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 drapery talk

What style of window treatment is most popular right now?

There is no style more popular than the next since no one person has the same taste and style.  There will always be the traditional person, the country, the contemporary and of course the eclectic person.  Most of us fall into this last category which means  not following any one design, as of traditional, victorian, contemporary, etc., but selecting and using what are considered  the best elements of all design.
Some weeks it seems that I create more roman shades than the next, others it’s swags.  Sometimes it’s pleated valances or sheffield valances but right now, I am building cornices more than anything else. It’s not because it’s a trend,  it’s just a coincidence since cornices can fit into many styles of homes.  It just depends on the fabric chosen and the shape.

Susan Dorbeck, Zusie Q a Susan

Susan Dorbeck

How do I clean the window treatments?

If you look at most of the fabrics that are chosen for drapery treatments they all say that dry cleaning is recommended.  The content of the fabric is often 100% polyester or 100% cotton and you would think that it could easily be laundered.  You just have to use cold water and not put them in the dryer.  Often times the manufacturer does not want to be responsible and they will recommend dry cleaning but that’s not all that’s involved.  You have to consider the colors of the fabric, they can run and ruin the fabric.  Is there a trim such as cording or fringe added to your window treatments?  The colors of the trim can also run into the fabric and ruin your window treatments.  Are the draperies lined?  Lining is often 100 % cotton and will  shrink, perhaps at a different rate that the main fabric and cause the window treatments to distort.  In today’s times perhaps all you need to do is to take down your draperies or your window treatments and shake them out to get the dust off them.  Maybe all you have to do is vacuum them regularly for dust control.  We no longer live in times where most people smoke in the home and furnaces are high efficient.  It was just one generation ago that we had to wash walls during our spring cleaning routines.  In todays society by the time your window treatments need cleaning you are probably ready to replace them.

by Susan Dorbeck

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Posted in drapery panels
drapery panels, ZuzieQ a Susan

drapery panels

 

Here we have some long drapery panels that are hung on decorative knobs
that follow the arch of the windows.

The panels are tied back with a hint of a swag to them as well as a generous puddle.

Since there was plenty of room above the hall window
it was given the same arched treatment as the great room
giving the illusion of an arch to a straight window.

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This window treatment adds to the grandeur of a traditional home.

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When choosing the decorative knobs for your hardware there are a few things to consider.
The knobs will be holding quite a bit of weight since the panels are floor length and puddled
so you want to make sure that they can be well anchored.

drapery panels, ZuzieQ a Susan

drapery panels.

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.What you want are knobs that have a face plate that goes directly on the wall and can be attached with screws that can go beyond the drywall and into wood or anchored properly if needed.

You don’t want a knob that has a screw at the end of the arm that goes directly into the wall.
These screws tend to be 1/2 to 1 inch long and usually just end up in the drywall and not beyond into the wood studs making the installation weak and prone to failure.
Using the proper hardware will not only make your install go smoothly but it will allow you to enjoy your window treatments for years to come.

A beautiful elegant window treatment for a beautiful elegant home.

by Susan Dorbeck

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Posted in drapery talk

Here is a clever story posted by babyboomerqueen

 

THE DRAPERY RODS-A Very Funny Joke

She spent the first day packing her belongings into boxes, crates and suitcases.

On the second day, she had the movers come and collect her things .

On the third day, she sat down for the last time at their beautiful dining room table by candle-light, put on some soft background music, and feasted on a pound of shrimp, a jar of caviar, and a bottle of spring-water .

When she had finished, she went into each and every room and deposited a few half-eaten shrimp shells dipped in caviar into the hollow of the curtain rods.

She then cleaned up the kitchen and left. When the husband returned with his new girlfriend, all was bliss for the first few days.

Then slowly, the house began to smell.

They tried everything; cleaning, mopping and airing the place out.

Vents were checked for dead rodents and carpets were steam cleaned.

Air fresheners were hung everywhere. Exterminators were brought in to set off gas canisters, during which they had to move out for a few days and in the end they even paid to replace the expensive wool carpeting.

