This cornice is fabricated in three separate piece.  The two end pieces are 96 inches wide and are joined together by the center medallion.  It was designed in this manner for ease of transportation and well as installation.  The medallion not only adds a decorative element but also hides the joint where the two cornice pieces meet.  The generous side panels soften the cornice and anchors it to the room.  The scale of this treatment is very key.  The width, as indicated above is sixteen feet and the length is 36 inches on either end and 24 inches in the middle with the medallion measuring three feet from point to point.

This room was designed by Sarah Marsh.

This gorgeous view is enhanced by the traditional goblet pleated valance with bullion fringe.  We hung it at the ceiling right under the crown moulding to add height to the window as well as not to block any of the view.  The side panels help to anchor the treatment in the room.  Tie back are trimmed in a coordinating cording to the fringe and a decorative button adds the finishing touch.

The fireplace is flanked by matching window treatments mimicking the dinning bay window treatment. These were hung on decorative rods with rings up at the ceiling.

Front and back tucks in the roman shade add dimension and interest to the otherwise plain shade.

The roman shade can be lowered, giving complete privacy as needed.

Empire swags with rosettes adorn the playroom right next door.

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This balloons valance is made of  rich embossed silk  with gold silk inlays  in each pleat and beaded trim along the bottom edge.

The curve and fullness add to the richness of this treatment.

When you purchase a window covering, you should give some thought to functionality, humidity and room traffic.

First of all consider the functionality and practicality of a window treatment. Do you need privacy or light control, is the window obstructed by a pole lamp or perhaps some furniture?  Do you have to climb into the tub to access them?  Are they easy to reach in order to open and close?

Second, consider the humidity; is this a bathroom or kitchen window where there is a lot of humidity and water being splashed?  Do the windows get damp and frosty in the winter?

Third, consider the traffic; does this room have a high amount of traffic, kids and pets?  Is there room around the furniture to access the window treatments?

If you have a formal room with elaborate window treatments and the room doesnt get a lot of traffic, then maintenance should be relatively simple. Just vacuum with a hand held once every two months or so, and if you need to, have it dry cleaned every 5 years or as needed. With today’s high efficiency furnaces and filters draperies stay much cleaner than just a few decades ago.  You can also place your window treatments if they are not too bulky in the dryer on the air setting to get the dust particles off.  By doing the regular vacuuming and dusting, you will stop the dust from really getting into the fibers and your curtains will last much longer.

When talking about the window treatments in your bathroom and kitchen, choose one that is easy to clean, such as plastic, faux wood or aluminum blinds that are easily wiped with a damp cloth.  Real wood is not practical because wood warps and cracks with the changes in the humidity and you will end up having to replace expensive blinds often. The dust in high humidity rooms tends to stick to the blind or window treatment making it difficult to clean. Ideally you should choose a material like cotton or cotton/polyester blend for your curtains that are usually easily washed. If in doubt check the labels on what the fibers are and how to care for them.

For soft window treatments, those valances and draperies made from fabric, consider having them lined. Not only will it give you privacy and energy savings, the lining will protect the fabric fibers of the treatment.  The colors will be protected against fading as well. Unlined treatments will eventually disintegrate and fall apart for the sun’s rays. By adding sheer drapery panels or blinds as a layer will also help to protect your drapery from the outside elements.

Sheers draperies can be machine washed and hung back up while still wet.  They are light weight and dont usually need to be ironed, making them really simple to care for. Bamboo shades and blinds are ideal for sunny locations as the bamboo has a natural resistance to sunlight and will not fade as easily as other materials.

By giving your window treatments a little TLC they will give you for years of enjoyment and warmth.

“Northridge earthquake signage” joke

source: http://www.jokebuddha.com/joke/Northridge_earthquake_signage#ixzz1bBIyMmZn

The Relaxed Roman Shade works well as a stand alone window treatment.  This style features a flat shade with permanent rounded folds at the bottom.  These soft folds are achieved by having strings along the outside edge of the shade to raise and lower it and none in the middle.  A weighted rod extends along the width of the bottom edge to hold the shade in place.  The body of the shade is flat when it is fully closed.

Roman blinds, or roman shades, are clean, sophisticated and stylish.
They dress up a room or window while adding the of shade and privacy.

Relaxed Roman shades are not pleated, but have a relaxed curve
at the bottom giving the look of a soft valance when raised.

Relaxed roman shades are also known as soft shades or London shades. These shades complement smaller windows, less than 48-inches wide, but can be used across a row of windows for greater impact.

This design was conceived by  interior designer Sarah Marsh

By definition a swag is an ornamental drapery or curtain draped in a curve between two points. In this instance there are three swags on this window.  A jabot is the folded fabric that tapers to a point, usually used in conjunction with swags.  They are also sometimes referred to as swags and cascades.  Again on this window treatment we have two long jabots, one on each side to frame the window and the view, as well as two shorter jabots placed between the swags.These help to fill in the gap since the swags in this instance do not overlap.  A generous tassel fringe adorns the entire treatment.

inverted pleated valance

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This room is singing the blues and it couldn’t be more pleasing.

Keeping the colors to a minimum blue and white keeps this room soothing and relaxing, a place to work or study without distractions.  The crisp inverted pleats fit well with the wood blinds and they are hung many inches above the window to add more height and light.