Going Beyond With Draperies

When you consider draperies for your window treatments, you’ll no doubt be stuck with the idea of fabric curtains. These are the most common option used. That’s not a bad thing, but if you have a full length element in place, it can be a bit drab at times. If you want to make your window treatments stand out, perhaps you should focus on a few ideas that could very well change your perception of drapes in general. The following are just some of the options that you will no doubt want to consider when moving forward with this type of window treatment option.

Not Just For Windows

Before you get tied into the notion that you can only uses draperies for windows, think again. There’s a few options that you may want to consider when accentuating a room, and making things new. You could separate a walkway, an entrance, or just about any transition with drapes. Drawing this together could close off certain elements of the room, and enclose others. It’s an interesting option to place in front of an archway, for instance.

Change Up The Hardware

One option that you will no doubt want to explore when you’re looking at drapes is the hardware that you’re going to use. You don’t have to be stuck with just “one” type of hardware solution when it comes to drapes. You can have a rounded bar, a beam, or just about any other solution, so long as it holds your curtains in place. Whether you need something traditional or something that’s a bit outside of the box, this is one way to punch up the design of your treatments.

Thin Panel Design

Instead of having a long area covered by deep, dark drapes, why not go light? You could put several thinner panels in place, so that you have a semblance of natural light peering in, but not too much. The balance of natural light that you want can easily be balanced with the use of thin panels, and will no doubt help you get moving forward with the visual design that you can create with any drapery option.

Decorative Pieces (non-functional)

You don’t always have to draw curtains close, they can be set pieces. Consider drapes as a way to accent windows, rather than cover them. Pleats, with a custom fabric option could allow just about any window option to shine without having to cover up the natural light. This will help create a nice elegant update to any room, that’s for sure.

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Drapery Solutions For Complex and Obtuse Windows

Windows don’t come with just one shape, or one size. There’s a lot of different designs, frames, glass types and much more. There’s even custom shapes, patterns, and different ways that architects and designers come up with visual displays. If you have windows that are outside of the “standard” frameset, you’re not stuck when it comes to drapes and window coverings. There’s a lot of different options that you will want to explore, including the following solutions.

The Wall of Windows

Whether you’re in a high rise, or you’ve purchased a home with a second or even third story, you may have a wall of windows that let you see out, and let a lot of light in. If you have this in place, you are not going to be able to just fill up the space with blinds. The best option here is to go with drapes that are connected on a track, and are powered by remote. High end hotels have this in place, with a discrete track at the ceiling and comes together to bring in shade. With remote control access, you can have the track go across a curve or just a straight line, it’s up to you. The style and fabric of the drape can also be changed up, so consider that as you look to purchase this for your overall needs.

Large Bay Windows

Bay windows can pose a problem because of the size, shape, and wrap around design that they create. If you have large bay windows, your goal is to cover everything, with a certain design point. To make this a bit easier, look at having curved tracks, or perhaps hinged rods to allow for a custom drape solution to hang with ease. Mounting rods is the easy part, picking out the right drapes will be the big thing. You want to work with a single solution rather than several rods that are linked, as that could cause visual issues, as well as more holes in your framing.

Angled Windows and Slanted Openings

Some of the most compelling windows usually have angles in them. Angled windows, or slanted windows can be difficult to cover up since most drapes and rods hang straight down. That could leave a triangular shaped opening at one point, or you could cover unnecessary areas along your wall and windows. To make this a bit easier to manage, consider using medallions. Medallions are standalone options that can help hold the drapes in place. However, what you want to do here is stagger them at an angle so that your drapes hang alongside the slants of the window openings. Done right, the drapes will hang at just the right angle to make things look good, and shield the sunlight as well.

When you’re looking at covering up windows, make absolutely sure that you think outside of the box. You can be very creative when it comes to covering up your windows, just give it a little bit of time.

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Bullet Proof Curtains

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When you speak of window decor the conversation usually includes things like color, material, size, price, brand, etc. What you'll almost never hear in a discussion about curtains however is the phrase "bullet proof". It may seem over the top to some but bullet proof curtains actually exist and no they aren't only for those whom reside in violent neighborhoods. In fact bullet proof curtains do a whole lot more than stop bullets.

