Archive for the ‘Home Improvement’ Category
December 23rd, 2009 | 
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Curtains are the traditional window dressing used in homes throughout the UK. They are either used on their own as a complete window treatment or combined with blinds to achieve different design concepts and styles. Windows of any size or shape can successfully dressed with a huge variety of different styles of curtain fabrics.
Fashionable design ideas incorporate the used of organza, silks and faux silks to provide a delicate and sheer window covering which are typically used to cover the window and beyond, being left to fall and cascade into gentle puddles of fabric folds on the floor. While these fabrics do not offer any heat insulation they do lend themselves to providing privacy during the daytime. When combined with a roller blind fitted inside of the window recess total privacy can be achieved. These delicate looking fabrics are available in many different colours and patterned designs. For a real sexy boudoir look black and silver voile curtains can transform a bedroom, the curtains can also be used to provide excellent drapes for a bed canopy, this not only looks sensuous by providing intimate privacy but is also the ideal way to keep unwanted insects way during the warm summer months.
Heavy weight curtains made from Damask and Jacquard provide elegant curtains to suit both traditional and modern homes. When made with goblet or deep pleated headings they fall into graceful folds which exude elegance and style. These fabrics are available in a wide range of colours in both plain and patterned designs, many stores offer a free samples on fabrics such as these to enable the right choices to be made before buying. Having samples enables not only colour matches to be made by also provides the opportunity to feel the quality and texture of the fabric.
Natural fabrics are a popular choice of curtains which are generally imported into the UK, they provide the most natural, neutral warm tones and textures offering exceptional quality at affordable prices which compliment both traditional and modern home interior design styles.
Ready made curtain offer the perfect solution in providing an immediate window dressing which merely needs to hung at the window. There are huge choices in plain and patterned ready made curtains and a wide variety of different weights, textures and headings to provide a ready made curtain to suit every room in a home.
Using a curtain lining can offer both extra heat insulation and prevent light penetration, lined curtains also hang more effectively as the lining helps them to retain their shape and folds. If total darkness is required blackout linings can be added to the majority of curtains.
The headings chosen will be dependant on personal choice and the weight of the curtain fabric. A modern and contemporary curtain heading is metal eye-lets or tab tops. Tab tops are ideal for curtains made from lightweight fabrics whereas eye-lets provide a robust heading for medium and heavyweight curtains. Modern curtains made from fabrics such as corduroy, faux leathers and faux suede look striking with an metal eye-let heading.
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When you think of curtains your mind goes straight to window treatments. There are other ways to use and hang curtains to change a room. This is especially true when you are working with an open space and you want to break up that space and add an air of intimacy and privacy to certain areas.
A one room studio apartment can be separated into two rooms by using curtains to separate the bedroom from the rest of the apartment without compromising the space. To accomplish this you will need to use light, high tension wire that will remain straight and not droop and allow the curtain to be pulled back and forth smoothly.
You will need a plastic coated cable (aircraft cable works great), turnbuckles, wire rope clips, and screw in hooks with anchor to match the wall. You will also need a cable cutter for the cable wire.
Preparing To Hang Your Curtains
1. Site in your line and mark two holes for the hooks.
2. Drill out the holes and push in anchor. Screw in the hooks.
3. At one end of the cable you will need to make a loop and secure it with a wire rope clip.
4. Open turnbuckle and attach it to the other hook.
5. Stretch the cable to the turnbuckle and cut the cable, leaving at least 6 extra inches at the end.
6. Remove the turnbuckle and fasten cable through one end with a rope clip.
7. Attach the turnbuckle to the hook.
8. Now you will need to tighten the turnbuckle until the cable is rigid.
Once you are done with this you need to make sure the wire is rigid enough, test your anchors to make sure they are secure, trim down any excess wire, and slip your curtains onto the wire.
For windows it can be a bit more difficult to hang drapes and curtains by yourself. You may want to ask a friend or family member to help, you will be glad you did. The first thing you will need is a good, sturdy step ladder. Make sure your hands are clean and have no dirt or lotion on them to stain the curtains. Fill your pockets with curtain hooks. This way if a hook falls out of your curtain you will have another handy to replace it without leaving the ladder. Make sure that your rod or wire is secure and strong enough to hold the curtains without bowing. If your windows are wide, you will want to add an extra bracket in the middle to assure the rod remains straight.
Count how many hooks are on the back of your curtain and make sure you have the correct amount of curtain rings or runner hooks to accommodate your curtains. Move one ring to each end of the rod so that when you hang the curtains, you will be assured that they will fit the window. Hang curtain panels carefully, working from the outside edge and working toward the center of the rod. Once you hang the curtains you will be able to arrange them and do any adjustments.
robert(at)shoppingforwindowtreatments.com
When it comes to bedroom design, comfort and simplicity should always remain at the forefront of your mind. Computers and exercise equipment are a definite no no as they cloud the purpose of a bedroom and can actually affect the quality of your sleep. So too can a television, if you must have one then be sure to house it in a T.V. cabinet so when not in use it can be shut away.
The main focus of the bedroom should be on the bed. If you have enough room try to give it a central position rather than marginalize its importance by shoving it into a corner. Signify that this is the main focus of the room by concentrating all your design ideas on and around it. An oversize head board for example, not only makes a grand statement it is also very practical as it provides space for shelving above or on either side of the bed. It also provides a convenient spot to position reading lamps or spotlights- especially handy if your property is rented and drilling holes in the wall would upset your landlord. For a really luxurious feel, lavish your bed in decorative pillows and richly coloured throws. Not only are these affordable, they are the safest way to add a little colour to your bedroom without upsetting the tranquillity. When it comes to covering your walls and floors it is best to think neutral. This doesn’t have to mean white or cream, try painting your walls a pale shade of lemon or mint for a fresh, up-to-date look that doesn’t overpower. Oranges and reds are to be avoided but cool blues or lavender will definitely make for a calming backdrop, perhaps in the form of some period floral wallpaper for added interest. For the floor, a thick woollen carpet is surely the only way to go. Wooden floors may be the current trend for the rest of the house, and rightly so, they are easy to clean and care for and look extremely beautiful, but in the bedroom we should be thinking of comfort. If you really don’t want to cover up your wooden flooring then a good compromise is to place rugs either side of the bed just to make early morning starts that little bit softer.
