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 swags
swags and jabots, Zuzie Q a Susan

swags and jabots

These swags and jabots are made out of a soft sheer fabric and in order for them to drape, fold and hang so beautifully they are also lined with a sheer fabric.  In this case I used a white sheer for the lining which not only brightened up the peach color of the swags but it also looked good from the outside.
When making window treatments don’t forget how it looks from the street, first impression count.

The sheer lining enables them to have that light and airy look and also allows the sun and daylight to peek thru. Shorter jabots are used in the corners where the swags cannot overlap.

By hanging them at the crown molding, this bay window treatment brought symmetry to the room.

by Susan Dorbeck

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  • GabrielleAugust 15, 2021 - 2:10 pm

    Hi there! I would like to create a similar look in a soft green. Where would you recommend purchasing materials? Thanks!

Posted in drapery talk

I’m the tool mom, I love to work with tools.  Drills, saws, screwdrivers, hammers, it’s a good feeling to build something, to create.

I’ve always loved to sew and do crafts even at a very young age.  My very first sewing project (that didn’t involve stapling fabric to make doll clothes) was an infant’s night gown that my mother helped me with so that I could earn a badge in Brownies.  It was very exciting to make something, to create.

I remember thinking that if I could follow a pattern and make a piece of clothing it would be no different than following blueprints and building a house.  I haven’t gotten that far yet, but still believe it.

Shortly after I started making drapes, I was asked to make a cornice board.  I can’t tell you how good it felt to build a box.  You’d think that I built the Taj Mahal.  Of course I am not a finished carpenter, but if I can pad it and cover it, I can build it and display it.

My kids thought that I was such a cool mom because I wanted a cordless circular saw and a rolling toolbox for my birthday one year.  Hey you can’t beat cordless tools and they are becoming more and more lightweight yet very powerful for ease of use.  The new lithium battery powered tools are awesome.    My dad gave me a great gift many years ago and I still treasure it today.  He gave me a suede tool pouch and he put a measuring tape in one pocket and a bottle of perfume in the other.  Every time I wear it I think of my dad.  Love you dad.

All these memories were sparked by an incident that happened just yesterday.  I was at a lovely elderly lady’s home installing draperies and valances and she sat and watched me as I worked.

inverted pleats, Zuzie Q, a Susan

This is an inverted box pleated valance that was hung 10″ above the window to give the illusion that the window was much taller.

We chatted as I worked and she could not get over how handy I was and wanted to know my history.  How did I learn my craft?  Then out of the blue she asked me to look at her coffee maker because it was giving her trouble.  It was jammed and perhaps I could fix it for her.  It’s funny how people perceive you to be and really you should embrace their thoughts.  Believe me I am not a small appliance repair person, but it felt good that someone thought that I might be.

One thing I know for sure is that I’m the tool mom and it feels good to create.

by Susan Dorbeck

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  • Sandi MakiJuly 10, 2011 - 6:06 pm

    This was a great post to read Susan. You shared a bit of your “inspiration” in a sense, and got me reflecting on whether I’m a tool mom or a perfume mom…I do carry tools of my trade around in my car – and when I show up on job sites I’m pretty popular because I often have what the rest of the crew needs. Great post that I could identify with. I can’t wait for more of your story!

  • MonicaJuly 10, 2011 - 6:26 pm

    Dear Susan… did you fix the coffeemaker?

    I too love tools and have astounded a few folks. It takes me back to the saying… if you only have a hammer, everything looks like a nail. Or as my Dad always put it… the right tool for the right job and let the tool do the work.

    Nice job on the Valance! Betsy had made a similar suggestion to me for my living room. Amazing how it makes a room taller.

  • deborahJuly 10, 2011 - 7:05 pm

    You always have something interesting to share. Thanks.

  • Austin SzelkowskiJuly 10, 2011 - 7:11 pm

    Susan,

    I’m not much of a word-worker, usually, but I was for a couple days when I returned from the skate. I decided to take a few days of solitude to collect my thoughts about everything that had happened.

    During those days of solitude, I realized that my mind is completely incapable of total shutdown. I had to do something… anything to keep my mind occupied. Long story short, I ended up building a frame for the flag I carried all the way across the country. The flag was huge (3’x5′), and I was quite certain I wouldn’t be able to find a frame that would fit it.