Climate Control

Bullet proof curtains are made from a variety of different materials though all of them are high quality and of the thick variety. This means that homeowners can purchase these types of curtains and use them to control the climate within their homes and to great effect as well. Bullet proof curtains are often utilized by homeowners whom want to keep heat and cold from dispersing into their homes. The materials in these curtains absorb and hold onto hot and cold air allowing temperatures in a home to remain steady and comfortable.

Beauty And Functionality

The phrase bullet proof curtains evokes thoughts of rigid, cold, and hard window decor. When you step out of the mind and into reality however you'll find that the majority of bullet proof drapes are aesthetically pleasing. Some are even downright beautiful. They can be used to enhance rooms, draw attention to one particular spot within a room, and be very decorative as well. Sure there are people who will utilize these types of curtains in a security capacity but they can be used for many other reasons as most bullet proof curtains are multifaceted.

The World's Exotic Drapes

There exists an uncountable variety of "assembly line" drapes. Drapes are available in so many different colors, brands, styles, textures, and materials that homeowners can have a difficult time settling on one single type for their project. Exotic drapes however provide homeowners with a way to avoid this dilemma altogether. Homeowners now have the ability to have drapes made that are limited only by their imagination.

Out Of The Ordinary

Sure some homeowners will order custom drapes that are rather plain and uninspired but many more will have drapes created that are hyper creative, imaginative, and even wholly off the wall. Exotic drapes can be crafted from several different materials, contain bizarre patterns, and even feature pictures of people on them. A simple Google search for "exotic drapes" will yield some fascinating and even humorous results. If you're looking for drapery ideas this is something you'll certainly want to do.

Complimenting A Project

Creating exotic drapes can help homeowners and designers move away from cookie cutter aesthetics and do something really special for their home or a specific room therein. Working closely with an interior designer can help homeowners come up with ideas that will compliment their home and even bring more ambience out of a room. Homeowners shouldn't set any design boundaries when they set out to have exotic drapes created. Boundaries will only steer homeowners back into the housing section at their local retail store. Be brave and bold!

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Hemp vs. Cotton: Which Fabric Is Better?

Both hemp and cotton are excellent crops which can be used to create everything from clothing to homes. The controversies surrounding hemp and it's association with marijuana however help keep cotton the choice of most companies. Hemp is not marijuana however and it is a very versatile and strong material with which to build. With that said let's take a look at the differences between cotton and hemp use.

Water Requirements

Growing cotton is no easy feat and the 1400 gallons of water needed for every pound of cotton growing makes cotton farming rather expensive especially during times of drought. Some cotton farms have actually become literal deserts after running themselves and surrounding areas out of water. Hemp on the other hand requires roughly half the water cotton does which makes it vastly more affordable right out of the gate. Best of all hemp grows at a much faster rate than cotton so water requirements might be even lower for some growers.

Crop Protection

Cotton requires pesticides and it requires very strong chemicals and frequent treatments in order to remain healthy. Juxtaposing the costs of cotton pesticides and water requirements is usually enough to force some farmers to begin growing hemp or at the very least grow less cotton. Hemp on the other hand requires nothing other than water and sunlight to grow. Chemicals are wholly unnecessary for this hardy plant. Farmers concerned with weeds strangling their hemp should know that hemp competes and beats out all varieties of weeds without any problems.

Comfortable Clothing

Much like vinyl records, clothing made of cotton is most comfortable and durable the first time it's worn. Each wearing and washing takes something away from cotton clothing. Cotton fibers break down easily under the rigors of movement and even more so in washers and dryers. Hemp being a much sturdier crop produces not only the more comfortable clothing of the two but clothing with a much greater longevity too. Hemp clothing doesn't start off as soft as cotton clothing does but it eventually becomes more comfortable and will last a lot longer.

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Custom Draperies Can Create Amazing Elegance In Your Home

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One of the most unique options that you can pursue in regards to window treatments is that of custom draperies. This is one way to absolutely treat your interior design with something special. Most people don’t immediately think about this, but as you start to break down the possibilities, you will see that this is definitely something to look into on a deeper level. If you have never considered it before, take a few moments to explore the beauty and magic that comes with this simple update.

The Fabric Style

One of the things that you need to be wary of is the fabric. Draperies that are made custom use a wide range of fabrics. You will want to decide whether you want something light and airy, or you want something heavy. The heavier the materials, the higher the likelihood that it will black out the natural light that may come through windows. You’ll have to consider which is going to be best for your individual needs here, as there are several routes that you can take. The price point can rise upwards of $1,000 a yard depending on what you need.

