Skip links

The Shade Store

The Shade Store Blog

Main navigation

You are here: Home / Archives for liz irwin

liz irwin

How to Hang Curtains: Tricks of the Trade

By

How to Hang Curtains

Tailored Pleat Drapes in Velvet. Design by Barrett Oswald Designs.

 

When you stop into a showroom or call The Shade Store, our design consultants are ready and waiting to provide expert design advice and help you choose the perfect window treatments for your home. Please welcome back Liz Irwin, a design consultant in our Garden City, NY showroom. Liz will share some of her insights, tips, and answers to frequently asked questions here on The Shade Store Blog.

As a veteran design consultant, I have met many clients who love drapery and want to know: how do they get their curtains to look like they do in design magazines? How do you properly hang curtains? Keep reading to see my tried and true tips to make your drapery photoshoot ready.

Hang Curtains High

There are varying opinions on where to hang curtains, but ultimately most interior designers and Design Consultants recommend raising them higher than the window frame. This draws the eye upward and prevents the window from appearing crowded. Hanging the drapery high makes the window and the room look taller. Even in a small room, if you mount your drapery on or near the ceiling, you will create the illusion of space.

With regard to how high to hang curtains, that depends on the situation. When I’m evaluating this question for my clients, I go through the following checklist:

  • Bare minimum: at least 3” to 6” higher than the top of the window, if you have that much room to work with.
  • Even better: halfway between the top of the window and the ceiling, plus an inch or two. We add the extra inch to avoid dissecting the room at the halfway point, which can make the space feel squat.
  • If you have crown molding, mount the curtain rod right beneath the crown molding.
  • If the window is less than 6” from the ceiling, and there is no crown molding, then ceiling mounting the drapery is best. The ceiling mount is also a fantastic option if you want the appearance of lofty, sophisticated curtains, or if you want the curtains to look like they are floating.

Consider the Stack

What is a stack? Our custom drapes at The Shade Store have what’s known as “fullness” built into our panels. The construction and pleating of our drapes ensures the panels have body and thickness when they are drawn or covering the window, meaning they don’t appear flat like a bedsheet. Fullness is one of the biggest differences between custom and off-the-shelf curtains.

The stack is the amount of space that the thickness of the drapery occupies when you push the panels off of the window. To make sure that the stack of the drapery doesn’t permanently crowd the window glass, we suggest adding at least 12” on each side to the width of your rod. This adds up to a total of two feet wider than your window. Adding that much will allow the drapery to be pushed off of the glass. If you’re looking for “clearview”, or to have none of the drapery impeding your window glass, you may need to add more on each side depending on the drapery material.

Ordering curtain rods that are too short is one of the top mistakes I see in hanging drapes. Extending the rod a foot on either side immediately makes the drapery appear more tailored and custom. A longer rod with drapes hung wide also helps make the window look bigger.

Choose the Length: Float vs. Puddle

Now that we’ve touched on how high to raise your hardware and how wide to make your drapery, the last element to consider is how your curtains meet the floor.

  • Float means that your curtains hover slightly off the floor. This is preferable if the drapery is going to move frequently. The proper float is somewhere between ½” to 1” off of the floor, but this can get tricky at times, especially with materials that “grow” like Wool and Linen. Ask your Design Consultant about material-specific concerns like this when calculating your float.
  • Break is having the fabric kiss the floor, with roughly 1” to 2” of excess. This is a good option if the floors are uneven and you are trying to disguise them.
  • Puddle means longer curtains, with 3” to 6” of extra fabric puddling on the floor. This is a very elegant look, and is also a great option for disguising uneven floors. However, the more extra fabric you have on the bottom of a curtain, the more dust it may collect, so I would only recommend breaks and puddles for stationary drapes.
Tailored Pleat Drapes with puddle

Tailored Pleat Drapes with puddle.

Use Our Expertise

Need an expert’s help on how to hang curtains in your home? Give us a call, or stop into one of our showrooms, and speak with one of our Design Consultants. Our advice, our swatches, our photo renderings, our remote or in-showroom design consultations – they’re all free! We also offer free professional measurements nationwide, so you can rest assured that you are ordering the right sized window treatments. Let us know what you’re after, and we’ll take care of the rest.

How to Brighten a Dark Room

By

cascade roman shades linen stringfellow interiors

Cascade Roman Shades in Linen Blend, color Ash. Designed by Stringfellow Interiors.

