IKAT Fabrics For Fall-!!

Hi Girlfriends, First, I hit a remarkable milestone for my website in August. Since I began in 2007, I have received 1,000,000 visitors with requests. I was....and still am...very excited-!! Economy crunch or what, serious homeowners still know that "To the trade" designer fabrics do make a difference in making their house a home. Thanks for all your past support and may we both grow together in the future.

Second, Whenever I get lots of request for one kind of fabric or color, I know "something" is in the wind with fashion. Nothing is more truer than IKAT fabrics. Now, even I am dreaming of this timeless fabric pattern with the possibility of doing a small love seat in my family room in ikat too.

IKAT (e - kot) means "to bind." It is a very ancient way of creating designs in fabric by resist-dyeing the threads before the fabric is woven. Villagers in Thailand, take the weft (crosswise filling threads) and tie tiny bits of plastic onto the treads. The tightly tied areas of thread, when put into the dye pot, resist the color and create a pattern, once the plastic ties are removed. Traditional ikat cottons are often indigo-dyed in lively and engaging motifs representing the village life and beliefs of the people. Modern ikats come in cotton, linen and silks which are brightly colored with good imported chemicals or natural dyes.

What makes ikat fabric differ from other fabrics is in the woven by hand on narrow looms in a labor - intensive process. Easy to identify because there patterns look the same on both sides of the fabrics..........in other words, no right or wrong side of the cloth.

A hint: Dry Cleaning HIGHLY recommended.

Ikat endless possibilities from runways to accessorities to upholstering to bedding to draperies to even carpet:



runwaydaily.com, blog.hgtv.com, lotushaus.typedpad.com, elledecor.com

Look what ABC has to offer in carpet-!!




Kravet knows....................ikat fabrics with over 208 fabrics from their designers collections.


Sorry, I lost the info on these two beautiful ikat fabrics. '-'


Always count on Scalamandre to show ikat with stunning matching companions.




Sami ikat / 26737 and companion Uppsola / 26738

Think about including this wonderful fabric in your Fall project. REMEMBER.........although very expensive, due to labor intensity, contacting me for a low, low price.

A la prochaine,
Denise

July Heat Is Here-!

Just wanted to say, "Hi Girlfriends-!" and hope you are all keeping cool. I attempted to do a post on Ikat fabrics, but the heat is melting my brain. I will return...later.......on Ikat fabrics.

Keep cool......and please remember to check on your elderly love ones and neighbors,

Denise

WE THE PEOPLE......JULY 4, 2010

Parades, backyard picnics and fireworks make for a wonderful celebration in America. Beginning with the American Revolution to the Civil War to our Commander-in-Chief for the freedom we all have today.

Happy JUlY 4th-!!



Red, White, and Blue ,

Denise

What Makes This Room Work?

With a refreshing color palette and sharp dressmaker details ( a good workroom), you can transform your bedroom into a cool, comfortable retreat with a fabric that is AFFORDABLE.

WHAT MAKES THIS ROOM WORK

A "to the trade" fabric of chinoiserie toile. The color pops to feel new and right for this room.

Bold scale. A smaller-scale toile would look country, while this looks more sophisticated and dramatic.

The settee. It reiterates the main fabric and also serves as a bench for pillows, blankets, clothes, etc.

Plenty of white. On the walls, headboard, linens, lamps, mirror, and even prints framed with wide white mats in simple white frames, it lessens the intensity of the intricate toile pattern.

A sea grass carpet. It adds neutral texture.

BEDROOM BASICS: Avoid clutter where ever you can. One way is to invest in a good nightstand to store some of the smaller items, like a kleenex box.

T.Keller Donovan, designer.
Scalamandre fabric: 11111-006, silk
other colors: Beige, yellow, coral, fern, aqua, black

This fabric does come in linen too, but with only 4 colors: beige, green, coral and blue.

Please contact me if you are interested in this fabric......or any fabric.........for a great price-!

A la prochaine,
Denise

Your Daddy Cares / Edgar A. Guest

Edgar Albert Guest (1881 - 1959) came to America at age 10 and by age 14, he was working as a copy boy, then reporter for the Detroit Free Press. His first poem appeared December 11, 1898. He became known as "The Poet of the People." Most of his poems have motivational messages.

Girlfriends, this poem is truly a "gift" to understanding our Dads feelings for us. My grandfather
Whalen, Charleston, Illinois, on Christmas morning 1922, gave this to his six daughters. In 1911, their father became "Mr. Mom" upon the death of his wife who was trying to recover from Tuberculosis. He never remarried.

The mounting and frame are original by C. B. Muchmore of Charleston. By the time I remembered it and could read, it was on his bedroom wall amongst other handmade poems by his daughters.

YOUR DADDY CARES, Edgar A. Guest:
.............................Click on photo to read in larger print.....................


Copy Right 1922 by The Buzza Co, Minneapolis, USA D5562

Happy Father's Day to all Dads.

Dad, if you are looking down on your children today, know that I love you and think of you more and more as the years go by.......................

