myrna everett

Motorized Blinds

4:30 pm by myrna everett Leave a Comment

Why Motorized Blinds?

Sometimes, people will ask me, “Why do I need motorized blinds?” My answer is always the same; “You don’t, but aren’t there things you’d rather be doing than opening and closing shades every morning and night? Obviously, if it’s one or two shades it’s not a big deal. If you have a houseful of shades, it’s time consuming and quite frankly, doesn’t always get done.

In all honesty, I had the same question. Why do I need motorized blinds? Am I so lazy that I can’t lift and lower my own shades? When I finally broke down and ordered one for my large living room window, I regretted not having them in every single room of my home.

I’m not sure why I was resisting it so much. Plenty of my client’s ordered them and loved them, but for some reason I thought it wasn’t for me. Do you know what changed my mind? My Hunter Douglas rep insisted that I shouldn’t promote it unless I experienced it myself. I finally caved, placed my order and have been in love with it ever since. I had it set on a timer to open automatically at my usually wake up time. I even stopped needing an alarm clock as I would naturally wake to the soft sound of the shade rising and the sun streaming in, just as I was making my way to the kitchen for that first cup of coffee.

When to Mix & Match Motorized & Manual Blinds

For most people, my reasons may not be that compelling, but everyone has different needs. My Rancho Santa Fe client had much different reasons. She had just moved from an inner-city home with less than 12 windows to a large home with over 40 windows. In her case, we chose to do a mix of motorized blinds and no motorized.

Side door and windows with roller shades

I consider a few things when guiding people towards solutions for their window coverings. Her original home was turn of the century and drapery treatments was the better choice for most of the windows. Her new home needed a mix of blinds and draperies and valances.

In particular, the La Cantina doors in her living room and dining rooms felt too big for a drapery treatment. For this area I recommended motorized shades. From a practical standpoint, these shades are opened and closed every day. With the click of a button, all the shades go up or down at the same time. Aesthetically, having using cords to lower and lift the shades meant the center shade lift cord would hang in front of the doors which would look terrible. Plus, she has pets and a small child, so dangling cords would also be dangerous. The best solution was to motorize all three blinds and mount the remote control on the wall next to them for easy access.

I know motorized blinds were the perfect solution for those doors. However, for the side windows, I had to recommend non-motorized as they face neighboring fences and rarely get opened. For those windows we opted for simple cord loop lift systems. My installer anchored them in such a way as to follow the child safety standards which was important to me and my client.

Powering Motorized Shades

Batteries

People are often surprised when I tell them how simple it is to motorize their shades. There are several options, but if you are not doing new construction or a remodel, I usually recommend batteries. This is what I love about battery operated blinds:

~ They last 6 – 12 months depending on how often my client uses them
~ I can order them as double A batteries or rechargeable
~ I can motorize almost any style of blind
~ Changing or charging the batteries is easy and requires no tools
~ I don’t have to rely on an electrician
~ I find them cost effective, usually $300 – $500

Hard Wire

For my clients who are starting new construction or doing a remodel I have a lot more options and considerations. I like to review floor plans or walk a job site while the walls and ceilings are still open. This allows me to make recommendations for motorized solutions that are much harder to do afterwards.

I call it “hard wiring” your shades. This just means I have the opportunity to automate your shades using the power of your home. There are other advantages too. During construction, we also can decide where the shades should be mounted. Sometimes, I’ll recommend a cavity in the ceiling to recess the blind so it’s unseen when not in use.

Back to hardwiring your shades; never having to worry about batteries and recharging is a great advantage, however, it does take forethought and planning. I’ve seen wires sticking out of the wall ready to power a shade, but it’s often the wrong voltage or in the wrong location. Or it can end up in the way of where my bracket must go. Even worse, I’ve seen them placed too high or too low leaving an unsightly wire on show after the shade is installed.

Would your home benefit from motorized shades?

I’d love to help you figure out the perfect combination of window treatments for your home. Whether you need motorized blinds, non motorized blinds or a combination, it’s as easy a scheduling an appointment by contacting me here. I start every conversation with a discovery call so I can help you find the perfect solution for your windows.

My Top 6 Design Tips to Refresh Your Home

6:57 pm by myrna everett Leave a Comment

I recently spent a long weekend with a friend from Boston in her Cape Code vacation home. She has a very similar design busines to mine, so as you can imagine, there was a lot of talk about window coverings, wallpaper, interior design and our businesses in general.