When you stop into a showroom or call The Shade Store, our design consultants are ready and waiting to provide expert design advice and help you choose the perfect window treatments for your home. Please welcome back Liz Irwin, a design consultant in our Garden City, NY showroom. Liz will share some of her insights, tips, and answers to frequently asked questions here on The Shade Store Blog.

As a veteran design consultant, I have met many clients who live in homes that feel dark, and they want to know how they can brighten their spaces. For the most part, it’s a matter of capitalizing on the light you do have. Some of the following tips will make sense, and others may surprise you. Here’s how to brighten a dark room with regard to window treatments:

Expose as Much of the Window As Possible

Nothing will ever take the place of pure natural light. It seems counterintuitive, but even a sheer material that covers the whole window can muddy the light. While a sheer treatment still filters light into the room, it’s filtering a dull, different quality of light into the room.

One of my favorite treatments for a dark space is a Roller Shade. Because it rolls up into a small diameter, it’s almost as if the shade is not there when it’s lifted. I also like a Roman Shade in a daintier material, because it will not obscure much of the window either. An XL Pleated shade in a light filtering material works, and also raises into a tight stack off of the window. If you have an excess of two or three feet of empty wall space on either side of your window, you can use Drapery to achieve what’s known as a “clear view.” This allows all of the Drapery to stack on the wall, leaving the window panes completely exposed when the drapes are open.

Treatments that I would avoid are: 1) Wood Blinds, especially dark stained ones, 2) Woven Wood Shades, which even in their inherent sheer nature absorb much of the light, 3) Double Cell Cellular Shades, which cut down on light due to their many layers of fabric, even in lighter colors, and 4) Draperies that will stack on top of your window glass.

roman shades sheer brett helsham the shade store

Roman Shades in Sheer Elegance, color Winter. Designed by Brett Helsham Designs.

Choose Light Materials, Both in Color and Weight

The lighter the color of your window treatment material, the more it will reflect light. The darker the color, the more it will absorb light. Sheer materials are preferable, but remember that, the quality of light coming through a sheer fabric is different than light coming through a fully exposed window.

Not all sheer materials are created equal, either. Solar Shades, for instance, are inherently sheer, but are specifically designed to block UV rays. As a result, solar materials will take away more natural light than  a fabric sheer. The same goes for Bamboo and Woven Wood materials.

For Roller Shades, I like the Spring, Thompson, and Fountain materials. For Roman Shades and Draperies, I recommend the Basket Sheer, Sheer Elegance, and Linen.

the shade store sheer window treatment materials

Use Bright Pops of Color and Metallics to Add Life

Another great way to make a space seem “brighter” is to add brighter colors and reflective metals into the design. A Roller Shade in Beaded Pearl with Chrome hardware, or Drapes and Roman Shades in Sheer Brilliance will reflect light back into the room, just like a mirror. If you’re feeling bold, you could do a fabric like Diane Von Furstenberg’s Cumulus in Sunset, or DwellStudio’s Pantheon in Dandelion.

Use Our Expertise

Still unsure how to brighten your dark room? Give us a call, or stop into one of our showrooms, and speak with one of our design consultants. Our advice, our swatches, our photo renderings, our remote or in-showroom design consultations – they’re all free! Let us know what you’re after, and we’ll take care of the rest.

2017 Window Treatment Trends: Popular Styles

By

popular window treatment styles

When you stop into a showroom or call The Shade Store, our design consultants are ready and waiting to provide expert design advice and help you choose the perfect window treatments for your home. Please welcome back Liz Irwin, a design consultant in our Garden City, NY showroom. Liz will share some of her insights, tips, and answers to frequently asked questions here on The Shade Store Blog.

Welcome back for part two of our 2017 window treatment trends! Learn about the most popular home décor styles and how to incorporate them into your window treatments.

Hygge: Cozy, Earthy Textures and the Anti-Smooth

Hygge (pronounced hoo-ga) is a Danish term meaning to “Live Simply,” and if you’ve ever seen a Scandinavian style board on Pinterest, it’s replete with coziness and the presence of a life well lived. Trade in super minimal, museum-like spaces for simple layers of comfortable textures.

We love natural textures at The Shade Store, as well as maintaining clean lines of style. To implement this trend, we suggest:

  • Tailored Pleat Drapery on Tribeca Hardware, in Hemp, color Winter
  • Flat Roman Shades in Wool Blend, color Fleece
  • 2” Wood Blinds in Laminated, finish Dark Walnut

hygge window treatment ideas

Farmhouse Style

This updated country style is yet another example of a textured, lived-in way of decorating. Elements of Farmhouse Style include painted wood walls, reclaimed wares, exposed beams, and cozy materials.

