My projects always start with a result in mind and the journey always requires creativity and sometimes a bit of engineering. This was the case in a project I did recently with Dana Massey, a brilliant designer from The Dana Touch. I always know it’s going to be an interesting project when I get a call from her. This time, we were designing for a baby’s room – how fun is that!
Dana always has a complex vision of window treatments for her projects and assumes I can make it happen. So far, I have a 100% track record! The baby’s room we worked on recently was no exception! She had the idea to add ombre linen side panels to the one large window in the room. It already had shutters, so she wanted something feminine but not too babyish. Her color scheme was shades of mauve and a vision of curvy drapery rods left and right of the shutters.
Getting Creative for a Baby’s Room
This was the color palette and design inspiration for the room. Not precious and babyish, but sophisticated with lots of whimsical touches to make it feel young and fresh.
Finding Inspiration
The color scheme was set, the fabric, paint and wallpaper selected, all that was left was the drapery hardware. The sophisticated palette and materials being used called for something glamorous and I had the perfect thing – crystal finials!
With that decided, we moved on to the job of creating the perfect curve. In the end, we used a piece of cording to manipulate our design idea into a pleasing shape. One that was not too snake like but not too flat. From there we were able to figure out exactly where the brackets should go so they were hidden but able to support the weight of the finial and drapery panels. Then it was up to the fabricator to bend our new creation into shape.
Engineering
Curved drapery hardware is used when we need a curtain to follow the curves of a room or accommodate corners or bay windows with fully functioning draperies. Typically, we are working with a gentle curve for a bank of bow windows or a 90-degree corner. What Dana was asking for was a curved rod over a very short span. Fabricators of bent rods always require full-scale templates; we usually create these by using the existing curve. In this case, the curve was inside the designer’s head! It took numerous sketches and a bit of string to get it out of her head and onto paper.
Installation Day
The best part of my job is how it all comes together on installation day. All the creativity, inspiration and problem solving finally come together as the installer, who has the hardest job in my opinion, makes it look effortless as he patiently waits for us to decide exactly how high the rod should be, how close to the shutter the panel should fall etc. And then he does his magic as he secures the hardware and dresses in the new curtains to make them hang “just so” ready for the big reveal.
Window treatments are an important part of interior design helping all the elements in a room come together in a cohesive way. Whether it’s a simple project like the one we designed for a baby’s room or a challenging one, creativity, engineering and inspiration are all involved to ensure a successful installation every time.
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.
Reader Interactions