She is getting ready to start a remodel which will add a second story, expand her kitchen and relocate her dining room so we spent many hours dissecting the details. I helped her assess and repurpose the existing space that wouldn’t get touched during the remodel and we got into a couple of very late nights rearranging accessories, re-hanging art and moving furniture around.

Six is my favorite!

Of course, we live for this stuff, it’s like play, so while we worked we talked about how our own clients might like to know about our tips and tricks to for their own homes. We created the short list that follows including number 6, my personal favorite. I frequently use this idea in my own home as I find I go blind to what is right in front of me every day. It helps give me fresh perspective in the same way a guest would view my home the first time they visit.

Cape Cod living room with accessories and old dining room converted to home office. — Reimagine An Unused Space into Something More Practical like this Home Office!

1. Rearrange with Purpose

Sometimes, a simple re-arrangement of furniture can work wonders. In my friend’s example shown above, the original dining space off the family room was rarely used as it was far from the kitchen and much too small. We converted it into a pretty home office complete with desk (her old dining table) and a couple of guest chairs off to the side.

2. Artistic Display

Take a fresh look at your art collection or family photographs. Create captivating wall galleries or focal points by rearranging or adding frames and artwork. This not only adds visual interest but also personalizes your space, giving it a unique touch

3. Textiles and Accessories

Swap out tired or worn out textiles such as curtains, throw pillows and rugs. Choose vibrant colors, unique patterns or textures that compliment your existing furniture and add a pop of freshness and renewed energy to a room. Don’t forget to rotate your accessories, such as vases, sculptures and other decorative pieces and even books. You’ll find yourself noticing and appreciating them again when they are in a new location or arrangement.

A boho style living room with lots of pillows and and art in vibrant colors — Just Adding Colorful Pillows and Art can Transform a Room.

4. Greenery and Nature

Bring nature indoors by incorporating plants and flowers into your space. Indoor plants not only add a touch of freshness but also improve air quality. Experiment with different planters and grouping plants together to create a soothing, serene atmosphere. There is science to back up the fact that bringing natural elements into our homes improves mental and physical well being.

Cali style living room with natural wood and long flowoing white curtains — A beautifully styled living room just feels good

5. Refresh Your Color Palette

Consider updating your color scheme by adding a fresh coat of paint. Crisp whites or light pastels can brighten up a room while a bold accent wall can add a dramatic touch. Just be sure to coordinate your color choices with your existing furniture and accessories for a cohesive look.

6. The Guest’s Perspective

One effective way to evaluate your home’s appearance is by looking at it through the eyes of a guest. Take photos of each room and review them as if you are seeing the room for the first time. This exercise will help you notice things easily overlooked, such as cluttered shelves, or unsightly lamp cords that need to be tidied up. By addressing these areas you’ll enhance the overall appeal of your home.

Transforming your home doesn’t have to be a daunting task. By applying these simple tips and trusting your creativity and breathe new life into your space and create a home that truly reflects your style and personality.

My Super Power

The finishing touches of window coverings, wallpaper, pillows and custom bedding is my super power so if you need any assistance or further guidance in these areas I am always here to help. Feel free to reach out for personalized advice and recommendations.

Wishing you a vibrant and inspiring home.

Myrna

My Top 5 Favorite Drapery Pleat Styles

9:16 pm by myrna everett Leave a Comment

Pleats A Guide to Finding the Perfect Style for Your Home

When it comes to adding curtains or draperies to your home, one of the most important decisions is the pleat style. Pleat style not only impacts the overall look but can also influence the functionality of your window treatments. From classic to modern, there are numerous pleat styles to choose from. But fear not! In this guide I’ll walk you through my top 5 favorite drapery pleat styles and help you find the perfect fit for your home.

French Pleat

The French pleat, also known as a pinch pleat, is a classic and features evenly spaced pleats made from folds of fabric pinched together at the base. French pleats can be made with two or three folds depending on the desired fullness of the drapery. I find the French pleat style works with almost all fabrics from heavy velvet to sheer and everything in between. I made these extra tall draperies for a new home in south San Diego. The draperies frame the beautiful views but offer the ability to block the intense afternoon sun when needed.

blue pleated drapes on chrome and acrylic hardware — Two Prong French Pleat drapery

Euro Pleat

One of my favorite pleat styles, the euro pleat, is very similar to the French pleat but with a twist to make it a little less traditional. As with the French pleat, it can contain two or three folds of fabric in each pleat, but it gets tacked at the very top instead of lower down like the more traditional version. As with the French pleat, most fabric weights work well with this pleat style. I find this look has an edgier, younger look but still suits almost any style of home decor. For the dining room drapes below I used a gorgeous, silk Kravet fabric studded with Swarovski crystals and handprinted hardware.

