Articles by Kerry Ann Dame

Decorating windows in your home involves much more than just finding the right color fabric; a well-chosen window treatment provides insulation, light control, pattern and color, softness, and can even improve the proportions of a room. In most of today’s new homes, large walls of windows have become popular; it is not uncommon to see French doors with transom windows above, and another bank of windows above that. A room doesn’t have to be a sunroom anymore to be flooded with light.

All of this sunshine, however, creates its own set of problems. In addition to privacy issues, large windows flood bedrooms with too much light at sunrise. They can cause furnishings to fade in strong afternoon rays and reduce usable wall area in a room, making furniture placement and window treatment design difficult. Large windows are quite fabulous, however, and most of us feel blessed to have them.

Today’s extensive array of window treatment designs offers choices that address all of the problems above, while adding personal style and charm to a home.

Blinds and shades are often the first product used to control light and provide privacy. Wide slat blinds are an inexpensive option and allow a lot of light to filter in. They can be tilted to protect furniture. They look best when left down, however, since they form a large stack of slats at the top of the window when raised. If you want an uninterrupted view, they may not be the best solution. Be careful when purchasing blinds to buy the best grade your budget allows. The cheaper the blind, the more likely it will yellow, warp, or tangle. Ask for specific warranty information. The major manufacturers offer a lifetime warranty on some of their blinds that indicate superior quality and long-term performance. Window treatment specialty stores offer the most selection, and will take the time to explain the differences between quality levels. An expert window treatment professional will help you choose the best your budget allows. Larger box stores are more self-service and don’t offer measuring or installation. When all is complete, often the price difference is minimal, but the service offered by an independent retailer can eliminate common mistakes. Blinds don’t add much in the way of color, but they control light with ease.

Many people begin with blinds, and then add curtains later for color and insulation. Instead of blinds, one could begin with light-filtering fabric shades, woven grass or bamboo shades. These fold up on themselves to leave the view open, and look attractive when raised. They should be lined to protect the fabric or wood materials from the drying effects of the sun. A heavy lining could also be used, to darken the room for sleeping or to provide effective insulation from extreme heat and cold. Used alone, they provide a more modern look, especially in a small room where long curtains might crowd the floor area. For a large window area, an individual shade for each opening works best, because shades that are too large can be impossible to operate. While Roman shades can be expensive to fabricate, they offer a lot of style and function.

Once blinds or shades are up, the room may need more color. Valances or top treatments are a popular and cost-effective way to brighten up a room with fabric. There are endless clever valance designs. Some designs trick the eye to make a ceiling seem higher; others add structure to an architecturally uninteresting room.

For double height ceilings, I sometimes place a valance or curtain rod above the lowest tier of windows. This creates a horizontal line around the room at a lower ceiling height, bringing the scale of the room down and creating a more cozy feeling.

Some tall ceilings create an echo in the room that can be decidedly un-cozy. This can be minimized by adding long, full curtain panels and sound-absorbing interlining. Add a soft rug underfoot and the room becomes comfortable for lively conversation.

For the largest, grandest windows, curtains are really a must. Old-fashioned, custom-designed, beautifully crafted curtains are back in style. Most designers wax poetic about the general fabulous-ness of curtains, but I think they are missing the point. Curtains came about because houses way back when were cold, drafty and stark. Even though our modern homes are insulated and newer windows keep out drafts, our trends towards larger windows make true climate control impossible. Curtains that filter the hot afternoon sun will save hundreds on air conditioning. Window films can slow down furniture fading, but not really prevent it. Window treatments are another layer that protects interior fabrics, wood floors and carpets. Large sliding doors need extra insulation for chilly winter days in the south. In bedrooms, blackout curtains create a cozy cocoon that make it easy to catch up on sleep or nap during the day. And as I’ve already mentioned, lengths of fabric add the softness we need to help those stark, echoing new houses feel like home. They create a wall of color instead of a black expanse of cold glass at night.

Be sure to use an experienced workroom that specializes in custom window treatments and offers design assistance. With large windows, there are many issues involved. Special hardware may be needed to traverse a large window or carry heavy curtains. What type of lining and interlining should be used? What length of fringe? The proportions of the design are important in relation to the window layout and size of the room. I have a large portfolio of our work that is a great way for clients to see different ideas; any window professional should have the same. It is also important to see actual work that they have done in addition to magazine pictures and books, so you can be sure things are well-constructed.

A professional designer whose work you’ve admired is the best source for a custom window treatment. The best pricing is found at shops that sell fabric by the bolt rather than out of swatch books. They will usually have a designer in-house and the better ones offer fabrication services. They should be able to handle the job start to finish, and bring a professional installer on delivery day. Shops that stock bolts of fabric are able to buy directly from the mills, and offer many of the same fabrics seen in designer books at half of the price. If they have an in-house workroom, the prices will be better than a designer’s markup. Custom window treatments are expensive, but they are a labor-intensive process that requires education, experience and good customer service. Purchasing fabric yourself and looking for a seamstress can have mixed results, as it may not save money and can create a host of problems. Be sure to get some good advice and think about privacy and light control before you choose a style. A good design shop will advise you on all of the areas I’ve discussed. They’ll also send someone out to measure in person; they may charge for an estimate, but it is money well-spent to avoid expensive mistakes.

