Showing posts with label curtains. Show all posts
Showing posts with label curtains. Show all posts

Monday, 26 November 2018

Window & Door Dressing

We take great pride in helping our clients dress their windows and doors so they look absolutely fabulous!   I love the whole process from choosing the fabrics, deciding on the type of blinds, curtains or shutters to use, picking suitable hardware right through to finally fitting and hanging.

This year I've been asked to comment and give advice and tips on window dressing for various publications so I thought it would be helpful to share some of them here.

  • Draughty windows -  use interlined full length curtains.  Helpful also for reducing outside noise.
  • Windows or doors that face east or north you should aim to maximise the light as much as possible and therefore avoid using deep pelmets or elaborately draped curtains.
  • South or west facing windows and doors will get lots of sun so don't use strong coloured fabrics or silks that fade or rot easily.
  • Pale coloured fabrics or elaborate curtains are not advisable if you live close to a road as they will require regular cleaning.
  • Bi-fold doors are becoming increasingly popular to create lighter rooms and provide seamless access to the garden.  If you are considering installing bi-folds you should read this article first as it is full of helpful ideas and tips including things you should consider when deciding whether to use blinds or curtains.  Click here to read the full feature.
Once you've chosen the fabric and the type of dressing you will need to think about the hardware!  And, that is another blog in itself, but to give you an idea of the huge amount of choice available here is a small selection of finials, poles and supports from one of our favourite suppliers Byron & Byron 







Wednesday, 27 July 2016

Celebrating Two Significant Centenaries!

There seems to be so many grim and depressing things happening in the world at the moment it is nice to find something to celebrate!

I am a great fan of Roald Dahl and spent many happy years reading his books to my children. Quentin Blake's very distinctive illustrations are equally wonderful.  When I spotted The Fantabulous Fabric collection by Ashley Wilde I decided it would have to be added to our fabric collection in the studio.  I can't think of a better way to bring a little bit of magic into a child's bedroom whether they are used for blinds, curtains, a chair cover or just a cushion!   The fabric is 100% cotton - easy to wash and hardwearing.  All your favourites  - Matilda, the BFG, James and the Giant Peach, Twits, Fantatic Mr Fox even Lickwashing Sweets and Whizz Banger spots!





And, thanks to Steven Spielberg we can enjoy the BFG at the cinema this summer!

We have also been celebrating the centenary of the death of the talented William Morris - revolutionary socialist, cultural critic, writer, designer - in 1896.  Of course, it is his work as a designer that I really admire.  His wallpapers and fabrics are still very popular and William Morris & Co are ensuring his legacy lives on by carefully re-creating his designs.  The team at their studio give some of the enduring favourites a contemporary twist and lesser known wallpapers a new lease of life.


This wallpaper and fabric is a reproduction of an early paper - Indian - 1868-70.  Similar in appearance to the block printed original this comes in two colours.

I recently used a new design, Kelmscott Tree by Alison Gee, for some curtains at a lovely renovated 17th century property.   Inspired by Morris's bed curtains at his home, Kelmscott Manor, which were embroidered by May Morris in 1891. Kelmscott Tree has been painted in the Morris studio and adapted into a beautiful embroidery of trees, birds and flowers. 


This fabric is available in three colours.

Two very talented men whose legacies will live on forever - hooray!!