Ripplefold

The Ripplefold pleat is a modern drapery style featuring evenly spaced folds to create a uniform, ripple-like pleat for a clean, streamlined effect. This style works well with contemporary or minimalist decor. One of the advantages of Ripplefold pleats is that it can be used with a wide range of fabrics. It also provides a smooth, continuous look whether the drapery is opened or closed. I used a Stroheim semi sheer fabric to create this beautiful drapery treatment over an arched window in this Rancho Santa Fe dining room. In the photo below, you can see the pleats stacked tightly together. In the second photo, it shows how the pleats spread out evenly while retaining the ripple effect.

Grommet Pleats

Grommet pleats provide a modern touch to draperies and curtains. We use a special tool and double sided metal rings punched directly into the top of the fabric to create the grommet hole. The curtain rod is then threaded through the grommets, for a sleek, contemporary look. Grommets work well with heavier fabrics such as velvet, jacquard or suede, but we often use them for light weight fabrics like linen or cotton. This style is best for decorative side panels rather than functional drapes. Because there is no structure between the pleats, it has a tendency to flatten out when pulled, sort of like a shower curtain. If you love the look but want to make your drapes operational, opt for the ripplefold style discussed above. My client loved the sand and sea colors in this simple ikat pattern and the casual pleat suited her family room kitchen combo.

ikat pattern detail drapes — Grommet Draperies

Inverted Pleats

Inverted pleats can look casual or formal depending on the fabric and details used. Unlike most other pleat styles we create an inverted pleat by folding the fabric toward the back instead of the front. This creates a clean, tailored look that works particularly well for contemporary or transitional spaces. This style works best with medium to heavy fabrics and is a good choice if you want something a little out of the ordinary. For the drapery panels pictured below I used two different colors of linen fabrics from Fabricut. The one in cream creates a banded lead edge in high contrast to the bronze. The addition of one of my favorite beaded trims separates the colors and adds a little extra dress-maker detail. My client wanted to use her original acrylic and gold hardware for the crowning touch. How could I say no to these gorgeous drapery rods!?

Inverted box pleat draperies with bronze and cream linen fabric on acrylic hardware — Inverted Box Pleat

So there you have it, my top five favorite pleat styles. Each one has its own unique benefits and can work well in a variety of settings. Whether you’re aiming for a causal, informal look or a more formal feel, there’s a drapery style just right for your home. Take time to consider what aesthetic you’re aiming for and what fabrics you tend to lean towards and you’ll be sure to find the perfect drapery pleat style for your space.

Need Help?

My addiction to fabrics and my love of drapery designing is a great advantage to my customers who want to create something special. If you are interested in exploring drapery ideas or any other window coverings for your home I encourage you to reach out and schedule an appointment.

White Linen Draperies

12:16 am by myrna everett Leave a Comment

Seeking: White Linen Draperies

This was such a fun project from the very first phone call. My new client said she was moving from Orange County to San Diego to buy her very first home. Her vision: a black and white contemporary style with lots of natural materials. For the window coverings, white linen draperies and bamboo shades.

A mood board showing white and black decor with natural elements of wood flooring, wicker and plants — I like to prepare a mood board depicting all the elements I discuss with a client. This ensures the vision is heading in the right direction.

New homeowners are always excited about the possibilities and a favorite part of my job is to present them with great options. I try to keep up with the latest materials and find ways to incorporate them to fit my client’s needs.

My new customer already had most of her furnishings planned, but what she needed from me was window coverings. Because these always need to be custom-made, more guidance is needed for this than the rest of the design plan. However, right from the start this new homeowner knew exactly what she wanted.

Bamboo shades on the smaller windows with white linen draperies for her bedroom and living room.

The Window Covering Vision

Her vision was light bamboo style shades in a light color to go with the floors. The white linen drapes were to hang from simple black iron hardware. Some homeowners can be this specific, others not so much, but either way, this is where my expertise comes in. The bamboo shades were easy, we looked through samples until we found the perfect color and texture. For the draperies, white linen was fine in theory, but the idea of all those wrinkles made us both cringe! So, I recommended one of my favorite go-to-fabrics when people ask for linen. It looks like linen, but is 100% polyester, can withstand strong sunlight and has virtually no wrinkles.

A white linen-like fabric sample with a magnifying glass to show the detail — My favorite linen-like fabric from Fabricut is a fan favorite!