Nothing worked…

People stopped coming over to visit.

Repairmen refused to work in the house.

The maid quit.

Finally, they could not take the stench any longer and decided to move.

A month later, even though they had cut their price in half, they could not find a buyer for their stinky house.

Word got out and eventually even the local Realtors refused to return their calls.

Finally, they had to borrow a huge sum of money from the bank to purchase a new place.

The ex-wife called the ex-husband and asked how things were going.

He told her the saga of the rotting house. She listened politely and said that she missed her old home terribly and would be willing to reduce her divorce settlement in exchange for getting the house back .

Knowing his ex-wife had no idea how bad the smell was, he agreed on a price that was about 1/10th of what the house had been worth, but only if she were to sign the papers that very day

She agreed and within the hour his lawyers delivered the paperwork.

A week later the man and his girlfriend stood smiling as they watched the moving company pack everything to take to their new home…
And to spite the ex-wife, they even took the curtain rods!

by Susan Dorbeck

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Posted in drapery talk

If you are like many small drapery workrooms, you do it all from designing to fabricating and installing.  Installation does not have to be a daunting task though, with some careful planning, some knowhow and the right tools of the trade just about any size of window treatment can be put up by an individual.

The biggest problem when installing by yourself is how to handle very large treatments.  Take large board mounts for instance; one of the easiest ways I’ve found to overcome difficulties is to attach the window treatment with hook and loop tape to the board.  I staple the hook side to the board and the loop side to the fabric.  The loop side is a softer texture and will not harm the fabric when handled or washed.  This way the boards can be mounted on the wall separately, eliminating any excess weight of the fabric.  First I mount all my L-brackets using the largest size I can considering the projection of the board.  I like to install a bracket every two to three feet.  I then place the board on top of the brackets (because I use a large size bracket the board will sit on it like a shelf without the threat of falling down) and screw it into place.  If there is some concern about the board slipping before it is screwed into place double sided carpet tape can be used on each bracket to hold the board in place.  Once the board is securely installed, the window treatment just needs to be stuck on using the hook and loop tape.  (I call these peel and stick treatments)

Long traverse rods can present a problem also.  First of all, install all the brackets.  Use all of the center supports that come with the rod for the best stability.  Next using a short piece of cord or picture wire (both are a must in your tool box) string the cord through a hole in the end of the rod.  Tie the cord in a knot and make a loop about four inches in diameter and place this loop over the end bracket.  This end of the rod will just hang loosely under the bracket.  Then go to the other side of the window and swing the other end of the rod up and pop it into the bracket.  Return to the end with the cord loop, remove the cored and pop that end into the bracket.  Now you can lock-in the center supports and continue with your installation

This method can be used for any long rod, be it 2.5”, wood, metal etc.

A great trick to installing all the brackets at the same level is to install the two outside end brackets first and using a thin cord or string, attach the string to one end bracket and pull it across to the other end bracket keeping it pulled tightly against the wall.  This gives you a plumb line for installing the other brackets.  Often when measuring from the ceiling down or from the floor up it’s not even, and the brackets will not line up.

Of course once in a while the window is such that you may need to hire an installation assistant but for the most part by planning ahead, the job should go up with ease.

Let me know if you have any helpful tips of your own?

by Susan Dorbeck

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  • RobertJuly 22, 2011 - 11:46 am

    some pretty good stuff here.

Posted in accessories,bedding,cornices

Cornice

These cornice boards are perfect for this master bedroom’s contemporary design.
The clean, straight lines of the window treatment are hung close to the ceiling and bring balance to the room both in color and form.
The cornices were made from two long scraps of fabric left over from the bedspread that were 15″ wide and three yards long.  The boards were generously padded to add fullness and depth.
Because of the wavy pattern on the fabric, the strips could be sewn together without the need to match them yet they still look continuous.
Two inch wood blinds are mounted inside the window frame for privacy.
Toss pillows of coordinating fabrics adorn the bed and add contrast color and texture.
It was a wonderful way to use up the left over fabric and tie the window treatments in with the rest of the room.

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by Susan Dorbeck

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