For small rooms try mirrored wardrobes to give the illusion of added space. If space is not a problem add a dresser for added convenience and to help maintain a clutter free space and restrict all furniture materials to that of the bed in order to maintain some unity. Roller or wooden blinds will finish off a contemporary look or for classic style opt for a pair of heavy curtains. Whatever you choose make sure you they offer complete sun shut out if you or any in your home works at night.
Above all, your bedroom should be a place that puts you at ease and helps you get a restful nights sleep. To achieve this, style need not be sacrificed. With close attention paid particularly to the soft furnishings you choose, as well as keeping a continuous theme, a cosy yet contemporary bedroom is definitely within easy reach.
It’s much easier to have fun with home design utilizing the decorative features of curtains than it used to be. This is simply because the role of the curtain has veered from being an actual functional tool to being merely decorative in nature.
There is a difference between drapes and curtains that passes over many peoples heads. Drapes are usually longer hanging almost to the floor from a rod called a traverse rod, and hangs from hooks that will let you open them by pulling on a cord. These are more formal than curtains which are usually shorter and opened and closed by pulling on the sides of them where the hooks will slide from where the curtain suspends from the rod. Sometimes they aren’t opened or closed at all, being tied back to the window frame, therefore they are usually paired with a window blind or some other type of sun blocking window coverings.
Likely the type of curtain that you’ll most often see is a panel curtain. This is the type of curtain that is hemmed at the top and bottom, and are hung by hooks or rings and simply hang in a natural fold, which gives the window very little of a formal look. This type of curtain is popular for dining rooms and/or bedrooms, and often paired up with blinds or shades.
A different type of curtain that is hung actually at the center of the window is called a Café Curtain. This type of curtain is one in which leaves the top of the window actually exposed, and covers from the center, or even three quarters up covered. The curtains are best for kitchens or dining areas that are not formal.
The tiered curtain has multiple panels which have usually a couple of panels covering the top of the two base panels. So, the bottom half of the windows are covered by the base panel, with the top half being covered by the outer panels, as well as overlapping the base panels.
You can get curtains in separate distinctive lengths as well. A sill length curtain can be hung from both the top or the halfway point of the window, with the bottom hem not touching the windowsill at all. Or you can hang below the sill curtains which are cut so that the bottom hangs right below the trim board that runs across the bottom of the window.
The other cut is the floor cut, which obviously means that the bottom hangs to the floor, or right above it.
Depending on the amount of light that you want to come into the room you can also get lined curtains that will have an extra lining of material that will help to block more light. There are even triple lined curtains that have three panels that are very dark. These also provide protection from other outside elements such as cold air and excessive heat in the summer months.
Curtains are a great way to accent your homes beauty, as well as decorate the brand new home. Have fun and enjoy the process.
Space To Yourself Is Imperative In Your Bedrooms:
Curtains have many purposes in the home not together from making the room give the impression of being grand. They draw closer in many different styles, types, and insignia giving you more of a choice to choose from.Taking care of a house are something that most people love to do. There are many accessories and different things that you can add to any room in order to give it an additional presence and to help make it look better as well. Curtains are essential for any room and they can have a few different purposes in anyone’s house. They appear in so many different colors, patterns and styles that they will suit anyone’s color format and tastes.
Appropriate Size And Color Of Your Curtains :
One rationale of having over and done with is to have some space to you in all of the rooms. Not only this but they can also be enormous to keep heat in when it’s cold and they can control the amount of light that comes through when it is sunny. Also, they vary in price so you could get budget curtains which can look really good, to the more luxurious ones which look fantastic. It all depends upon your own personal tastes.
The foremost thing that you need to do is gauge your transom. Measure the length as well as the width. Then you should decide how far you want your curtains to hang. Wither you want them to stop right below the window, or hang and puddle on the floor. Add these inches into your window measurements. Next you should decide on the rod sleeve, and the hem. You will need to allow inches for both of these, and you will find that the larger the hem on your contemporary fabric curtains, the better the curtains will glance.
Once you know how much yardage of fabric you will need per window, you will be ready to go and buy the fabric for your curtains. You can have them cut each panel for you, so that you can just come home and sew, or you can cut them yourself once you get home. You also need matching thread, and you will be using a serer and a tapestry machine.
You should consider the most suitable length for your over and done with. Some can take the weight off your feet just above the window ledge, giving the impression of fitting neatly into the window space. These are ideal when you have a radiator under the window, so you don’t lose all the heat up through the window behind the curtain. If you want your curtains to rest just below the window ledge, be sure your curtain pole is mounted far enough from the wall to ensure that curtain can hang freely and does not touch the window sill. Floor length curtains should finish just before the floor so they don’t drag. If they touch the floor they will become grubby very promptly and may be stood on and ripped.
In conclusion you should conclude if you need your curtains lined or not. Lining can add considerable disbursement you your curtains, but it is worthwhile if you need the extra seclusion, wadding or soundproofing that lined curtains can provide. You can also buy interlined curtains, with a third panel of insulation fabric between the curtain itself and the main inside layer. Lining can also make your curtains hang better if they are made from a lightweight bits and pieces.