When it came to the simple black iron drapery hardware, I knew just the right style. French return! This style of hardware incorporates a beautiful curve at the end that serves as the bracket and eliminates the need for a finial. It’s clean and simple, yet elegant and sophisticated. From a practical standpoint, she needed this as the space to stack her draperies off the door was limited. This style allows the drapes to stack a little tighter because some of the pleats can slide around the corner. The pleat style we choose is an updated version of a French pleat, sometimes called a pinch pleat. It involves only two fingers in the pleat instead of the traditional three. This allows for less fabric and a smaller stack back. It’s also more contemporary, which fit our vision perfectly

White linen draperies on black wrought iron rods with French returns. — I love the simplicity of French returns and the ability to have the rings to slide around the corner when space is tight.

Not everyone has such a specific vision for their home and that’s OK. It’s fun to work with someone who knows exactly what they want because I know how to turn the vision into reality. But it’s also fun to tease the vision out of someone who is unsure. People always know what they like or don’t like, but sometimes need to be presented with ideas they can reject or embrace to understand their style is and how they want their home to feel.

master bedroom with a casual bedding and white linen drapes on black hardware — The primary bedroom is a cozy, sophisticated space. Casual bedding, a funky feathered light fixture and simple white linen drapes on black hardware complete the look.

white and black living room withe the kitchen in the back ground and white linen drapes over the doors. — My white linen draperies create the ability to have lots of light or privacy as needed.

Which ever design personality you happen to be, the journey is collaborative and enjoyable. I’m accepting new projects and I’d love to hear about yours!

Pinch Pleat Curtains

3:03 pm by myrna everett 1 Comment

What exactly is a pinch pleat curtain? I find that everyone uses a slightly different terminology when it comes to drapery pleat styles. With that in mind, pictures are worth a thousand words, so let’s take a look at different ways to make a pinch pleat.

Pinch pleat curtains can be styled to fit your design personality

Traditional Pinch Pleat Curtains

Pinch pleat curtains, often called French pleat curtains or draperies are traditionally made up of three “fingers” per pleat. A small tack at the bottom holds these fingers together. In this case, the client’s home was French country making the pleat style the perfect choice. The banding adds a special detail that really elevates the design.

Photo of a pinch pleat curtains in white linen with a wide blue band — Katie Porter of KP Design Studio designed these gorgeous drapes for her Rancho Santa Fe client. This close up photo really shows off the intricate blue banding from Kravet

pinch pleat curtains in a living room framing a view to the courtyard outside. — The style and details of of these pinch pleat draperies is perfect for this French country home designed by KP Design Studio.

Sometimes less is more, so I often pare the pleat down to just two fingers like the photo below. I recommend this style for a more casual look or when a tighter stack-back is needed. Stack-back refers to the space a drapery takes up when it’s pushed back from the window. It’s especially helpful if there isn’t much room on either side of the window.

A close of a pinch pleat drapery with orange and pick embroidered on a brushed nickel drapery rod. — A pared down version of pinch pleat curtains has just two fingers of fabric in each pleat.

embroidered floral fabric pleated into draperies with brown velvet button and matching band — Delicately embroidered flowers and vines on a linen ground allow the button and ribbon accents to really stand out.

Details, details!

My client and I got very creative with the details for the dining room drapes in the photo above. This is another version of the two finger pinch pleat, but the addition of tiny velvet buttons and matching ribbon banding add a charming detail. That’s the beauty of custom made draperies, the sky is the limit and almost anything we can dream up, we can create!

Contemporary Pinch Pleat Curtains

I’m amazed at how many variations we create that start out with the simple pinch pleat. The purpose of the pleat is to maintain even fullness when they are pulled. Below are a few of my projects showing the various ways we’ve adapted the pinch pleat to suit the homeowner’s personal style. Each has a different design aesthetic but there’s no right or wrong, just what’s right for each of my clients.

cream pinch pleat drapes and iron curtain rod paired down to just one finger per pleat — This simple version of a pinch pleat drape contains just one finger of fabric. I call this a knife pleat. It is best known for its very small stacking space.

Below, we used a beautiful fabric from Stroheim to create these cartridge pleat drapes. French pleats starts out like this, but then the “fingers” get folded in to create a set of three. With this style, we leave the fingers out and stuff Dacron into the opening to retain the round shape of each pleat.

sheer drapery panels on a contemporary rod with metal art in the foreground — This stunning fabric from Stroheim was used in a design project I worked on with Dana from the The Dana Touch design firm.

Close up of sequined draperies with a cartridge pleat style — This close up gives you a better view of that gorgeous sequined fabric as well as the pretty pleat styling.

