Monday, August 24, 2009
Freshen an Old Treatment with a New Idea
My Decorating Plan
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Try using decorative drapery rings, they can be bold and dramatic and give your old treatment a face-lift.
Try a New Twist
My Decorating Plan
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Want a new twist to hanging your draperies? Try ceiling mount curtain rods. The eye will be drawn up, which will lengthen your windows and add height to your ceiling.
Be Energy Smart
My Decorating Plan
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Honeycomb shades are one of the most energy efficient treatments on the market. They will keep the exterior elements hot/cold from getting in and keep the interior elements hot/cold in.
Bold Prints Are In
My Decorating Plan
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Don’t be afraid of bold prints, windows are a great place to use a large bold print, bright florals and stripes are a growing trend adding a fun trendy vibe.
Spruce Up Your Mini-Blinds
My Decorating Plan
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Tired of your mini blinds? Try adding a velvet banding or ladder tape to cover the strings and holes.
Time to Go Natural
My Decorating Plan
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Hardware has been dominated by metallics and sparkle for a while now, but the natural look is the new trend, such as wood, bamboo and other natural materials.
Telescope vs. Solid
My Decorating Plan
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When shopping for hardware try to find rods that are not telescoping but instead a solid piece, this adds a more custom look and feel.
Hardware Rod Selection
My Decorating Plan
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When selecting hardware take into consideration the width and length of the treatment, very rarely would you want to use a rod that is less than 2 inches in diameter. It can look flimsy and cheap if you use the stock size of 1” to 1”3/8”.
Cleaning Your Roman Shades
My Decorating Plan
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To clean Roman shades try vacuuming with a brush attachment or using a duster.
Customize Your Store Bought Shades
My Decorating Plan
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If buying store made shades try adding a contrasting border to make it look more custom and unique.
Don't Forget About the Lining
My Decorating Plan
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If shopping for store made drapery panels or valances, be sure they are lined. It adds a uniform look from the exterior and gives it a higher quality look.
Make Small Spaces Feel Larger
My Decorating Plan
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If you want your room to appear bigger, keep the window treatments simple, the fewer layers the better.
Cleaning Your Woven Woods
My Decorating Plan
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To clean Woven Wood Shades, try to regularly open and close the shade, this helps remove loose dust and then use a duster to remove the rest of the dust when needed.
Cleaning Your Existing Drapes
My Decorating Plan
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Never wash your draperies by hand (includes washing machine). Try carefully and lightly vacuuming them with a brush attachment. Try this twice a year and have them professionally cleaned every 3-5 years.
5 Important Factors
My Decorating Plan
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When deciding on a treatment, take into consideration these five very important factors: Privacy, Light, Control, Function and Style.
Mix Patterns and Colors
My Decorating Plan
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Mix patterns and colors to add life and uniqueness. Trims, borders, and contrast linings are great ways to do this.
Add a Custom Look to Store Bought Drapes
My Decorating Plan
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If you have store bought drapery panels, but want the custom look try adding a contrasting bottom. This lengthens them and adds a custom look.
Puddling Drapes
My Decorating Plan
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Sometimes more is better, try adding length to draperies and let them puddle on the floor.
Add Some Curves
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Many treatments have straight lines, panel draperies, box-pleat valances, shades, etc. Try to add some curves, such as a scalloped valance or shade that pulls up into swags.
Natural Light
My Decorating Plan
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Natural light is very important, be sure your treatment is functional and allows in light when needed.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
A Safer Home
My Decorating Plan
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If you have children or pets in your home and plan to install one of the many types of window shades or blinds, choose a cordless lift system so there are no dangling cords for children or pets to get tangled in.
"Room Redo" Using Stuff You Already Have
My Decorating Plan
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Many people look at their current home décor and fail to see the "re-purposing" potential of the decorating resources they already have. They assume that in order to redecorate, they must throw everything out and start over with all new things. This not only shortsighted, it is often not an option due to a limited decorating budget.
Start by creating an inventory of the decorating resources already in your home. That inventory would include furniture, lighting, window coverings and accessories. After you have completed your inventory, categorize your items into (1) items you can use as is; (2) items that can be used if repaired or modified; (3) items that must go.
Once your inventory is completed and categorized, consider new locations and new uses for the pieces you are retaining. Moving things around and re-purposing them will make them seem fresh and new. For example, you may feel that you are "sick and tired" of your nightstand, but it would work perfectly as a side table in the family room, thus giving it a new life and purpose. Redone kitchen
Some of the other resources that are often overlooked in a home are the material resources that already exist - such as walls, ceilings, floors, and windows. Adding a fresh coat of paint or textured wallpaper will make a room feel new. Scraping the acoustic off the ceiling will give it a cleaner feel. Adding an area rug will add another visual dimension to your floor. Updating old, tired window treatments will liven up and refresh a room.
Natural resources are becoming very important in the world. The addition of living plants is great way of using natural resources. They add greenery and help purify the air that you are breathing.
Also consider yourself and other members of your family as the human resources that can provide labor for decorating projects and maintain your home.
Considering all your current resources and how it is best to use them will help you create a wonderful home, conserve time and money, and extend the life of the "stuff" you already have.
