Susan's Designs » Drapery & Home Decorating

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    Welcome to my showcase of design ideas and inspiration for custom home décor, flattering window treatments and other soft furnishings. I have been blessed by being invited into many beautiful homes and meeting the nicest people. I am among the fortunate few who truly enjoy a fulfilling and rewarding profession. Thank you for looking at my work.

Posted in accessories,bedding,valances

Every little girl has a passion for pink. This bedroom is perfect for a princess, from the cloud balloon valances, table skirt and ottoman to the bedding. With a color scheme of black and pink the room makes a bold statement. The black cloud balloon valances are accented with a corded pink bow and tassel.  A cloud balloon is exactly what it sounds like – a soft, puffed,  gathered valance.

The table is skirted and pleated with an opening hidden in the center pleat for easy storage access underneath. The table also keeps the theme of the room with use of black fabric for the main body of the skirt and a hint on pink outlining the table top.   The unique custom shaped ottoman uses two pink complimentary fabrics, a snakeskin vinyl on the seat for easy cleanup of those makeup spills and a tone on tone floral motif around the sides.It’s then trimmed on the edges with golden nail heads.

The rich, black velvet, curved headboard is tufted and jeweled with glass buttons, making it truly unique.

A tailored box pleated bed skirt gives the comforter the finishing touch, while the accent pillows pull in the fabric from the bedding and the ottoman making the bed ensemble complete.

What princesses room would be complete if she didn’t have the perfect place to keep her jewels? This padded jewelry board is mounted to the inside door, using the same pink motif floral pattern from the ottoman and accent pillow then finished with black buttons in the corners. The precious jewels are hung from glass knobs which compliment the glass buttons of the headboard. From top to bottom this bedroom is truly custom made and the envy of every princess!

by Susan Dorbeck

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Posted in valances

Valances are window treatments that work well in a variety of rooms, kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, family rooms and even formal living rooms. In many window treatment designs, the valances can be used by themselves, but more often are the needed softness for functional windows treatments like blinds or shades. They can be considered the icing on the cake, giving the window that much needed visual appeal and lush depth. This kitchen uses a double pleated valance to soften the window and the 2″ wood blinds, the scalloped bottom gives the window treatment a unique edge and adds softness to all the hard edges of this kitchen.   Clearly, this valance makes a definite difference.

by Susan Dorbeck

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Posted in valances

Corner windows are best suited for drapery design that treats the windows as a whole. This bold, contemporary fabric is perfect for a box pleated valance, the tailored style doesn’t compete with the geometric pattern. The window layout plus the the fabric selection would never be available in a ready made window treatment. Note how the pattern seamlessly continues around the corner and how the inverted pleats are lined with the same contrasting cord fabric, it is the use of these fine details that make the window treatment truly custom.

Another perfect example of the need for custom made windows treatments is evident in this bay window with a sliding door wall. The fabric continues perfectly around the bay, without interrupting the pattern motif. Here the valance is mounted right up at the ceiling allowing for any discrepancies in the windows and door heights.  The valance allows both the door wall to be opened and closed without obstruction and allows one to walk through the door wall without hitting their head on the valance. Both style and design make this window treatment a true trendsetter.

by Susan Dorbeck

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  • Annette SeversonAugust 23, 2016 - 12:02 pm

    Hi, I am looking for a material to make a valance for the top of my patio door in a room painted green, and I really like this. Can you tell me where to get the material?

Posted in drapery panels

Pinch pleated draperies, are the most traditional style of drapery. They are often referred to as French pleated or a 3 fold pleated drapery panels. Draperies are a highly functional yet stylish window treatment for large door walls. The panels can be hung from a variety of hardware, a decorative rod with rings to a traversing drapery rod, allowing the drapes to open and close. Drapery panels offer excellent privacy and insulation, helping to seal warm air in during the winter months while keeping out the cold and keeping the heat out in the summer months. Draperies are perfect for any decor and style making them a tried and true window treatment.

by Susan Dorbeck

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Posted in valances

This floral pattern is accentuated by the curved inverted box pleated valance. The flat tailored style allows the beautiful floral motif  to make a statement. The box pleat style is simple enough that it can be used in a room with many windows, like this kitchen.

Without any window treatment the room is overpowered by the windows. The floral pattern brings the beauty of the outdoors inside, creating a soft edge to the hard windows.

By making the inverted box pleated valance a little shorter the same style can be used for the sink window in the same kitchen. The shorter valance still allows the larger scale of the flower to work in proportion to the window size. All the valances are trimmed in a contrasting cord, accenting the curved edge.

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by Susan Dorbeck

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