Susan's Designs » Drapery & Home Decorating

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  • nesting creatively

    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.

A cleaver way to use coordinating fabrics in a room is by choosing a window treatment that incorporates more than one fabric.  A box pleat valance does just that. This box pleat valance is made with two fabrics, the main floral fabric on the front of the valance and then the contrasting diamond  fabric on the inside of the box pleats. The corners of the pleat are then buttoned back to allow the complementary fabric to peek through. Creating a perfect topper for any window style. The kitchen door wall in this same room uses tab top drapery panels for function with visual appeal. The contrasting fabric from the kitchen window was the perfect fabric choice for the drapery panels, modern and elegant allowing the panels to become timeless in style.

Roman valances create a contemporary addition to windows, offering a uncomplicated style that accents with simplicity. The clean lines of a Roman valance work well in any room.  This style, although very tailored and pleated,  adds a softness and suppleness to a room’s hard edges, in this case the 2″ horizontal wood blinds. Fabric choices for a Roman valance are endless, they work well in a variety of colors, prints and textures.  This room showcases how a simple design and color palette can make a room stylish. The cream color shade accents the blinds and crown moulding without making the window look busy. The black ties pull in the color from the tile used in the shower and give the Roman shade and the room a cohesive look.

London shades look a bit like a balloon shade, but are much more tailored.  The London shade and balloon shade share similar properties, like shirring and a puffed look when the London shade is raised. The largest difference is in the the top of the London shade, which is pleated and tailored giving the shade a refined look. Strings attached behind the shade allow it to be vertically raised and lowered, offering privacy when needed. The London shade is a perfect window treatment for powder rooms, bathrooms, bedrooms and dining rooms. This style of shade not only offers practicality but beauty to the room. Fabric choice for a London shade can be a print, solid and even a stripe or plaid. This London shade uses a pattern that compliments the artwork and warm room color. A dramatic effect is given to the London shade by trimming it in beaded tassel fringe, in the same warm tones as the fabric, giving a small room an impressive look.

Converting twins beds into comfortable sofas is the solution for this empty nest room. The beds are covered with a tailored stylish slipcover that gives the mattress a sofa look, yet the slip cover can be easily removed when the beds are needed for sleeping. Bolster means to support or prop up as if with a long narrow pillow or cushion. Thus the name bolster pillows which are tubular or wedge shaped pillows that lay the length of the mattress giving  back or neck support when lying or sitting on the bed. These bolster pillows are a simple rectangular shape made of dense foam inserted in a zippered cover, offering support and a comfy place to rest. The addition of the large square pillows in front of the bolster pillow, not only adds visual appeal, but offers extra support when sitting in a upright position, as if  on a sofa. Quickly changing these twin mattresses into sofas.

The fabric selection is key to the finishing touch. The use of a simple circle design pattern keeps the look crisp yet inviting. The square pillows are backed with a smaller patterned contrast fabric in a complimentary color, which allows the pillows to be reversible. That same pattern was repeated on the bolster cover adding contrast and visual interest. The cording on the tailored slipcover matches the square back and the bolster pillows. Giving the room a cohesive look.

  • LUCY DAINESJanuary 19, 2017 - 11:46 pm

    INTERESTED IN GETTING AN CORNERTABLE WITH TWIN BEDS TO USE AS A SOFA AND BEDS. WHERE CAN I PURCHASE THESE?

  • Randy BarnesSeptember 7, 2017 - 12:54 am

    where can you buy these retro twin bed with table corner units
    thanks

  • AnneJanuary 17, 2018 - 5:32 pm

    Any one know where I can this corner set ?

  • Susan DorbeckJanuary 17, 2018 - 6:03 pm

    These are standard twin beds with a custom back board, table/box built into them for function and style. 3/4″ plywood was used, then sanded and stained to achieve this look. The bed can slide out from under the table when needed.

  • Isis MorenoApril 11, 2018 - 5:16 pm

    I’m interested in this unit. I’ve had one before. Where can I purchase one?

  • TopSeptember 6, 2019 - 4:17 pm

    I have been looking for this idea. Thanks for sharing 🙂

  • TopSeptember 6, 2019 - 4:22 pm

    Is the table custom made, too?

  • Susan DorbeckSeptember 15, 2019 - 4:00 pm

    The whole room was custom. Thanks for you comments

  • Ellen St ClairSeptember 11, 2021 - 10:38 pm

    You mention that the bed frames and corner table was custom…who made this for you or did you do it yourself?
    I have been looking for a long time for this kind of set-up. Please share what you can…thank you.

  • MichelleSeptember 23, 2021 - 10:49 am

    Hi! Is the twin on rollers or how does it pull out easily? Love this! Reminds me of growing up at my grandma’s house!

  • Susan DorbeckNovember 23, 2021 - 3:10 pm

    I’m not sure if these were on rollers but they were definitely on floor pads so as not to damage the floors.

  • SarahJune 15, 2022 - 8:39 am

    Do you mind sharing the dimensions of this corner table ?

  • TracieDecember 13, 2023 - 12:31 pm

    My sister and I had a set. Yes, they had rollers. Was looking to purchase but all I could find was a nice set in an estate sale too far away. So considering making it myself.

  • Michelle WindomJanuary 10, 2024 - 10:03 am

    Greetings
    Found your twin bed setup while searching a similar layout

    Can you share dimensions for the table?

    Thanks
    michellewindom1@gmail.com

  • Janine FinneyJanuary 30, 2024 - 6:08 pm

    I wish there were a way for this to come up on google search…I’ve been trying to find this design too. We had this is the late 60’s growing up, and I couldn’t get it to come up (to show others what I was trying to create) anywhere. So glad I found you! I too, would love to know more about how to make the table, dimensions, etc.

The layout of bay windows  can often make it difficult to determine exactly which style is best suited for the design of the window and the room. These before pictures show the use of simple solid colored drapery panels hung on the outside walls of the bay window. A pleated shade was used for privacy but did not work properly, often hanging irregularly. Although the drapery panels accented the bay window, the pleated cellular shade left much to be desired. The perfect solution to embellish the bay window is roman shades. The roman shades add function and elegance, they frame the window without clutter or obstruction of the view. The color of the striped fabric enhances the the rich chocolate brown of the drapery panels as well as the warm wall color, pulling the room together. The roman shades offer the privacy needed when lowered on the windows, yet allow full view out the window when raised. These roman shades provide both form and function in the room.

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