Tag Archives: Massachusetts

In The Studio~Classic Swags And Cascades

Posted on May 21, 2012 | Leave a comment

Classic Style

Simple and Harmonious ~ Elegant

Design rendering for classic swags and cascades

The design rendering to show the client exactly what the treatment will look like in the fabrics we selected.

 The swag and cascade is a timeless classic style window treatment. The fabric is cut in a rather odd shape.  Pleats are formed along the top with lots of fullness that falls into graceful curving swags.

The tapered and folded fabric along the sides is the cascade or sometimes called the jabot.  This design will have the cascade mounted underneath the swag.  A custom swag and cascade treatment dresses the window and frames a beautiful view.

Trend Fabrics Timeless Embroidery and RM Coco faux raw silk

Fabrics on the cutting table ready to be made into classic swags and cascades

Swags and cascades are best made from softly draping fabric like this beautiful embroidered fabric from Trend Fabrics.  The solid silk-like fabric from RM Coco will be the accent for the swag and the lining for the cascades.

Check back later to see how fabulous they’re going to look in my clients home. The motivation to redecorate……..their daughter is getting married this summer.  So exciting!

The room is going to be a beautiful backdrop for pictures!       xoxo

Marie

Custom Window Treatments and Decorative Accessories are the Details that Transform a House into a Home You Love

Contact me today to begin the transformation for your house. You and your house deserve it!

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Posted in Design Renderings, In the Studio, Window Treatments

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Fun Friday Favorites ~ Creative Artwork, A New Book and Spring Paint Styles

Posted on March 30, 2012 | 2 Comments

Sharing a few of the favorite things that have inspired me this week.

     Like most people, I spend a lot of time on the computer.  As a designer I am always searching and researching new ideas and products to bring into my clients homes.

     These are just a few that have caught my eye and started my creative juices flowing.  Please visit their websites/blogs and let them know I sent you.

Creative Artwork

http://www.houseofturquoise.com/2012/03/nirmada-interior-architectural-design.html

Small pieces of artwork make a huge inspiring statement in this Back Bay Condo designed by Kati Curtis

House of Turquoise featured this entire Back Bay condo on her blog from Design Life by New York interior designer Kati Curtis.  I love how she has filled what little wall space there is with unique art media.  There are 27 pieces artfully arranged.  I wonder if the 27 pieces were a conscious decision to be congruent with the teachings of  Feng Shui.  Following Kati’s designs, I am sure the wall was well planned out and didn’t happen haphazardly. It’s hard to tell what the treatment is on the window; a white pleated shade perhaps.  I’ll have to ask Kati.

Be Your Own Decorator by Susanna Salk

Taking inspiration and cues from today’s top designers

http://tobifairley.com/blog/2012/sunday-showcase-susanna-salk/

Susanna Salk's new book-Be Your Own Decorator

Tobi Fairley introduced me to this book on her blog a few weeks ago.  I believe you can never have too many books or too much inspiration and this gives me both.  Compiled by Massachusetts’ own Susanna Salk, of NBC’s Today show Design Ideas, 75 of the world’s top designers and taste-makers share their favorite rooms and design advice.  Salk invites and encourages readers to commit “design plagiarism” by copying designer’s styles and ideas for your own home.

Tobi, is included in the book where she describes a foyer “An entry is like a great party invitation: it sets the tone for what’s to come.”~Tobi Fairley.  Tobi is one designer who LOVES window treatments and uses them boldly in her projects.

Runway Fashions For Your Home

http://www.colorchats.com/2012/03/bring-the-spring-2012-runways-into-your-home/

Clothing designer Jonathan Saunders meets House Beautiful

     Benjamin Moore’s blog, Color Chats!, featured guest writer Gretchen Aubuchon this week.  Aubuchon, also from Massachusetts, is an expert at bringing fashion trends from the runway straight into your home decor.  She encourages you to take colors from the season’s stylish fashions and paint your walls. Benjamin Moore paint, which I use for all of my color consulting,  selected from New England’s own Aubuchon Hardware would probably make Gretchen happy.

I love how this room has several solid colors that decorate the space playfully.  The patterned drapery panels work to pull all the colors together.

Happy Friday!

What are some of your favorite things this week?  I would love to hear from you.  Just leave a comment below.