Denise

CONRAD SHADES

HI GIRLFRIENDS,

Lately, I have been getting inquiries for CONRAD SHADES. One webclient has been dreaming of owning Weave #1 for 10 years-! OK, it's time to take that giant leap and buy them. CONRADS are not for the "bargain hunters." They ARE expensive. Whenever I am in a client's home who says she wants CONRAD SHADES I ask for her budget......just for CONRADS. Depending on the windows sizes, up front, it is wise to estimate so your client either still wants them or moves on to fabrics. Let's say IF a window is 48W x 60L a ballpark will cost RETAIL anywhere from $1400 and up (optionals).

Why are CONRADS so expensive? They have earned it. Though the art of CONRADS are intricate, the materials are simple. After the fibers are nature grown, the materials are harvested, sundried on the beaches, and hand-tied by the villagers, they are bundled off to other parts of the Far East to be handwoven. All this is labor intensity. There is no substitute.

What makes them stand out is the look for passion, elegance and superb craftsmanship. CONRAD offers roman shades, custom drapery, cornices, a Sliding Panel Shade System, and a line of drapery designed for outdoors living spaces.

Fortunately, BP isn't in these remote far east countries to do any damage and CONRAD SHADES can grace your home.


Weave No. 1732, Safari was voted as Interior Design's Best of Year Award. Is it no wonder?-!!


Here are two elegant designed window coverings with CONRAD. This tells you how a simple shade can work with not only a designer chair but also right along with your grandmother's victorian dining room chairs too.



Weave No. #1822 is hand-tied fibers in modulations of green and grey which lends an atmosphere of tranquility. Love the sheerness.



#1744 is inspired by the vivid beauty of the equestrian sport. This new Dressage weave has a sumptuous silky look and feel created by closely interweaving narrow stand strands of fibers suffused in a rich mix of chestnut, black and Palomino.



Weave No. 1718 is a sophisticated and exquisitely sheer ivory grasscloth.



Weave No. 1602 looks warm with these reeds richly-colored fiber strands evoking the play of light and shadow. Perfect for kitchens-!



Discountdesignerfabricsonline.com sells CONRAD SHADES. First, already have a quote, then, contact me. Remember this, THEY ARE EXPENSIVE. Absolutely. But, how much is the question between your quote and mine.

A la prochaine,
Denise

Canopy Beds

Hi Girlfriends, I love creative canopy beds. I don't own one.......yet. I must confess, tucked away in my basement is one decorative metal canopy form ready to be painted, and me, finding the right fabric to create a romantic guest room. Yes, doesn't that sound like Project #57 waiting? Also, this DIY women, keeps waiting for the perfect room. It is the scale of a room for such a canopy that I am desiring. And, when I move to Pinehurst, NC, I intend to keep this in mind...........for the sole purpose of having a canopy bed in a guest room.

The walls in this room were painted an oatmeal color. The use of bright colors like lime green and orange as bedding accents works too. For any DIY person, note how the canopy is rolled and tied. How easy is that? What I really love is the floral canopy as it softens the room to give the entire effect an inviting and relaxing atmosphere. In fact, all the fabrics blend together perfectly-!!!



Don't you just love the blue in this room with all the wood exposure? This romantic suite takes center stage beginning with the sheer valance edged in a pale blue striped fabric which puddles on either side of the bed's headboard. LOOK how white linens makes the room so crisp and clean.


BEDDING BASICS:
Color: The most popular colors today are blue, whites, neutrals, and greens. If you want bold colors, I suggest bring in lots of white. Everything in a bedroom-furniture, fabrics and color-is all about balance in order for a room to work.
Bed skirts: Matching the skirt with the fabric headboard keeps the bed looking uniform. Tailored skirts with trim or banding is one of my favorites. I also like to make the skirt just graze the floor. And, when summer comes, you can completely change the look of a bed by adding or removing a skirt too.
Pillows: I buy all my down pillows at Calicor Corners for decorative pillows. They carry the best.......and they can custom order any size for you
If you are spending the money on custom linens, then go the whole nine yards and do down pillows too. Decorative foam pillows will give come off flat....and cheap.
Linens: Woods prefers plain, white linens. Like I have already said, "Crisp and clean." And I agree with Birmingham, Alabama Interior Designer, Liz Woods, "It's not the way it looks but how it feels."

Once you are ready to order "to the trade" fabrics" contact me.
I buy ONLY from my accounts with designer showrooms. Never a mill. Mills contracted by the fine reputations of Kravet, Robert Allen, Brunschwig & Fils, Scalamandre, etc. are NOT selling fine production/workmanship to discounted websites. These sites house inferior fabrics in their " warehouses." Understand, what is being sold by a mill to a site ARE the inferior ends of the run fabrics. They are flawed due to multi reasons. Some being: ran out of dyes, thread breaking, lint caught in the process of weaving, skipping and so many more reasons. NO showroom will sell inferior fabric. Thus you are safe with me.