Custom window treatments can be a significant project, but they are a real necessity with today’s large windows. With the right planning and advice, you can have something practical that will beautify your home for many years.
 

Shades of blue and white in interior design have enjoyed almost a cult status since Egyptian times. From the blue lotus-flower murals of Queen Nefertiti’s palace, to the flower-rich cultures of Persia, China and Mughal India, the aristocracy has always been fascinated by the color blue. Despite being rare as a flower color, blue has a rich cultural history derived from the use of blue flowers in medicine and myth. The Romans believed blue flowers were created by the gods as a gift; irises were a symbol of the Virgin Mary, and she is usually depicted wearing a blue cloak. Violets were a symbol of Christin humility, and the pale blue flowers of rosemary were thought to ward off black magic and the plague. Even today, brides traditionally wear something blue, as the belief persists that it is a lucky color.   

So it was that the long-admired blue China spread like wildfire around Europe and across the Atlantic to America. Equally stunning developments in other manufacturing in the early 1900’s not only allowed accompanying fabrics and wallpapers to be mass-produced, the Industrial Revolution created the American middle class. Now millions of people finally had access to and were able to afford beautiful things for their homes. While it is a popular belief that historic homes were plain inside, in actual fact vibrant color was used to paint interiors as early as the 1700’s. Light blues were common for dining rooms, and deep blues for sitting rooms and libraries. Curtains and bed hangings were made up to match. So by the middle of the 1800’s blue and white had been enjoyed in the finest homes for over a hundred years, and it was looked upon as a symbol of good taste.

Throughout the 19th century Victorians, with their passion for collecting stuff, amassed millions of pieces of blue and white China. They ate off it, filled rooms with it, and hung curtains and wallpaper to match. Some of the wallpaper and fabric patterns created a hundred years ago are still popular today. 

 Nowadays, blue and white seems to wax and wane on the decorating scene. There are those who never seem to give up on it, as if it is part of their collective unconscious. Generations have grown up dining on American-made Blue Willow china, sleeping under blue patchwork quilts, counting the flowers on blue and white wallpaper. So many of us remember cupboards full of blue and white dishes, and many of us have inherited collections that we continue to decorate around. Even when the color trends stray from the blue family, it eventually comes around again.

Blue is making a comeback this year, as we revisit it in our homes and lives. It reminds us of our family histories and exotic travels. It echoes the sea, the sky, and the rare flowers that we enjoy in summer. Living with blue and white helps brighten rooms in dark climates like Sweden and cool down the heat of a French country summer. It can capture the feeling of the beach without using cliche’ elements like shells and sailboats. Like the limitless horizon on a summer day, blue and white seems to be with us to stay.

 

 Copyright July 2008 Kerry Ann Dame.  May not be reproduced without permission.

“Pet-friendly” is a term often used to describe places that welcome pets with their owners. A pet-friendly home, then, is a home that considers the needs of pet owners as part of the interior design. To avoid your pet-loving home looking like a dog house, consider the many pet-friendly materials that can be incorporated easily into your home. [click to continue...]

WE all know that a home is more than four walls; we want a comfortable, relaxed environment that is inviting to friends and expresses who we are. But to have the kind of home that offers even more, the kind of place where memories permeate the air, we must pay attention to more than just matching colors and hanging pictures. Just what sets apart such wonderful places? Some of the good design principles below, combined with personal touches and collections, make all the difference when creating a home.

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SPRING of 2008 marks a true change of direction for the design world; for the past few years we have heard more and more about eco-friendly products, sustainable design, and organically grown materials. Not only has this movement taken over both Hollywood and High Point, it is finally taking on significance nationwide. The result of this change is that not only will we seek more responsibly produced and healthier products for our homes, but shoppers will be looking for quality. [click to continue...]

SHOPPING for a new sofa can be fun; you can freshen up the family room, have a more comfortable place to sit, and have a chance to show off your decorating skills. Why, then, do so many find it an exercise in frustration?

In my experience as a designer, I have learned that most shoppers lack basic information about upholstered furnishings. That really prevents them from making an accurate comparison of the different features and choices and arriving at a satisfying selection. Unfortunately, there is a lot of hype in the marketplace, as manufacturers compete with promises of great quality and incredible sale prices. Who do you trust?

As with any major purchase (and yes, a sofa should be viewed as a major purchase), knowledge is power. Just as when buying a car, the savvy shopper learns about all of the features of the product, decides what features are important, weighs the various similarities and differences, and hopefully ends up with something that fits their taste, practical needs and budget. Let’s take a look at some of the things it is important to consider before bringing home your new sofa or chair. [click to continue...]