The current take on this style tends to be light and airy, with frequent touches of white and wood. To implement this trend we suggest:

  • Rod Pocket Drapery on Royal Wood Hardware, in Linen, color White
  • Tulip Roman Shades in Sheer Web, color White
  • Waterfall Woven Wood Shades in Duneville, colorway Duneville 1

farmhouse style

Mixed patterns the english room

Flat Roman Shades in Diane von Furstenberg Cumulus, color Sunset. Design by Holly Phillips at The English Room. Photo by Mekenzie Loli of Loli Photography.

Mixed Patterns

In 2017, I’ve noted a lift on the restriction regarding mixing patterns. Home design trends are taking their cues from the fall fashion runways, where mixed patterns were used frequently. During the Fall 2016 One Room Challenge, design bloggers Hi, Sugarplum! and The English Room used The Shade Store treatments to display this growing trend beautifully, and fearlessly.

To implement this trend flawlessly, we suggest combining materials from the same designer collections:

  • Goblet Drapery in kate spade new york Mona Zebra, color Flaxseed with Relaxed Roman Shades in Owlish,  color Blush
  • Tailored Pleat Drapery in DwellStudio Lalita, color Dandelion with a Cornice in Kavali Ogee, color Dandelion
  • Flat Roman Shades in The Novogratz Geo Arrow, color Beige, with Roller Shades in Frequency, color Tan

mixed prints

New Bohemian

Mid-century influences have been dominating the style world for some time, but the adventurous and fancy free New Bohemian style, which had already picked up some steam, is trending in a big way in 2017. Layering on colorful textiles with purpose, having a nomadic or global influence, and animal hides are all on the menu.

new bohemian style

Many of our designer collections have this essence in their offerings. To implement this trend, we suggest:

  • Pinch Pleat Drapery in Echo Designs Sanganer, color Blush
  • Roller Shades in The Novogratz Delphi, color Espresso
  • Natural Roller Shades in Lotus, color White

Mixed Metals, Warmer Finishes, and Industrial Touches

With metals, and anything industrial, the general consensus is to mix it up, and err on the warm side when possible. Copper is still popular, and satin brass (read as: a rich matte brass, not shiny or garish) is dominating as well.

The Shade Store has many small metal touches that would be absolutely perfect, and on trend. To implement this look, we recommend:

Use Our Expertise

Ultimately, trends will come and go, but much of what is mentioned in this list, if implemented correctly, will infuse your home with style that can last for years to come. To get swatches of anything mentioned, or advice on how to update your space with modern, yet classic window treatments, give us a call, or stop into one of our showrooms, and speak with one of our Design Consultants. Our advice, our swatches, our photo renderings, our remote or in-showroom design consultations – they’re all free! Let us know what you’re after, and we’ll take care of the rest.

2017 Window Treatment Trends: Colorful Choices

By

2017 window treatment trends

When you stop into a showroom or call The Shade Store, our design consultants are ready and waiting to provide expert design advice and help you choose the perfect window treatments for your home. Please welcome back Liz Irwin, a design consultant in our Garden City, NY showroom. Liz will share some of her insights, tips, and answers to frequently asked questions here on The Shade Store Blog.

As a veteran design consultant who has been helping clients dress their windows for over 8 years, I have heard this question more times than I can count: “What is the current trend for windows?” or “What are people picking these days?”

I’m a proponent of choosing what’s right for you and your home, which is why I’ve taken to writing this How-To series. With that said, there are many trends for 2017 that The Shade Store has carried and highlighted for some time, which suggests that many of these trends have classic staying power.

In this two-part series, I’ll share a roundup of the most popular 2017 style trends, and how to translate them onto your windows. Today, we will talk about the colors you can expect to see in many designs this year.

Greenery: PANTONE Color of the Year 2017

Many shades of green are making a big comeback, but this spring, cheery green can bring a touch of happiness to your décor. Pantone specifically chose this shade for its hopeful and life-affirming qualities.

At The Shade Store, this specific shade of green has been among our favorites for a while. To implement this trend, we suggest:

greenery the shade store

Navy is the New Black

This phrase is everywhere, and it’s certainly true. A soft, saturated navy is easier on the eyes than black, but still extraordinarily versatile. Think of it like the difference between your favorite dark wash jeans and black dress pants.