Close up of cream and brown linen drapes overlaid with a slight metallic sheen. — Inverted pleats can read more contemporary than a French pleat. I designed this cream and brown drape with a small beaded welt dividing the two colors. We used the client’s vintage brass and acrylic hardware for a stunning look in her dining room.

I love these brown and cream draperies. I’ve shown this picture in other blogs, but it’s a perfect example of a more contemporary version of a pinch pleat curtain. Essentially, it is what a French pleat looks like on the reverse side. As a designer, I love to get creative with fabrics and design details, but sometimes I wish I knew exactly how a new pleat style came to be. They all seem so obvious once you’ve seen them, but wouldn’t it be cool to invent a new pleat? The examples above are just a few variations that allow us to create the right drapery look for every style. If YOU have an idea about creating something you have never seen before, or, if you saw something you like in the photos above, I would love to be part of that collaboration.

“Bespoke” Dream Rooms

7:55 pm by myrna everett Leave a Comment

Bespoke

I love the word bespoke. It sounds like so much more than “custom made” or “made to order”. It’s seems more European somehow and makes me think of yards of silk being fashioned into an exquisite ball gown. Or an atelier where something magical is being created for some lucky individual. It’s a little old fashioned, but so is the experience of having someone extract the vision of what you want and turn it into a reality. Bespoke is the key to dream rooms.

What isYour Feeling of Home

Something you will treasure for years. When was the last time you experienced that? Lucky for me (and my clients) that’s what I get to do all day, every day. Bespoke is what we I use to create dream homes.We all know how we want to feel when we walk into our homes. Of course, it’s different for everyone, which is what makes home so special. How do you want to feel? Cozy and cocooned? Invigorated? Glamorous? Daring? Safe? Romantic? Sexy? Earthy? Some combination of these ideas? Or, something so completely different from anything you have ever seen but the idea speaks to your heart.

Glam bedroom with shaggy dog on the bed — “Darla” loves the good stuff and thinks this was all created just for her 🙂 In reality, the homeowner’s duvet cover was the inspiration for this primary bedroom. The wallpaper, custom window coverings, pillows and coverlet were all designed to bring out the duvet’s colors to create an upscale, glamorous bedroom.

I started my career in interior design helping people cover or dress their windows. Drapes and blinds; that’s what I cut my teeth on when I was a new, baby designer. Over the years, I found myself responding to the desire people had for more than just basic blinds. They would talk to me about their lives and their families and how they wanted to feel when they were at home. They would show me pieces of art or furniture that had special meaning to them. Things they wanted to incorporate in their homes even though it didn’t necessarily fit their design aesthetic.

Design Aesthetic Vs. Design Personality

I believe there is a design esthetic, and then there is having your personality reflected in your home. I would ask myself “How can I help weave this thing, this idea, or this feeling into a story about this person”. All these years later, I still don’t want to do renovations, pick tile or create a better floor plan. What I do want is to create special rooms that reflect a feeling and a personality. I do this through creative ideas, details and materials, weaving them into my bespoke window coverings, wallpapers, bedding, and reupholstery projects.Imagine,

Imagine I am the artisan and you are the visionary. You don’t have to know exactly what you want, just the sense of how you want to feel when you are enveloped by your home.

Unique Bespoke Wallpaper

Below is a great example of a very personalized dream room. My client, recently widowed, moved to her new La Jolla condo and wanted to make her home a happy place. One that evoked memories of her husband and all the beautiful things they had collected and created over the years. She’s an artist, and after a long search for the perfect wallpaper, she wanted something that looked something she had painted. This sparked my imagination, what we needed was custom wallpaper using one of her own beautiful paintings. She loved the idea, so we worked with Rebel Walls to have her favorite painting re-colored and enlarged. Now she treasures all the memories it evokes when she walks into her bedroom.

Wallpaper behind headboard — One of my client’s own paintings was used to create this one-of-a-kind wallpaper by recoloring it and having it enlarged to fit the space

Bed with original painting in the foreground with the same image enlarged for the wallpaper behind the headboard. — Front and center is the original work of art in vivid shades of purple and yellow juxtaposed against the same image re-colored and enlarged for the wallpaper behind. The essence of “bespoke”.

Your Vision

What is your vision of home? How do you want to feel when you are there? If you would like to collaborate, I would love to explore these ideas and help you create something perfectly bespoke in your home.

Myrna Everett is the founder of Home Vogue Interiors where we specialize in custom window fashions and other soft home goods. If you have enjoyed this blog post, please share it with others. If you are ready to start a conversation about your next project click on the “Your Project” button above and tell us what you’re working on and we’ll reach out to you and help you get started.