Silk Drapery - The Ultimate Luxury Fabric for your Windows

Nothing compares to the richness of genuine silk drapery.  It lends an elegant look and feel to a room that no other fabric comes close to.  If you want to add a rich sophisticated air to a room then silk is the way to go.   

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Often times silk panels are "puddled" as shown in the above photo.  This really highlights the beautiful luster of the fabric when all those folds are created.  Of course you can also have them hang so that they barely skim the floor. 

Silk drapes are a more expensive window treatment.  If cared for and lined properly your investment will last for years.   I recommend using a plain neutral colour or one with a subtle tone on tone pattern or stripe so that it is not something you will tire of quickly.  Ideally your drapes should echo the style of the room.  Two of the best places to use this luxurious fabric is in a dining room or master bedroom, as they tend to be more formal.   

There are a few options when choosing the drapery header. Pinch pleat, box pleat, or grommets all look fantastic in silk.

The classic pinch pleat is always a great choice, since it give a timeless look.  There is a huge selection of drapery hardware available.  In order to add a little more personality to the drapery, hang the pinch pleat from a decorative rod such as this:

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The box pleat is a more modern style.  The pleats are larger and more square.  This look would work in a transitional style. 

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Grommets are still a popular header.  It lends itself to a more modern feel as in the example shown below:

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There are more than two types of silk, but for simplicitys sake I will mention the 2 most common.   Thai silk is the smoother of these two.   It is not shiny, but has a gorgeous sheen.  This is what most people think of when you say silk.

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The other is natural silk.  This type has slubs running through the fabric so is not as smooth.   The texture is more noticable in this photo. 

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I want to add a word of caution with silk.  It will rot when exposed to sunlight.  It is therefore advisable to always line silk panels.  A flannel liner is best since it gives your drapes added body and they will hang much nicer.  If you decide you want silk drapes in a south facing window, I would add another liner as well to prevent sun damage.  The extra weight of these liners just add to the rich and full look you want when using silk drapery.

Also note silk panels should be dry cleaned to keep them looking their best.

In spite of the extra cost and care, silk panels are a wonderful way to dress up your windows when you want to add some sophistication.

If you have any questions regarding silk draperies or want to request a quote on a window treatment for your home, I would be happy to help. 

Linda

linda@changesinteriordesign.ca

Inspiration for a girls room - The final reveal

Ashten's room is nearly complete.  The new desk is in place, and I found some accessories that fit in perfectly with the new look.  I have taken some photos to give you a better idea of how the room has come together. 

The new chest of drawers was also painted to match the bed.  I bought this to give Ashten more storage space for her ever growing wardrobe. 

The headboard idea was very easy to construct.  Wood moulding was cut to make a frame a little wider than the width of the bed.  I wanted to reuse the wire dress wall art in her room since it contributed to the vintage feel. 

I was so happy to come across the crown and glass slipper pictured here.  I placed these items on the top of the bookcase to make a casual vignette.  When displaying items it is best placed in groups of 3 or 5.  This is a good guideline to follow, as it really is the most aesthetically pleasing.

The framed cork board provides a place for her to keep reminders or photos.  The detailed frame mimics the headboard. 

In order to add some more display area and place to keep small items, I hung up this small cabinet above the desk.  Of course it wasn't this shade when I bought it - this also needed to be painted to fit the colour scheme.  Ashten especially loves the green and purple combination used here. 

My plan was to paint and reupholster a Queen Anne style chair to complement the desk, however my efforts have not yet been successful.  For now she can use an office chair until a suitable one is found. 
The last piece I required to finish the room is a full length mirror to hang on the opposite wall.

I have ordered this poster to be hung on the wall beside the window.  It repeats the crown icon and is a trendy piece of art at the moment. 

I hope you have enjoyed following the progress of Ashten's room renewal.   It was an extremely fun project to work on.  If you are stuck and not sure where to begin when renewing your child's room please email me and I would be happy to help. 

linda@changesinteriordesign.ca

I am off for a family vacation next week, so when I get back I will be blogging about window treatments.  Have a great week and thanks for visiting!

Inspiration for a girls room - Part Two

I am now at the midpoint in the update for Ashten's room.  After adjusting the drapes, adding the newly painted desk and some accent pillows her room is starting to come together! 