THE MOVEMENT to a greener lifestyle has become a significant factor influencing the choices we are making in our lives every day. By now we’ve all probably bought some CFL bulbs to save electricity, taken steps to make our homes more insulated and energy efficient, and tried to cut down on our driving. These steps are a good start, but in actual fact we are on the threshhold of a true lifestyle revolution. Since most of the energy consumed in our modern lives is used to heat, cool, and illuminate our homes, the biggest impact on energy use will happen by making all of our buildings more energy efficient and our purchases less polluting. From new construction methods to chemical free paints and recycled carpet, environmentally friendly products that we’ve only seen in public buildings and schools are quickly becoming commonplace in private homes. People are actively seeking out products that have the least impact on the earth — reclaimed woods and organic crops, for example. Here are some of the amazing changes that may appear in your home soon. [click to continue...]

BRITISH COLONIAL style has become very popular in the last few years; mahogany furnishings, tropical prints, bamboo and rattan, and such design elements as monkeys, palm trees, ticking stripes, leather and wicker have invaded our homes. However, many consumers have no idea what British Colonial style is, or where it came from. Yet this style has an interesting story to tell.

At one time, about a hundred and fifty years ago, the saying was that “the sun never set on the British Empire.” Under Queen Victoria, the British colonized the world, from India to the West Indies and many places between. Stationed overseas for years, British citizens melded the traditional furnishings from home with the craftsmanship of the locals they governed. Local customs and weather also influenced elements of the style. The Victorians were inveterate collectors; they returned to England with many of the things they had acquired, bringing wicker and bamboo furnishings, Chinese porcelain and rugs to the great houses back home. Explorers and botanists, hired by the queen, collected samples and published prints of the exotic plants and animals they found. A collection that spanned the globe demonstrated the wealth and well-traveled sophistication of the returned expatriate.

Some furnishings were created specifically for travel. Called campaign furniture, these pieces often folded up into trunks or broke down into pieces to be easily packed and moved. Officers’ tents were furnished with beautiful collapsible bed frames, folding mahogany chairs, and writing tables and liquor cabinets installed into steamer trunks. Many trunks had fitted interiors to hold china, glass and silver. Collapsible cups were made of metal or cow’s horn. In the days before paper plates and cups, workaday items were often made of sturdy pewter, shell, bone and tortoiseshell. While original examples of these pieces are expensive today, many are being reproduced and make interesting, even whimsical, additions to our homes. Look for cups made of horn, silver with bone handles, tortoise patterned glass, leather-bound books and letter-writing boxes. They bring to mind the romance of travel, and the leisurely pursuits we have all but abandoned, such as letter-writing and cocktails at sunset.

British expatriates were influenced by the climate and customs of the places they visited, too. The word bungalow, for instance, is an Indian word for a small one and a half story mountain house the wealthier class in India used to escape the summer heat. They had peaked roofs, heavy beams, and porches to catch the breeze. Imported back to England, the bungalow style was perfect for cottages by the sea. When it migrated to America at the end of the nineteenth century, the bungalow was adopted as the perfect small family home. Who would have thought that the quintessential American home actually originated in India? Today the idea of the bungalow conjures up images of summers at the shore, or the charm of sitting on the front porch.

The English also adopted fabrics, such as lighter cottons and linens, in the tropical places they were grown. Curtains of linen were made with ties at the top, so they could be tied to the tent frames to create rooms within the campaign tents, and easily removed for packing. Linen or mattress ticking slipcovers covered the heavy furnishings and protected them from the dust that filtered in through open windows in the heat. Interiors in the tropics were light and airy, punctuated by the occasional floral chintz or mahogany chest from England; linen and cotton clothing replaced wool. Look at the interiors and costumes in the film “Out of Africa” and you’ll really see the style. If you truly want a British Colonial or West Indies style interior, keep in mind that they didn’t have heavy chenille fabrics or the massively oversized furniture we have today. Furniture was small scale, slipcovers were often used, and dark persian rugs were often replaced by more tribal designs such as kilims, or by sisal and seagrass matting. Mosquito netting draped around beds, and bamboo shades often covered windows.

On the islands, traditional British furnishings were initially imported; pattern books were also brought, and local craftsmen commissioned to copy the European style furnishings in local woods. Mahogany was commonly used and the earliest colonial antiques can be spotted by their use of the largest, oldest boards as the virgin forests were cut in the New World. Honduran, West Indian, and Barbadian craftsmen, not being as highly trained, simplified the English furnishings to create the less ornate pieces we know today as British Colonial style. Interiors on the islands often adopted the local use of bright color, so it is not uncommon in a historic tropical home to see bright coral or cobalt blue walls setting off the mahogany furniture. This look has also been referred to as West Indian style. It incorporates a much more casual look, perhaps with pine flooring, grass matting, and large bright tropical printed fabrics on the furniture, with the colonial mahogany pieces dominating each room.

As you can see, British Colonial style encompasses a wide range of design elements and furnishings, from the Caribbean to the Far East, India, Africa and even Hong Kong. All share the influence of far-flung places conquered by the British as they marched around the globe - importing their culture and shipping exotic finds home. It appeals to our sense of the exotic, of adventure, and of romance — a home decorated in the true British Colonial style adds an air of romance and sophistication to today’s casual lifestyle.

© March 2004 Kerry Ann Dame; may not be reproduced without permission.