What do people really want to know about their draperies.

What style of window treatment is most popular right now?

There is no style more popular than the next since no one person has the same taste and style.  There will always be the traditional person, the country, the contemporary and of course the eclectic person.  Most of us fall into this last category which means  not following any one design, as of traditional, victorian, contemporary, etc., but selecting and using what are considered  the best elements of all design.
Some weeks it seems that I create more roman shades than the next, others it’s swags.  Sometimes it’s pleated valances or sheffield valances but right now, I am building cornices more than anything else. It’s not because it’s a trend,  it’s just a coincidence since cornices can fit into many styles of homes.  It just depends on the fabric chosen and the shape.

Susan Dorbeck

How do I clean the window treatments?

If you look at most of the fabrics that are chosen for drapery treatments they all say that dry cleaning is recommended.  The content of the fabric is often 100% polyester or 100% cotton and you would think that it could easily be laundered.  You just have to use cold water and not put them in the dryer.  Often times the manufacturer does not want to be responsible and they will recommend dry cleaning but that’s not all that’s involved.  You have to consider the colors of the fabric, they can run and ruin the fabric.  Is there a trim such as cording or fringe added to your window treatments?  The colors of the trim can also run into the fabric and ruin your window treatments.  Are the draperies lined?  Lining is often 100 % cotton and will  shrink, perhaps at a different rate that the main fabric and cause the window treatments to distort.  In today’s times perhaps all you need to do is to take down your draperies or your window treatments and shake them out to get the dust off them.  Maybe all you have to do is vacuum them regularly for dust control.  We no longer live in times where most people smoke in the home and furnaces are high efficient.  It was just one generation ago that we had to wash walls during our spring cleaning routines.  In todays society by the time your window treatments need cleaning you are probably ready to replace them.