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.
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Goblet pleats are calculated and formed in the same way as pinch pleats, but instead of making a triple fold you secure only the base of it forming a tube, much like a champagne flute. This tube is then stuffed with some sort of synthetic filling fiber like Dacron to pad out the flute-like shape. The result, a very structured, dimensional look.
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.
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. Adding lining to the back of drapery fabric creates distinct advantages over unlined drapes. Number one, lining adds insulation value for those cold winter nights and those steamy hot summer days. In other words lining helps to reduce your utility costs both gas and electric no matter which part of the country you live in. Who doesn’t want to save money. Number two, lined draperies cut down on echoing and sound from both indoors and outdoors. By adding that extra layer of cloth, it absorbs more sound making your surroundings more comfortable. Number three, lining protects your draperies as well as your furniture from the hot and harmful UV rays, reducing and often illuminating sun rot. Lined draperies can last 10 to 15 years longer than unlined drapes. Number four, they offer you complete privacy. Number five, lined draperies give you that consistent view from outdoors. In other words, from the street, all of your windows have the same color. People driving by do not see a green window, a pink window, a blue window ect., they are all consistent when they are all lined. Number six, light reduction. Lined draperies greatly reduce the light pouring into your rooms and when blackout lining is used, the windows are darkened for sleeping. Great for kids and those on the night shift.
Calm colors invite you to relax, get rid of your daily cares and comfort your spirit. This ready made bedding was kicked up a notch by adding some custom shams and a bolster.
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by Susan Dorbeck