We offer many material options in this favored neutral. To implement this trend, we suggest:

navy window treatments the shade store

Gem Tones and Ultra Saturated Hues

This is another trend cropping up in many different places, from home décor to fashion. From emerald greens to deep blues, gem tones come in all shades, warm and cool, with the common thread being their deep, vivid, saturation.

When it comes to color choices, The Shade Store never disappoints. In all of our treatment types, solids, textures, and patterns, you’ll find gem tone colors abound. To implement this trend, we suggest:

  • Ripple Fold Drapery in Wool Sateen, color Aubergine
  • Roller Shades in Cameo, color Copper (shown in the photo at the top of the post)
  • Aventura Roman Shades in kate spade new york Pomeline, color Pool

colorful window treatments

Order free swatches of any of the materials mentioned here, or stop into one of our nationwide showrooms to see our window treatment styles in person. Our Design Consultants are always ready to help you create stylish window treatments that perfectly fit your needs and tastes.

Stay tuned for part two or 2017 Window Treatment Trends, Popular Styles!

How To Implement Bold Curtains and Window Treatments

By

bold curtains

When you stop into a showroom or call The Shade Store, our design consultants are ready and waiting to provide expert design advice and help you choose the perfect window treatments for your home. Please welcome back Liz Irwin, a design consultant in our Garden City, NY showroom. Liz will share some of her insights, tips, and answers to frequently asked questions here on The Shade Store Blog.

As a veteran design consultant who has been assisting clients in dressing their windows for almost 8 years, I’ve conversed with many people about how to incorporate bold patterns and colors into their homes. Draperies and other window treatments are an excellent place to incorporate bright accent colors into your décor, or they can also act as a standalone statement piece in your space.

At The Shade Store, we have a beautiful line of more than 900 carefully curated materials. When I open the swatch drawers to our guests in the showroom, their eyes light up; and that goes for the typical homeowner, who’s tackling the project themselves, as well as the veteran interior designer. Our custom draperies are couture quality, and handcrafted with the greatest attention to detail. Our selection of materials is no exception to that rule.

It’s not the falling-in-love with our collection that our clients have a problem with — it’s how to incorporate the variety of materials into a fluid and harmonious design in their home. Here are some trusted tips on how to implement bold custom draperies and treatments into your personal design:

Use Bold Curtains and Treatments in Neutral Interiors

In many of the images in our Photo Gallery, many of our more vibrant draperies and shades are showcased on neutral walls, surrounded by subtle furnishings and textiles. There’s no “guess work” in how to design with loud draperies if the rest of the room is effectively silent. A white wall is a perfect canvas for so many of our gorgeous drapery fabrics. In this instance, you can think of the drapery as artwork: a piece that breathes color and life into the room, in exactly the same way a painting or a mural would.

goblet drapery

Goblet Drapery, Lalita.

Stick to One Color Family

The designers we work with very often color coordinate their fabrics with each other. DwellStudio, Diane Von Furstenberg, Jeffrey Alan Marks, Jonathan Adler, kate spade new york, Echo Design, the Novogratz — they all have fabrics of different texture and scale that are in exactly the same color palette as many of their other fabrics. That’s no accident, it’s by design. (See what I did there? “By Design”?) Staying within one color family makes it easy to mix patterns while still creating a cohesive space. It’s a tried and true secret in how to be bold with your décor.

yellow curtains

Tailored Pleat Drapery. Photo by Mary Summers Hafner. Design by Hi Sugarplum.

Pick Up an Accent Color

If you love color and already have a multicolor palette for your space, choose one of those colors for your window treatments. These can be colors from wallpaper (as shown above), rugs, furniture fabric, artwork, or even throw pillows. Even bright colors won’t appear overwhelming when they appear elsewhere in your design.

Use Our Expertise

When in doubt, speak to a design consultant! Give us a call, or stop into in one of our nationwide showrooms. Our advice, our swatches, our photo renderings, our remote or in-showroom design consultations – they’re all free! Let us know what you’re after, and we’ll take care of the rest.

Continue Reading
Sign Up
Close

Order 20 Most
Popular Swatches

All swatch orders are free and arrive in 1-3 days.

Close

Sign Up For A Free
Professional Measurement

THANK YOU FOR YOUR
SWATCH ORDER

ORDER #

Thank you for ordering swatches from The Shade Store. They will be sent via Priority Mail and arrive in 1-3 days. Enjoy!

YOUR REQUEST HAS
BEEN SENT!

Thank you for your professional measure request. One of our Design Consultants will be contacting you shortly to discuss your project and schedule your measure appointment.