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 valances

sun control

Have you ever been in a room and the sun is just blinding?  Perhaps you can’t see the television or the computer screen since the sun is shining directly on it.  It’s not as easy as just putting up blinds or drapery panels, the windows are an odd shape, perhaps a half moon, arched or palladium style.  Well in this example, blinds were installed in the lower windows but the arched windows still let way too much sun in for comfort.  Custom window treatments were made to fit directly into the arched windows allowing the shape of the windows to still be evident but at the same time giving that light control that was so needed.  The blinds, when raised up, were then concealed with a simple rod pocket sleeve.

by Susan Dorbeck

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Posted in accessories,balloons

A tailored balloon is much more structured than a traditional balloon shade or valance.    This ballon shade has pleats formed at the top of the shade and opening out as the fabric falls.    The fullness across the width is minimal because the heading is generally straight except where the pleats occur giving it that tailored look.  A tailored balloon shade is constructed much like a typical balloon shade.  It falls in a series of deep rouched scallops along its base.  It operates in the same way as a roman shade, with rings attached to the back of the shade through which cords, secured to the lowest ring are threaded.    A piece of wood is fixed to the window frame by screws or brackets which will house the screw eyes for the pulley cords to thread through as well as support the shade itself.

tailored balloon valance

A tailored balloon shade is a great way to make good use of deeply folded fabric without cluttering work sufrfaces beneath the window.  In this picture the balloon shade is set at just the right level to allow light where it is needed without compromising privacy.  This window treatment brings to life the room.

decorative pillowA great way to anchor  the window treatments to the rest of the room is to add toss pillows to  in the same fabric.  Here we have used the same silk from the balloon valance to make a kidney pillow for the sofa.  Now the draperies are tied into the furniture giving a cohesive look to the entire room.

by Susan Dorbeck

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Posted in drapery panels

grommet draperies

A grommet drape is a decorative window treatment where the panels are attached to the rod using grommets.  These come in different shapes and sizes to fit any style of drapery hardware and can be made of plastic or metal.  The plastic grommets snap together and usually do not require any special tools where the metal grommets are more labor intensive to construct.  Don’t be fooled by the word plastic though since they come in many different finishes and colors and can mimic metal finishes.  Once the grommets are attached to the heading of the panels they just slip through a stationary rod. The drape gets its pleating from the natural folds that fall beneath the rod once the material is gathered together. Stationary rods are available in several different finishes to coordinate with the color and style of grommet that you are using and come with custom finials on the ends to add an artistic touch that helps highlight the drape and rod. grommet draperies

by Susan Dorbeck

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Posted in drapery panels

pinch pleated drapery

pinch pleated drapery panels

Pinch pleats or French pleats as they are sometimes called are classic.  The elegant pleating will allow the curtain to fall into graceful yet disciplined folds.  A traditional pinch pleat appears in groups of three separated by flat spaces.  Before the pleating is sewn, the heading is stiffened with a special interfacing tape such as buckram which keeps the pleats stiff and regimented.  Pleating is the way in which fullness is added to the fabric forming into narrow vertical folds as it hangs. The pleats are spaced at equal intervals which controls the fullness. The more fabric that is pleated into the drapery panels, the fuller the draperies become.  For the beginner there are tapes specially marked that will pleat the heading for you and takes the guess work out.

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by Susan Dorbeck

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