Pillows, Pillows, Pillows

A quick, fun way to add color to your room is with pillows. They can be almost any style and size from formal to frivolous. Pile loads of them on your bed. Toss a few on your sofa. Scatter them on the floor. Wherever you use them, you definitely notice their impact. They can tie the colors of your palate together, add a splash of color to an otherwise neutral setting, or set the tone of your room. Don't forget, they are one of the easiest and most cost effective ways to update a room.

Upholstered headboards change the dynamics of your room

Nothing changes the look and feel of your bedroom like a new upholstered headboard. Whether it's an entire upholstered wall or a traditional headboard, it becomes the focal point and sets the tone for the rest of the room. There's so many beautiful fabrics on the market that offer a collection of coordinating prints so you can incorporate the feel of the headboard into your bedding without looking too matchy matchy. Shown are a few we've done.

Wall to wall headboard makes a dramatic statement

Horizontal stripes visually widen the room and add a playful touch to this colorful guestroom

Parisian fabric sets the tone for a country French look

Wrapped and ready to install the coral accents on this traditional headboard will give the room a tropical flair

Is your favorite sofa looking tired and outdated?

If you love the comfort and style of your old sofa but it's looking worn and dated, you might want to think about reupholstering it instead of replacing it.

By reusing what you have, you'll save running around looking for that "perfect" piece and you'll help reduce your carbon footprint too. If the cushions are sagging, your upholsterer can help you with that by replacing the foam cushions, or by adding new webbing.

Look for fabrics that coordinate with your window treatments, add a few new pillows, and you'll find the whole look of your room has changed.

Custom upholsterers can also manufacture furniture, so if you've always wanted an ottoman that matches your sofa, ask your upholsterer about the many styles available. With one stop, you can have smart "new" seating without having to shop for coordinating pieces.

Luxurious bedding gives you an oasis at home

Nothing pampers you like a bedroom dressed in luxurious bedding. We've done many layered looks with bedskirts and comforters and lots and lots of pillows, but if you want a more tailored look with some softness, why not try a shirred bedspread with bolsters instead of pillows? The look is inviting and elegant but not fussy.Detailing like the decorative tassel and contrast welt adds interest. We lined this bedspread with black satin and used black cording.

New window treatments and accessories give you a fresh, new look without the cost of a total redo

The economy has many people scrambling to keep costs down and often that means they're staying at home more and spending less on outside entertainment.

It's a great time to focus on what makes you comfortable at home. Simply changing out your window treatments, adding a new valance over existing treatments, or putting a splash of new color on your sofa or your bed with bright, cheerful throws and pillows can provide you with a great new look without breaking the bank.

Maybe you're draperies are looking tired. A new valance or cornice can frame them and provide a striking accent to what you already have. The addition of sheers under the draperies will give you a softer, more light filtered look and that creates a whole new ambiance in the room. A coverlet and new shams can give your bedroom a fresh update.

By changing only a few things, or layering over what you already have, you can have a fresh new look with a small investment.

Simply 66 makes changing privacy curtains a snap

I've been talking to hospitals and healthcare facilities lately about a great new product I'm selling called Simply 66. They are privacy curtains that embrace the idea of "one size fits all". While the top mesh strip may vary in length and width to accommodate space requirements, the fabric part of the curtain comes in 66" square modules that snap to the mesh. This makes them a "snap" (if you'll pardon the pun) to install, launder, and replace. As a panel becomes soiled, that panel can be removed and replaced with a clean 66" module rather than laundering the whole curtain. This saves laundry and labor cost and reduces the amount of water required--something we're all trying to do in an effort to make our facilities "greener".

ADO Smart Fabrics are antibacterial and odor neutralizing

Another interesting product that's been on the mark for awhile and is popular in Europe, is ADO Smart Fabrics. Manufactured with silver ions, Smart Fabrics prevent bacterial setting--the ions actually intervene in the bacterial metabolism and prevent its multiplying. And this fabric neutralizes the odor in the air. In spite of regular cleaning, odor-causing bacteria often stick to fibers and can cause infectious diseases or allergies when they come into contact with skin. The BioProtect technology in Smart Fabrics selectively destroys pathogens upon contact before they can spread across the fabric surface.

Looking into Windows

With holiday entertaining only a few months away, it’s a great time to start thinking about replacing outdated window treatments. With so many choices available today, there’s something to please every taste and budget.
Where do you begin? There are three basic categories of window treatment purchasing options. They are: ready-made, semi-custom, and custom. The one that is right for you may be determined by what is most important to you: quality, style, convenience, cost, value, or some combination of these.

Ready-made

Ready-made blinds and draperies come in a limited variety of materials, fabrics, styles and sizes. While quality and price vary depending on the manufacturer, ready-mades are the most economical and convenient for do-it-yourself homeowners. If you like what you see and it fits your window, you can select what you want, buy it, and hang it that day.

Semi-custom

What I call semi-custom is what you find in catalogs, on the internet and at some retail stores. You select a fabric and a style from their collection. Several popular sizes, designed to fit most standard windows, are offered. They are usually priced higher than ready-mades and below custom treatments. Some stores offer installation; some do not. You get a larger selection than ready-mades offer, but not every size and style will fit every window and décor.

Custom made

Custom treatments are designed specifically for your windows. You choose the design, the material, the fabric, the trim, and the hardware. If one window is a half inch longer than another, allowances are made for that. These window fashions are fabricated one at a time to your exact specifications, and include many details considered to be industry standards. For example, if you are buying draperies, expect to get double side seams, double 4” bottom hems, seams hidden in the pleats, and pattern matching. Custom treatments are almost always installed by a professional installer. Service and attention to detail takes time—expect to pay more and allow at least 4 to 8 weeks for fabrication.

Mix and match options

All three categories offer viable choices for today’s homeowner. You can mix and match, putting ready-made in a room you expect to change the look often, and custom treatments where you want to make a lasting statement. As with any home improvement project, it’s an investment that requires some planning. Start now and enjoy beautiful windows this winter.

Have a question about your windows?Have a question about a type of treatment or a problem window you’re not sure what to do with? Post a comment and I’ll try and address as many as I can in future columns. http://www.hr-drapery.com/

Just for fun, check out these MIT grads demonstrating the workings of a sewing machine: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAhmYzmkvcY