a lot of one hour consultations that give advice the homeowner can implement. We can talk about what colors you would paint your rooms based upon the existing furnishings you have, how to arrange your furniture and what additional pieces you might need, or what colors/styles you might use for kitchen counters, flooring, or cabinets. And after you have painted, I can help arrange and re-hang those pictures. It might be time to move Aunt Martha’s painting to a back room and hang that new painting you saw at the local art show.
Don’t let your home get tired just because you aren’t moving. Spring is a good time to throw open the windows and move into high gear. Enjoy!
“The draperies turned out just as I envisioned them. The construction was excellent and they really soften the room nicely.” Janis H.
“They are beautiful. I just sit in the living room and look at them.” Nancy H.
“I am happy to tell all my friends about you.” Rita K.
“Once again, you outdid yourself. The window coverings compliment the room perfectly. It looks absolutely gorgeous! Thank you also for the timeliness of the install. Wasn’t sure this would get done before Christmas, but somehow you made it happen. Thanks again for everything – you do fabulous work.” Teresa G.
Layering is as important in window fashions as it is in clothing fashions. We layer our clothing to create a unique look as well as for warmth. The same goes for window treatments.
Each layer has a distinct purpose. The first layer – the light filtering layer – helps control the light either by diffusing light in the room or by keeping some light out. This can be accomplished with sheer fabrics, blinds, shades or shutters. Certainly there are many lovely sheer fabrics on the market today either with a plain weave or tone on tone patterns that create a soft distinctive feel without creating a lot of busyness. Blinds and shutters have the ability to control light just by tilting the slats or vanes to full, partial, or no light.
Remember that this first layer sets the color tone of the room. The color that the room takes on is controlled by what color the first layer is on the window. If you put a light, warm colored sheer or blind on the first layer, that is the color tone the room takes on. But if you use a ruby red sheer fabric or a dark wood blind, this can darken the room. So think about the color of the first layer very carefully.
The second layer could be a room darkening layer. This would provide complete light control for theater rooms or sleeping rooms and can add energy efficiency. This can be accomplished by adding a black out lining to any fabric or by using a room darkening shade such as a cellular shade, a roman shade or even some blinds.
The decorative layer is the third layer. This layer should compliment and accent the room. A simple valance, a complex swag, stationary panels or full draperies in a fabric that is selected to coordinate your room would all be ways to treat this last layer.
The added benefit to all these layers is that you can hide flaws. How these layers are installed can help hide odd sized windows, off balance windows, mis-aligned windows and even dirty windows. What a deal!