Have you ever looked at a beautifully dressed window and thought something was off? just not right about it?
Well, more than likely it was the proportions & fit of the treatment that were causing this effect. Proportion and fit is as important in your window treatments as it is in your clothes. think of your window treatments as “clothes” for your home.
Let me show your an example to help you see the difference in poor proportion and proper proportion. Take a look the following sketches and then I’ll discuss which treatment is in proportion with the window.
These window are all the same size but as you can see the valances are are different lengths.
If your proportions are to small your treatment can come across as skimpy and may look as thought you didn’t have enough fabric or as an after thought!
If your proportions are to large your window can look heavy and over done. While “lavish” is wonderful in Interior Design – making the proportions larger will not achieve that effect. Instead focus on rich looking fabrics and plush trim.
You guessed it – This proportion is the winner! Both the side panels and the valanceare in proportion with the window!
How can you achieve the “perfect” proportion in your home? By using a professional Window Treatment designer and/or interior designer can assist you with finding the “perfect fit” for your windows!
As a window treatment professional many times I am called on to come up with creative or unusual ways of installing treatments.
In this application I was asked to install treatments on 100 year old plaster walls. Trust me that put “fear” in my heart – if you don’t know a “small” hole in plaster walls can become a “large” issue both time and money wise!
Instead of mounting the valances to the wall, we were able to attach them by toe nailing screws through the moldings above the windows into the mount boards of the valances.
In this case it definitely paid off for both the client and myself – that part of my job as professional Window Treatment Designer/Fabricator is to think outside of the box – or in this case “off” the wall!!
It’s quiet and peaceful as I sit in my studio and write this post – the total opposite of how it was a week ago. The “rollercoaster” of ABC’s Extreme Home MakeOver rolled into Tulsa Jan 28th along with an ice/snow storm.
In conjunction w/Simmons Homes Extreme began a project for a deserving family right here in Tulsa. As soon as I heard about the project, I jumped on board – excited for once to have the time in my schedule to give back to a community I love.
If I had to describe my experience in one word it would be = ROLLERCOASTER
Here’s a timeline of my experience.
Jan 15th: I saw a post on Twitter to volunteer, filled out form = Excited!
Jan 19th: Attended “Pep Rally” for the event with several friends, none of us knowing if we were going to be selected. = Hopeful!
Jan 22nd: Notified that I indeed was chosen as one of the volunteers for the project (out of over 1500) = Thrilled!
Jan 25th: Emailed reminder of my fabrication skills = Anxious!
Jan 26th: Received call from the “design liaison” stating that I would indeed be working on fabricating for the home and would I be willing to be one of two head seamstresses on this project. = Ecstatic!
Jan 28th: Build started! Ice and Snow Storm arrived too! = Nervous!
Jan 29th: Received call of seamstress meeting on Sun at 2pm; Still snowing! = Comforted!
Jan 31st: Meeting. Project overview was given to us by the design liaison and one of the designers/architect – Cory. None of the show’s “stars” were present. As a “head” seamstress I assigned projects as best I could with what knowledge I had available as to skill levels. fabrics would be available at 10:30am on Monday.
I went directly from the meeting to the workroom to clean and prep for the “volunteers” I had coming to assist in the project on the next day. One of my wonderful volunteers, Anoli,also went with me to assist in cleaning. = Anticipating!
Feb 1st : After an excited and sleepless nite, early to the workroom to continue prepping for the next two days. I finished cleaning and organizing and worked up work orders so I could keep track of the projects that were being worked on in my studio. Fabrics finally were ready and picked up around noon.
Volunteers we re arriving at my studio when I arrived back from picking up fabrics, we all knew this would be a long two days. My dear friend, ShaRhonda, brought taco soup, chips, and drinks for myself and volunteers – great to have food in a crock pot that was ready when ever someone was hungry.
We worked hard through the first day and nite – cutting, serging (and of course my serger decided not to play nice ) and began to assemble projects. Our projects consisted of window treatments, panels and bedding for Master bedroom and pillows for the Master and one of the childrens rooms. My wonderful husband, came and did the woodwork needed for the window treatments. The volunteers were great, wonderful talented ladies, Anoli, Karen, Jodi, Patti – first day volunteers. We worked late into the night and two of us even bunked down for a couple of hours in my studio. = Overwhelmed!
Feb 2nd: 2 volunteers and myself, Anoli, and Karen to start, later we added Marilyn and Patti. The design liaison called and added pillows for another room to our list as well. Unfortunately, I began to get very sick and this began to hinder progress, I called in a favor from another workroom pro, Judy to come and assist, by then things were looking rather dim as to the completion by deadline, so I called the other head seamstress for assistance and she made the decision to take the work to other teams for completion. = Exhausted, Frustrated, Sick
For several days I was extremely disappointed and frustrated for myself and my amazing volunteers to not be able to complete the projects – but after some time and reflection I believe that we did the best job possible in the time allotted and the circumstances we faced.
In spite, of the “rollercoaster” I am honored to have assisted in the projects and process and I met some wonderful ladies in my community with whom I plan to keep in contact.
I thought I’d start the new year by starting a new feature – I’ll share photos of a project and discuss any special issues, concerns or issues that were considered in creating just the “right” look for the project. Okay, so much for talk …let’s get to it!
On this bay window the decorator asked me to create 3 shaped box pleated valances w/bias banding, micro cording and decorative trim. 2 small and 1 large.
My task was to take the “theme” fabric and make sure that the showed well on both the flat scalloped sections and the pleated sections of the valances. I wanted the scene to fill out the section but not look too crowed. Due to the size difference on the scalloped sections it was necessary to chose 2 different sections of the fabric to “showcase”. Both the end sections (small) feature the same scene and both sections on the center (large) valance are a different scene. I tied it all together by featuring the same scene on the pleats. This created a cohesive treatment and allowed more of the fabric to show.
Today I was honored to attend a Holiday Open House held by one of the Interior Design teams that I work with on a regular basis.
I4 Design – is the team of Tracy Hearon & Lisa Bell, two wonderfully creative and energetic ladies.
The Open House was filled with great Holiday Decorating Ideas as well as original artwork of Tracy’s Sister – Kelly Rollow of Alabama and window treatments and pillows by yours truly!
I4 Design;
Lisa Bell & Tracy Hearon
Me w/Former Fabricut Showroom Manager & Longtime friend; Jana McKee
Just a quick update to show your a few projects that have gone out to clients this week! Quick projects w/lots of creativity!
One of 2 bolsters for a Master Bedroom. 2 panels w/twist cord and hand sewn braid.
Reversible pillows w/flat braid loop fringe
Custom Christmas stockings!
Love doing some of these smaller projects – there is almost an Instant Gratification and always lots of fun combining fabrics and trims! One of the design teams I have worked with for many years is having an Holiday Open House on Sunday – I’m looking forward to sharing photos from there as well as photos of the treatments I’ve done in the designers home!
I can always tell when the season changes, the colors in my studio seem to change too. You’d be surprised how many times the colors of the fabric and trims on my workroom table reflect the seasons!
Check out some of the new project fabrics and trims that have come into the studio this week.
These two fabrics will be shaped box pleated valances and cafe curtains.
These fabrics and trims will be bi-panel bolster pillows.
Decorative Pillows
Working hard to stay ahead of the holiday rush! I’ve been meeting with clients selecting treatment styles, fabrics, trims, submitting estimates – ready for the craziness that is the holiday season in the studio!
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