The Length 

As you start to explore custom draperies, make sure that you keep in mind the length of your windows. Some windows are tall, and reach towards the ceiling of a room. This may not be so bad, but if you have tall windows in a den, or by an alcove, you may end up paying quite a bit in terms of treatments. Window treatments meant to cover a large surface area will cost you quite a bit. A 10 foot ceiling, for instance may in fact be costly. However, if you focus on finding a good fabric, and design it to match the accent pieces of your interior design, you’ll have something grand, no doubt.

Valance Combos

As far as custom draperies, you don’t always need long flowing fabrics. You can create a very unique design flow with a strong valance. A valance can go in front of windows, offer partial coverage, shade, and create an elegant visual design protocol. Mixing valance options with drapes that come over the window can absolutely be a good combination. This is something that can make a room feel more rustic, when done with warm colors and mixed patterns.

Overall, the above is just a simple exploration of custom drapery ideas. There’s so much to explore in regards to window treatments. Don’t assume that you are stuck with just blinds, and coverings in the traditional sense, as there’s a great deal of opportunity found in this regards.

Windоw Cоvеringѕ fоr Bау Windоwѕ

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Bау windоwѕ are nоt juѕt fluѕh with thе wаll but extended оutwаrd frоm a hоmе mаking for a drаmаtiс presence and оffеring panoramic views оf the grеаt оutdооrѕ. These windоwѕ оffеr mоrе nаturаl lighting, open uр rооmѕ to mаkе thеm look lаrgеr, аnd are a brеаth-tаking accent tо аnу rооm.

The bау window creates an alluring аmbiаnсе in a room that givеѕ the imрrеѕѕiоn thаt a living ѕрасе iѕ open аnd аlight. Sоmеtimеѕ, hоmеоwnеrѕ еnjоу thе constant invitе оf sunlight, whilе others long fоr a little рrivасу, mаking windоw coverings fоr bау windоwѕ a nесеѕѕitу. Nоwаdауѕ, a customer mау pick frоm a widе rаngе оf mаtеriаlѕ, ѕhареѕ, ѕizеѕ аnd рriсеѕ for bay windоw соvеringѕ. In оrdеr tо tаkе аdvаntаgе of these cool and uѕеful features in a home, it iѕ imроrtаnt to bесоmе accustomed with thе ѕеlесtiоnѕ аvаilаblе оn thе mаrkеt.

When looking tо соvеr a bау windоw, it is еаѕу to turn аnу rооm intо a mаѕtеrрiесе оr mаtсh an еxiѕting theme оf dесоr. Since there аrе many looks that windоw соvеringѕ fоr bау windоwѕ сrеаtе, ѕсаnning interior design magazines can help mаkе a finаl dесiѕiоn muсh easier. It is also imроrtаnt tо knоw thе vаriоuѕ mаtеriаlѕ used in thе соnѕtruсtiоn оf thе соvеringѕ, аѕ wеll as their еѕtimаtеd ѕhеlf lifе, mаintеnаnсе, lighting, privacy аnd еnеrgу соntrоl.

Windоw blinds and ѕhаdеѕ рrоvidе one with the аbilitу to dim a rооm аnd deliver visual privacy whilе still реrmitting аir tо enter a room. Fаbriс, mеtаl and wооdеn blindѕ hеlр сrеаtе various moods within a rооm. With shutter-like (micro, ѕlаtѕ, Vеnеtiаn blindѕ and mini) and ѕhаdе-likе (Rоmаn ѕhаdеѕ, wоvеn-wоо and hоnеусоmb) ѕеlесtiоnѕ, blinds аrе a wоndеrful choice in bay window coverings. When lооking fоr аn elegant lооk, plantation blindѕ оffеr еxсерtiоnаl соntrоl оf lighting аnd рrivасу thаt is rаthеr lоng-lаѕting.

Many dеѕignеrѕ feel that аdding ѕеvеrаl blindѕ and сurtаinѕ to bау windоw trеаtmеntѕ is оvеr dоing it. Thеу fееl thаt using something ѕimрlе iѕ the bеѕt wау tо соvеr thеѕе windows because thе bеаutу iѕ thе windоw shape itѕеlf аnd уоu dо nоt wаnt it hidden frоm viеw. Yоu juѕt need ѕоmеthing to kеер out thе hеаt аnd соld during thе extremes of both соnditiоnѕ.