A la prochaine,
Denise

1 HEADBOARD, 3 WAYS

A BEDROOM should be beautiful, only beautiful in a way that is also confortable and relaxing.

Here's just a taste of what a bedroom should be:

* Don't go overboard with a layered bed. A simple color schemem and minimal accessories keep the room restful.
* Swing-arm lamps offer the best reading light.
* For a professional look, iron all your linens, and pad pillow shams with batting to fill them out.
* To change a headboard look, consider having it slipcovered.

The following is one headboard with 3 different looks. Birmingham, AL. interior designer Liz Woods, designed a headboard with pattern Batan by Dedar fabric with a roll of nailheads as an accent.

In Woods first bedding, notice how the first design is blanketed in white, making the room soft and feminine in layers of different whites. An added color is the one decorative pillow for a colorful pattern contrast as a punctuation.



The appealing shades of gray is all about texture. The muted colors lend a hint of masculinity, but the interplay of textures softens the look. This look also is without a bedskirt, but with all the tucking in of sheets and blankets, this bed has a cleaner, finished look which does emphasizes the headboard and shows off the nailhead trim.



Green is a great color for a bedroom and this pattern fabric in not overwhelming. The look is more relaxed and natural with the paired duvet and quilt, and structured skirt for contrast. I am in love with the velvet accent pillows which I believe provides richness and a sense of depth. Don't you just love the persimmon with the green?



Be ready for Fall, while summer is upon us. Now is the time to consider selecting fabrics and have a local workroom upholster a headboard w/ nailhead trim.

A la prochaine,
Denise

Happy Mother's Day 2010-!!

If my mother had one weakness in her life, it was hats. Mother passed after 10 children and 96 years later. A day doesn't go by that I don't think about her...........and remember her love for hats.

Happy Mother's Day to all Mothers...........present and past.



Love to all Mothers today,

Denise

Re-upholster Dining Chairs

If you are thinking of re-upholstering dining chairs, now is the time to do it. Workrooms are slowing down and the wait isn't so long.

I believe in solid color fabrics for dining room chairs. If the right color is choosen, they will "pop" in the room and seem less complicated with your walls, paintings, rug, china, floral arrangements and food presentations. If it's a photo opt time, you will be delighted with the end result, with your guest, sitting on solid color fabric.



Remember for a fantastic "to the trade" pricing for your next project, email me.


A la prochaine,

Denise

Fabrics For Bedding

Think lots of fabric if you want a stunning focal point to go with your bedding. Of course, the fabrics will be more affordable if you contact me.


A la prochaine,
Denise

Toile For Easter

A la prochaine,
Denise

The Best In Friends Homes

Fabrics in glorious textures from bright to faded colours, curtains meticulously swagged, fringed and tasselled, the most comfortable upholstery and expertly applied paint finishes, all set in timeless interiors and discreetly lit to show off beautiful furnishings and art/photography works. These are the hallmarks of what makes a home.

It's fascinating to hear my girlfriends talk about their current projects. All have styles and tastes different from each other and myself. All make it work in differnt types of rooms in a wide variety of locations, large and small, to townhomes to large in my area and other parts of the country.

Here are some examples of how fabric, furniture, paint and your own personal touch can add to a room.









I apologize for not being able to remember where I came across these rooms. I saw them and did a quick copy and paste. By the end of my time spent on the computer and many months later storing them in a program, I humble must confess........I forgot where they came from. '-'

A la prochaine,
Denise

Think Green On March 17th-!!

The following greens are all...........So simple..............So mystical........So Ireland.










Happy St. Patrick's Day,

Denise

Pleated Drapery

A drapery arrangement is often the most eye-catching aspect of a room - and the feature that gives the most scope for creativity.

Here is how a professional measurer determines yardage:

Specifications:
* 2.5 times fullness
* 3.00 times fullness for sheers
* 4.00 times fullness for non moving sheers
* 18" hems & headings
* Standard 3.5" overlap for traverse rod
* Standard 2" overlap for wood pole with rings
* Add 10% to finished width for drapery hanging from rings, for easing
* Specify pinch pleats, reverse pinch pleats, butterfly pleats, goblet pleats or cartridge pleats
* Goblets & cartridge pleats are only for standing panels

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Number of Widths: Face width x 2.5 + returns + overlap / fabric width

Cut Length: 1. Finished length + hems / fabric repeat (round up)
2. Number of repeats x repeat = cut length
Yardage: Cut length x number of widths / 36
Sheer railroaded: Face width x 3 + returns + overlap / 36



The chief ingredient in any successful window composition is imagination. To some extent, there is a repertoire of basic forms - a vocabulary of design ideas from which professional designers tend to draw inspiration. Often, the most successful designs are those where a traditional idea is injected with a touch of originality - perhaps in the proportions, or in the detailing, or in the fabric choice.

The following are a few examples of how PLEATED DRAPERY are executed by different designers:



luxe / Chicago Edition / Winter 2010

Private collection

Private collection

Private collection

Private collection

luxe / Winter 2010 / Chicago edition

A la prochaine,
Denise