    The flag was the physical symbol of the most important journey of my life, and I felt the need to somehow preserve and display it. I needed to do it justice, so to speak. There’s something special about making something with your own hands and imagination. It’s like you connect with a special part of living that you can’t reach through anything else. I didn’t strive to make the frame extremely fancy. It is very practical with just what it needed and nothing more. It turned out quite nice, and I’m going to show you a picture during the mastermind meeting on Thursday.

    Thanks for sharing!

    – Austin “The Freedom Skater” Szelkowski

  • Carol PalmatierJuly 10, 2011 - 8:37 pm

    It does feel good to create…and sometimes it feels good to de-create too. I helped a friend rip out old molding and flooring today to make way for new carpet and tile this week. Hammers, crowbars, loud noises…why should guys get all the fun? : D

  • Stephan J. SmithJuly 11, 2011 - 10:43 am

    Great post Susan! You are a WORD MOM also! I love tools too…right tool for the right job is so true… Doing sculpture of any kind using repurposed items absolutely requires being able to cut, shape, clip and mold one shape into another!

  • Gael FontaineJuly 11, 2011 - 2:15 pm

    Hi Susan,your mom sent me your blog and i think it’s absolutely wonderful.You are so talented.I also loved the part about your dad’s gift,that was so special,brought a tear to my eye,your mom’s too I bet.Keep up the good work Tool Mom,best wishes in all your endeavours,Gael F

Posted in drapery talk

I’ve always been intrigued by tufted furniture.

Victorian tufted furniturehttp://www.museumfurniture.com

Styles became  increasingly ornate, flamboyant and playful.  More and more of the chair seats were made with springs and had deep buttoned backs for comfort.  Rooms became total works of art with elegant yet ornate furniture, sculptures, tapestries, wall murals and ornamental mirrors.  Grand homes or halls had salons which were used for the gatherings of intellectuals to discuss literature, politics, music and art. Furniture designers created armchairs, divans, chaise lounges and stools as a more comfortable place for ladies and gentlemen to sit.

I have never tackled a tufted piece as of yet, but have made some tifted items which are equally as beautiful but easier to create.
It requires some thick padding, usually batting, and equally spaced buttons.  (Math skills come in handy.)

tifted headboard, Zuzie Q, a Susan

tifted headboard

Diamond tufting on the other hand is a little (or a lot) more complicated and requires more fabric both length and width to allow for the deep set buttons and pleats.  Careful measuring and straight alignment of buttons is a must.  I have found a great website www.apartmenttherapy.com that walks you step by step on how to do diamond tufting.   With a little knowhow and the right tools you can create your very own tufted chair, headboard or ottoman.  I’m looking forward to creating my very own piece in the near future, I’ll keep you posted on my progress.

Be creative and let me know how you made out.

by Susan Dorbeck

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Posted in drapery talk

Windows are the eyes of your home and window treatments play a very important role.  The eyes are often the very first thing that we notice about people, their color, the long lashes, their size, and women spend countless hours and dollars dressing their eyes.  Think about a baby or a young child, what is the first thing that you notice?  The eyes no doubt!  Likewise a window is often the first thing you see upon entering a room.  What’s on it, or lack thereof, tells a lot about you.

Zuzie Q, a Susan

Selecting the right window treatment does not have to be confusing, there are just a few things to consider: your budget and lifestyle for starters, then there is function and the architecture of the window.  What is the style of the room?  Are you looking for a more formal, traditional look or a casual, lived in look?  Do you need to control heat gain in the summer or heat loss in the winter?  Is there a glare?  Do you want to enhance your view or obscure an undesirable one?  Do you need privacy?  These are not difficult questions but need to be answered to insure the best window treatments for your home.drapery panels

A new window treatment can be an inexpensive way to change the look of a room.  It can often unify a design and change the ambience of a room.  By using different colors and prints you can transform an old tired room into a new progressive room  with very little effort.

A cornice to fit a round wall.

There are many types and styles of window coverings ranging from curtains and draperies, to cornices and swags, and much more in between.  I have many examples of styles, colors, window types and drapery designs that you can peruse and enjoy.

by Susan Dorbeck

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Posted in roman shades

An American Flag Roman Shade

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Here is a roman shade that I made quite a few years ago and I thought that Memorial Day would be a great day to highlight it.

My client had purchased a throw that resembled an American flag
and with a little bit of measuring,
reworking
and stringing
I turned it into this gorgeous roman shade.

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by Susan Dorbeck

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