Window coverings ѕеrvе many hеlрful рurроѕеѕ, inсluding cutting out ѕunlight, рrоviding better соntrоl оf lighting in a room, рrоtесting privacy and рrеѕеrving furniturе аnd wооd flооrѕ frоm harmful sunlight. Windоw соvеringѕ are also great inѕulаtоrѕ, which hеlр tо сut dоwn on hеаting billѕ during thе winter timе. Thеу аlѕо hеlр imрrоvе thе look оf a room with thеir evolving ѕtуlеѕ, ѕhареѕ, fоrmѕ, соlоrѕ аnd mаtеriаlѕ.

Mаkе ѕurе that whаtеvеr уоu choose fоr your bау windows, thаt it mаkеѕ known your own реrѕоnаl fееlingѕ аnd look fоr уоur home. Yоu should ѕоlеlу choose a design because it is what уоu absolutely wаnt. You саn, in addition, ѕееk out diverse colors аnd window trеаtmеntѕ too. Mаkе сеrtаin that you dоn't dесidе оn one you dоn't rеаllу likе bесаuѕе someone tоld you tо likе it, ѕinсе thеrе are infinite possibilities thаt уоu саn pick frоm that mау likе bеttеr.

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The Efficiency of Draperies – Notes For Energy Consumption

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Saving energy is not just about saving the environment. It’s also about saving you money. No one is going to scoff at the notion of having a little more money at the end of the month. It’s with that in mind that there are a few things that you can do for your home to reduce your overall energy costs.

For instance, you could look at how draperies could very well give you an upper hand. This may seem a bit odd for some, but it’s absolutely necessary for gaining a foothold in the quest for efficiency within a home.

The Heat Index 

First and foremost, you will find that a good set of drapes could in fact block the heat index from rising in your home. This all depends on the fabric that you choose and how heavy the elements are. The heavier, and more compact the fabric is, the higher the chances are that you will be able to block out the key components that make your home hot. You could end up with a positive spin that lowers the temperature by around 30% or higher, depending on the color, and fabric density overall.

For The Cold

While these things can block the sun’s access to any given room, it can also have great benefits in the winter. Studies indicate that you could warm up a room, or rather, retain heat much easier when you have heavy draperies in place. That means less money spent on heating, and trapping the heat from escaping when you need it most.

Best Practices For Drapes

As you look into having these in place, you are going to want to take note of the position of the fabric. You want to ensure that the fabric is close to the windows. The closer the better in this case, as you will find that it can help you gain leverage in regards to efficient cooling and heating. In many cases, the best way to work with this is to have the drapes attach to the wall, allowing the benefits to come in with relative ease.

The goal of having draperies in place is a matter of tightly controlling air spaces. When you can do that, you can also block the sun’s effects, and even keep your home a bit warmer in the winter months. It’s all about displaying elements, and controlling heating and cooling. Test this out and see why it’s one of the best ways to keep your home within a comfortable temperature.

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The Efficiency of Draperies – Notes For Energy Consumption

Image Source: http://www.raymondedraperies.com

Saving energy is not just about saving the environment. It’s also about saving you money. No one is going to scoff at the notion of having a little more money at the end of the month. With that in mind that there are a few things that you can do for your home to reduce your overall energy costs. For instance you could look at how draperies help keep homes cool, warm, and add some spice to any room they become a part of. Draperies can raise raise the energy efficiency of a home a great degree.

The Heat Index

First and foremost you will find that a good set of drapes could in fact block the heat index from rising in your home. This all depends on the fabric that you choose and how heavy the elements are. The heavier and more compact the fabric is the higher the chances are that you will be able to block out those elements that make your home hot. Choosing the right drapes could get you temperatures that drop by 30% or higher depending on the color and fabric density overall.

For The Cold 

While draperies can block the sun’s access to any given room they can also have great benefits in the winter. Studies indicate that you can warm up a room and retain heat much easier when you have heavy draperies in place. That means less money spent on heating and more trapping the heat from escaping when you need it most.

Best Practices For Drapes

As you look into having draperies installed you are going to want to take note of the position of the fabric. You'll  want to ensure that your drapes are close enough to their windows. The closer the better as you will find that it can help you gain leverage in regards to efficient cooling and heating. In many cases the best way to work with this is to have the drapes attached to a wall  which will maximize efficacy.

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