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.

With these warm lazy summer days upon us, many people are looking out their back windows at their patios and decks for that outdoor living room.  A place for some enthused decorating, a quiet spot for your summer read, a comfortable recluse or a gathering place for fun, food and friendship.  Just like an indoor room, your patio or deck can be comfortable as well as intimate.  Treat it as an integral part of your home, an extension if you will.

Fireplaces or pits are all the rage as are gas grills and outdoor kitchens with cooking surfaces that rival the finest kitchens.  You can add “walls” with a trellis or colorful flowerpots; perhaps a weatherproof screen or a reclaimed garden gate.  Use colorful umbrellas for those sunny spots.  Bring indoor elements such as drapes, pillows, mirrors, baskets and lanterns outside.  Purchase an outdoor rug or better yet faux paint your own on a patio floor using stencils.

Decorate with a casual and comfortable feel; surround yourself with items you love.  There is such a wide variety of patio furniture available with gorgeous indoor/outdoor fabrics to choose from.  You can also visit flea markets and resale shops to find inexpensive furniture to paint and/or repurpose.  There is a wide spectrum of spray paints available for multi surfaces, including plastic furniture that you could paint without the need to prime, bringing in colorful pieces to your outdoor rooms.  Color and texture are very important in your outdoor room. They cross the threshold of the window sill and help bring the outdoors into casual, livable spaces.  Accessorize with garden fresh colors full of contrast and surprise as well as wicker, stone, wood and fabrics.  You can easily add mood lighting by reusing Christmas lights, solar lanterns and candles.

Whatever you do, make the space your own, a place to lounge with family and friends, to listen to the sound of nature and be sure that the environment allows for relaxation and enjoyment.

before

before

A custom shaped cornice was built and hung at the ceiling in this bay window eliminating the gap above the molding for a clean and tidy look.   The gentle curves add softness to this upholstered piece giving this modern more contemporary window treatment a traditional touch.  The bottom edge was trimmed with a coordinating cording.  Each of the three pieces were hinged together at the back for a uniformed look.

custom cornice, Zusie Q a Susan

after

 

flat valance with jabots, Zusie Q a Susan

flat valance with jabots

With so many windows,
yet a beautiful view of the backyard and the lake beyond,
no privacy was needed but sun control was a must.

There were blinds in each of the windows for sun control,
which were not very attractive on their own.
With plenty of room above each window
this valance was hung more than a foot above the window frame.
They not only hide the blinds when not in use
but give the illusion that the windows are much taller than they actually are.

The jabots are lined in a deep luxurious red faux silk
to pick up the red accents of the kitchen but just a hint of the color peeks thru so as not to overpower the treatment.

 

overlay, Zusie Q a Susan

overlay

drapery panels, Zusie Q a Susan

drapery panels

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This two story great room had no privacy issues but lacked warmth and personality.
Drapery panels with a contrast overlay were installed then cinched with a decorative tassel.
Not only did this window treatment add warmth, personality and texture to the room it also helped with acoustics in such a large room.

 

 

 

 

 

A custom drapery rod was made to fit the angle of the bay and the window treatments were hung between the two arched windows so as not to take up any of the beautiful views of the backyard or the lake beyond.

drapery panels, Zusie Q a Susan

drapery panels

It doesn’t seem to matter what kind of door you have, they all seem to have problems of their own.  This doorwall is a french door that swings open on the inside therefore the window treatments need to hang high enough up so as not to interfere with the operation of the door.  We had plenty of room above the door to hang this Queen Ann valance and were able to hang it so that it just cleared the doors opening.  A window nearby was given the same treatment for continuity.  The covered buttons add detail to that custom look.

QueenAnn valance with buttons, Zuzie Q a Susan

QueenAnn valance with buttons

QueenAnn valance, Zusie Q a Susan

QueenAnn valance with buttons

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