I wanted to talk a bit about the drapery.  As I said earlier, I found some rod pocket panels on sale in the colour I wanted.   Rod pocket panels can be used just about anywhere, and they are a very simple way to make curtains.  Since they were almost 6" too long, after hemming them I made small strips out of the leftover fabric and attached these to the back of the panels, spaced 5" apart.  Doing this resulted in back tab panels, which shows the definition of the pleats much better.   

So now instead of this look:

I ended up with this:

Not everyone will notice a huge difference, but to me its all in the details.

For the accent pillows I took off the old covers and reused the inserts.  I searched Fabricland and found some lovely pink fabric with a sheen.  It was a good match at a good price.  So I was able to construct 2 new pillow covers from that with plenty left over. 

On to the desk. I wanted to use an unexpected colour and so I came up with this:

I love this new colour, as does Ashten.  The colour is called Leapfrog by Behr.  It picks up on the same colour in the carpet as well.   I spray painted the existing pulls in hammered silver, since finding ones to fit the holes exactly would have been a problem.  I also had some moulding cut to fit around the perimeter of the drawers to add a bit more detail.  I proceeded to paint the trim silver to match the drawer pulls.

The final component was to accentuate the shape of the curved wood by painting a straight silver line above it. I am happy with the transformation of the desk, so far it has been my favourite piece to work on.  

So my search continues for a suitable chair, and the accessories.  I sincerely hope I can find another used piece of furniture I can have some fun with.  In my mind I can already picture what it will look like, but i just have to locate that "diamond in the rough" .

So the next post will be the final look, in the meantime maybe this post will inspire a few of you to revamp an old piece of furniture. 

Thanks for visiting!

email:  linda@changesinteriordesign.ca

Inspiration for a girls room - Part One

I always find childrens rooms so much fun to do.  I feel like we can be more creative with them.  Kids for the most part embrace colour.  I doubt a child has ever asked to have their room painted "mushroom"  So this is a chance to be a little bolder with colour. 

If you are like me, you want their rooms to express their personality, last for a few years and not cost a fortune!  So keeping that in mind, I started to renew the look of my youngest daughter's room.

With Ashten turning 8 last month, it was time to update her room to suit her much more grown up tastes!  Not wanting to incorporate any themes such as princesses or the latest teen star I decided to go for a look that would grow with her. 

My inspiration for her room came from this beautiful area rug I came across one day.  It was the perfect size for her room and I knew she would love it.

I based the paint colour on the soft pink tone in the rug. Of course it is always recommended that you do 2 coats of paint, -which I did, but I was pleasantly surprised when I used the new paint and primer in one by Behr.  It covered the old wall colour really well, and I was almost tempted to do only one coat.  

Next I went looking for material for a duvet cover.  On Ottawa Street I was lucky enough to find this faux matelasse in a lemongrass colour that blended well with the green-yellow tones in the rug.  The reverse side of the duvet cover I opted to do in grey.  In order to keep costs down, I found a twin size sheet on sale which worked really well. 

The feeling I wanted to create for this room was feminine and playful, using a mix of modern and vintage.  The existing bookcase would stay but I would add a queen anne style desk painted in a funky colour.  Searching kijiji I found the perfect candidate - a well made desk that needed refinishing. 

I have sanded and primed the new desk and will begin painting it next week.  The important part about creating a room on a budget is having the time to invest to do some of the work yourself.  When this desk is finished it will be a suitable place for her to do her homework.  

The drapery will have a bit of luster in a silver grey fabric.  This will pick up on the colour from the carpet as well.  I found a pair of rod pocket panels on sale that needed some adjustments.  (More on that next time)

To add a bit more sparkle - (and lets face it what girl doesn't like sparkle?) I have swapped out the builder's light fixture with a small chandelier. That just adds a bit of sophistication to the whole room. 

After all these elements are complete, will be the part that is the most fun -the accessories!  

As I continue painting, sewing and collecting items to finish this room please feel free to email me with any questions or comments you may have regarding children's rooms. 

I will be posting more photos of this room renewal shortly......

Thanks for visiting!

Linda

linda@changesinteriordesign.ca