What?  You don’t have any favorite things about your house?  I can help you uncover the simple hidden treasures to make your house into the home you love to live in.  Contact me today.

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Room of the Week ~ Cozy Oasis

Posted on January 26, 2012 | 1 Comment

Cozy up with a cup of tea as you armchair travel to exotic places 

A place to sit, read, dream and reflect

This anti room off a formal living room was designed as a garden room with three walls of windows and a tile floor.  The Worcester Massachusetts homeowner wanted a warmer feel for quiet conversation and reading.

The window treatments are mock relaxed Roman shades.  The bottom swoop makes them more relaxed than straight fold Romans.  The shades are stationary so they are more like valances.  The fabric is a rich chocolate-brown dupioni silk.

A Hunter Douglas Silhouette window shading protects the furnishings from harmful UV rays while still letting in the light.

The room gets its pop of color from the love seat that is reupholstered in the warm fiery shade of Tangerine Tango.  Down filled pillows of the window treatment fabric are trimmed in black brush fringe to pull the room together.

What do you think of this room?

Where would your armchair adventures take you?

Contact me to begin transforming your house into the oasis of your dreams.
 

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Posted in Rooms, Specialty Rooms, Window Treatments

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In The Studio~Madelyn Valance Accented In Tangerine Tango

Posted on December 13, 2011 | 2 Comments

Madelyn Valance Ready To Be Installed

On the work table-Dust board covered in matching fabric.

Unless decorative hardware is used, most custom window treatments are mounted onto a dust board that is attached to the wall.  I believe every aspect of a window treatment should be custom so I cover the board with matching fabric.

Yes, I am that particular about the details and hey you never know who might be peeking to see how your gorgeous new window treatments are installed!

Four button detail

In order for this style to stretch the entire width of the window a seam is required.  A false placket and buttons hide the seam and become a design detail.  Notice how the pattern matches up perfectly.

The print fabric is a linen and rayon blend from RM Coco , one of my preferred vendors. I have their complete library in my studio.

A jabot is flipped back to show the accent fabric.

Printed fabric is always more interesting combined with a coordinating  fabric that highlights one of the colors in the main fabric.  This classic custom window treatment adds a touch of the stylish Tangerine Tango~Pantone color of the year for 2012.

Micro cord in the accent fabric finish all the edges~another custom design attention to detail. The accent fabric is from Trend it’s available in a variety of colors.

Completed custom Madelyn valances are hung in the studio awaiting installation.

Valances are hung in my studio with special under mount clamps before installation so I can inspect them to be sure everything is just right.  Note-I have placed the treatments in the opposite position they will be installed, the longer cascades will be towards the ends not the middle.

If these custom treatments look this good in my studio, can you just imagine how stunning they will look hanging in your home?  Maybe I’ll reveal that in tomorrow’s post!

Are you ready to bring some Tangerine Tango into your rooms?

Leave a comment or shoot me an email and I’ll show you how to transform your house into a home you will love in 2012.

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In The Studio~The Details Of A Custom Window Treatment

Posted on November 18, 2011 | 2 Comments

“To create something exceptional, your mindset must be relentlessly focused on the smallest detail.”

Giorgio Armani

The materials-A jewel tone stripe with a golden damask over weave from RM Coco and a decorative gimp for the finishing details.

RM Coco is one of my preferred vendors. I have their complete library in my studio.

A quality custom window treatment will have the edges perfectly finished. In our workroom we add self covered micro cord for a clean and professional looking edge.

At a mere 3/8" wide, this decorative trim, also know as gimp, is the finishing touch to this couture window treatment. Gimp is from Trend Fabrics. This one treatment requires 18 yards of trimming.

Trend has an extensive selection of braids and trimmings.  This gimp is available in a variety of colors.

Decorative trim enhances the edges and highlights the colors in the fabric.

A pair of cascades, the pleated sides of a window treatment, are perfect mirror images of one another. Following the same pattern is essential for custom. The pleats highlight various stripes of the pattern for variety.

Components of a custom window treatment are constructed separately. These pieces are waiting to be artfully pleated, folded and pressed into the finished design.

Centering the fabric pattern is pleasing to the eye and enhances the overall design.

Are you ready to bring some design details into your rooms? Contact me today to begin transforming your house into a home you love to live in.

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